ACE Animal Behavior & Psychology 3

Question 1

Which sensory modality do male moths primarily use to locate females for mating over long distances?

Accepted Answer

Olfaction via sex pheromones

Answer

Male moths detect female-produced sex pheromones with highly sensitive olfactory receptors on their antennae to locate mates over distances of kilometers.

Question 2

What is 'thigmotaxis' in insects?

Accepted Answer

Preference for contact with solid surfaces

Answer

Thigmotaxis is the behavioral tendency of insects to maintain contact with solid surfaces, which explains why many pests are found in cracks and crevices.

Question 3

The 'alarm-defense' system in social insects typically involves:

Accepted Answer

Workers releasing alarm pheromones that recruit nestmates and trigger defensive responses

Answer

Alarm pheromones released by workers rapidly recruit nestmates and switch the colony into defensive mode.

Question 4

Which learning paradigm is demonstrated when a bee associates a floral scent (conditioned stimulus) with a nectar reward (unconditioned stimulus)?

Accepted Answer

Classical (Pavlovian) conditioning

Answer

Classical conditioning pairs a neutral stimulus (scent) with a biologically meaningful one (nectar reward) until the neutral stimulus alone elicits a response.

Question 5

An insect that adjusts its speed of random movement in response to stimulus intensity, but shows no directional orientation, is displaying:

Accepted Answer

Kinesis

Answer

Kinesis is undirected movement whose speed or turning rate varies with stimulus intensity, unlike taxis which is directed.

(ACE) Associate Certified Entomologist Practice Test

(ACE) Associate Certified Entomologist Practice Test

ACE Animal Behavior & Psychology 3