Cunningham JP, Jallow MFA, Wright DJ, Zalucki MP
Department of Biology, Imperial College of Science, Technology & Medicine
Anim Behav. 1998 Jan;55(1):227-34. doi: 10.1006/anbe.1997.0600.
The effect of experience on pre- and post-alighting host selection in adult female Helicoverpa armigera was tested in an indoor flight cage, and in a large greenhouse. The moths had experienced either tobacco or tomato plants (both are hosts of H. armigera) for 3 days, or were given no experience. Individuals were then released and their host selection assessed. All individuals caught in the greenhouse were identified and tested for post-alighting acceptance on each host. Experience significantly influenced both pre- and post-alighting host selection in ovipositing moths. This modification in behaviour is attributed to 'learning', and presents the first detailed evidence for learning in moths. Possible behavioural mechanisms involved are discussed, and a hypothesis is presented regarding learning in post-alighting host acceptance. The existence of learning in H. armigera, a highly polyphagous agricultural pest, is discussed in the light of current theories on environmental predictability and the advantages of learning. Copyright 1998 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.
在室内飞行笼和大型温室中测试了经验对成年雌性棉铃虫着陆前和着陆后寄主选择的影响。这些蛾子在烟草或番茄植株（两者都是棉铃虫的寄主）上经历3天，或者没有经历过。然后放飞个体并评估它们的寄主选择。对在温室中捕获的所有个体进行识别，并测试它们在每种寄主上着陆后的接受情况。经验显著影响产卵蛾子着陆前和着陆后的寄主选择。这种行为变化归因于“学习”，并首次提供了蛾子学习的详细证据。文中讨论了可能涉及的行为机制，并提出了一个关于着陆后寄主接受学习的假设。根据当前关于环境可预测性和学习优势的理论，讨论了高度多食性农业害虫棉铃虫学习行为的存在。版权所有1998动物行为研究协会。
