The role of prior agonistic experience in dominance relationships in male crickets Gryllus bimaculatus (Orthoptera: Gryllidae).

Experiments were carried out to study the effect of social conditioning (prior experience of dominance and submission) in dominance relationships between adult male Gryllus bimaculatus. The dominance status of a male cricket appears to be directly linked to its immediate prior agonistic experience. An experience of dominance increases the probability of victory and one of submission decreases it. The effect is maximum when one opponent has experienced dominance and one subordination. The aggressive behavior of males is significantly influenced by prior agonistic experience for 6 h and the effect disappears entirely after 24 h. The cost and benefit of a conflict appears to be dependent on the motivational state of each opponent, in turn modulated by the outcome of prior agonistic interactions.