Local Enhancement Promotes Cockroach Feeding Aggregations

摘要: Communication and learning from each other are part of the success animal societies. Social insects invest considerable effort into signalling to their nestmates locations most profitable resources in environment. Growing evidence also indicates that glean such information through cues inadvertently provided by conspecifics. Here, we investigate social use foraging decisions gregarious cockroaches (Blattella germanica L.). Individual given a simultaneous choice Y-olfactometer between odour feeding conspecifics mixed food plus non-feeding showed preference for arm scented with (the presence conspecifics) was produced all age classes perceived at short distance olfactometer arms, suggesting rather than signals. We discuss nature these role local enhancement selection location based on associated formation aggregations B. germanica. Similar cue-mediated recruitments could underpin wide range collective behaviours group-living insects.