Odour priming of a mosquito-specialist predator's vision-based detouring decisions

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2021 Jul 30:564:18-26. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.12.005. Epub 2020 Dec 26.

Abstract

A capacity to execute long detours that are planned ahead of time has cognitive implications pertaining to reliance on internal representation. Here we investigate the detouring behaviour of Evarcha culicivora, an East African salticid spider that specializes at preying on blood-carrying mosquitoes. The findings from our experiments are the first evidence of a salticid making detouring plans based on whether the path chosen leads to more preferred instead of less preferred prey, as well as the first evidence of olfactory priming effects on motivation and selective attention in the context of detouring. Test spiders began on top of a starting platform from which, in some trials, they could view lures on top of two poles and, in some trials, the odour of blood-carrying mosquitoes was also present. When odour was present and prey were visible, significantly more test spiders took a detour and chose a pole than when only odour was present (prey not visible) or when prey were visible but odour was absent. When odour was present, test spiders also significantly more often chose the pole holding a blood-carrying mosquito instead of the pole holding another prey type.

Keywords: Cognition; Detouring; Evarcha culicivora; Olfaction; Representation; Spider.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Odorants
  • Smell / physiology*
  • Species Specificity
  • Spiders