Learning in an exotic social wasp while relocating a food source

Long‐term spatial memory in Vespula germanica social wasps: the influence of past experience on foraging behavior

“…The location of resources in natural environments may be uncertain, given that contexts constantly change. Accordingly, behavioral flexibility is linked to diverse learning and memory processes (e.g., D'Adamo & Lozada, , , , ; Lozada & D'Adamo, , , ; Geva et al ., ; Wilson‐Rankin, , ). The successful establishment and possible spread of invasive species into new territories may be due, among other factors, to behavioral plasticity when facing situations of change (e.g., Beggs et al ., ; Lozada & D'Adamo, ).…”

“…When a V. germanica forager finds an abundant food source it makes several foraging flights between the resource and the nest, where larvae are fed. During this behavior, the wasp associates food with spatial, odor and visual cues (e.g., D'Adamo & Lozada, , , , , ; Moreyra et al ., ; Lozada & D'Adamo, , , ). These learning processes enable them to return to a plentiful resource that can suffer unpredictable position changes over consecutive visits; it is common to see dogs and birds of prey, among other large animals, displace or remove resources which wasps are foraging on (Lozada & D'Adamo, , ).…”

“…During this behavior, the wasp associates food with spatial, odor and visual cues (e.g., D'Adamo & Lozada, , , , , ; Moreyra et al ., ; Lozada & D'Adamo, , , ). These learning processes enable them to return to a plentiful resource that can suffer unpredictable position changes over consecutive visits; it is common to see dogs and birds of prey, among other large animals, displace or remove resources which wasps are foraging on (Lozada & D'Adamo, , ). Moreover, when a wasp is collecting food in an anthropic scenario (e.g., picnics, barbecues), such food and contextual cues (e.g., cutlery, glasses) often change location (D'Adamo & Lozada, ; Lozada & D'Adamo, ).…”

“…These learning processes enable them to return to a plentiful resource that can suffer unpredictable position changes over consecutive visits; it is common to see dogs and birds of prey, among other large animals, displace or remove resources which wasps are foraging on (Lozada & D'Adamo, , ). Moreover, when a wasp is collecting food in an anthropic scenario (e.g., picnics, barbecues), such food and contextual cues (e.g., cutlery, glasses) often change location (D'Adamo & Lozada, ; Lozada & D'Adamo, ). Previous studies have shown that when a wasp learns to collect food from an experimental plate, located at a certain microsite, it revisits this location (D'Adamo & Lozada, , , , ; Lozada & D'Adamo, , , , ; Moreyra et al ., ).…”

“…Moreover, when a wasp is collecting food in an anthropic scenario (e.g., picnics, barbecues), such food and contextual cues (e.g., cutlery, glasses) often change location (D'Adamo & Lozada, ; Lozada & D'Adamo, ). Previous studies have shown that when a wasp learns to collect food from an experimental plate, located at a certain microsite, it revisits this location (D'Adamo & Lozada, , , , ; Lozada & D'Adamo, , , , ; Moreyra et al ., ). However, if food is removed, the wasp continues to visit the feeding station for a certain period of time, until it eventually stops searching (Lozada & D'Adamo, ).…”