The Evolutionary Relevance of Social Learning and Transmission in Non-Social Arthropods with a Focus on Oviposition-Related Behaviors

Research on social learning has centered around vertebrates, but evidence is accumulating that small-brained, non-social arthropods also learn from others. Social learning can lead to social inheritance when socially acquired behaviors are transmitted to subsequent generations. Using oviposition site selection, a critical behavior for most arthropods, as an example, we first highlight the complementarities between social and classical genetic inheritance. We then discuss the relevance of studying social learning and transmission in non-social arthropods and document known cases in the literature, including examples of social learning from con- and hetero-specifics. We further highlight under which conditions social learning can be adaptive or not. We conclude that non-social arthropods and the study of oviposition behavior offer unparalleled opportunities to unravel the importance of social learning and inheritance for animal evolution.

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The evolutionary relevance of social learning and transmission of behaviors in non-social arthropods

10.32942/osf.io/7ev48 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Caroline M. Nieberding ◽

Matteo Marcantonio ◽

Raluca Voda ◽

Thomas Enriquez ◽

Bertanne Visser

Keyword(s):

Social Learning ◽

Site Selection ◽

Oviposition Behavior ◽

Oviposition Site ◽

Oviposition Site Selection ◽

Genetic Inheritance ◽

Classical Genetic

Research on social learning has centered around vertebrates, but evidence is accumulating that small-brained, non-social arthropods also learn from others. Social learning can lead to social inheritance when socially acquired behaviors are transmitted to subsequent generations. Here, we first highlight the complementarities between social and classical genetic inheritance, using oviposition site selection, a behavior critical for many non-social arthropods, as a hypothetical example. We then discuss the relevance of studying social learning and transmission in non-social arthropods and document known cases in the literature, including examples of social learning from con and hetero-specifics. We subsequently highlight under which conditions social learning can be adaptive or not. We conclude that non-social arthropods and the study of oviposition behavior offer unparalleled opportunities to increase our understanding of social learning and inheritance.

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Social signals mediate oviposition site selection in Drosophila suzukii

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-83354-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Johanna E. Elsensohn ◽

Marwa F. K. Aly ◽

Coby Schal ◽

Hannah J. Burrack

Keyword(s):

Site Selection ◽

Oviposition Behavior ◽

Oviposition Site ◽

Invasive Pest ◽

Oviposition Site Selection ◽

Social Signals ◽

Drosophila Suzukii ◽

Egg Density ◽

Behavioral Evidence ◽

Oviposition Sites

AbstractThe information that female insects perceive and use during oviposition site selection is complex and varies by species and ecological niche. Even in relatively unexploited niches, females interact directly and indirectly with conspecifics at oviposition sites. These interactions can take the form of host marking and re-assessment of prior oviposition sites during the decision-making process. Considerable research has focused on the niche breadth and host preference of the polyphagous invasive pest Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae), but little information exists on how conspecific signals modulate oviposition behavior. We investigated three layers of social information that female D. suzukii may use in oviposition site selection—(1) pre-existing egg density, (2) pre-existing larval occupation, and (3) host marking by adults. We found that the presence of larvae and host marking, but not egg density, influenced oviposition behavior and that the two factors interacted over time. Adult marking appeared to deter oviposition only in the presence of an unmarked substrate. These results are the first behavioral evidence for a host marking pheromone in a species of Drosophila. These findings may also help elucidate D. suzukii infestation and preference patterns within crop fields and natural areas.

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OVIPOSITION SITE SELECTION BY TETRANYCHUS URTICAE KOCH (ACARI: TETRANYCHIDAE) IN RESPONSE TO FENVALERATE AND PERMETHRIN RESIDUES ON SOYBEAN

Journal of Entomological Science ◽

10.18474/0749-8004-24.1.26 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 26-33 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

R. M. McPherson ◽

D. J. Donahue ◽

S. L. Poe

Keyword(s):

Tetranychus Urticae ◽

Site Selection ◽

Leaf Surface ◽

Oviposition Behavior ◽

Oviposition Site ◽

Oviposition Site Selection ◽

Water Control ◽

Treatment Regimes ◽

Vertical Distributions ◽

Tetranychus Urticae Koch

The oviposition site selection of Tetranychus urticae Koch in response to fenvalerate and permethrin residues on soybeans was examined in the laboratory. Five leaf treatment regimes were evaluated on potted soybeans (half-area vs. whole area and partial coverage vs. complete coverage) plus a distilled water control. Over 95% of the eggs were deposited on untreated halves of leaflets on which the other half was treated with either fenvalerate or permethin. Similar oviposition behavior was observed for both partial spray coverage, ca. 10% of the leaf area, or total coverage of the treated half leaflet. Over 95% of the eggs were observed on the leaf surface in the control, whereas, 40% and 30% of the eggs were suspended off the leaf surface that was totally covered with permethrin and fenvalerate, respectively. No differences were observed in the vertical distributions of eggs between control, and the permethrin and fenvalerate half-leaf treatments. More than 95% of the total eggs were observed on the leaf surface; however, few eggs were laid on the leaflet half containing the pyrethroid residue.

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