[Leps-l] looking for info about butterfly recognition of individual humans

[John Shuey]

The closest thing I'm aware of is Heliconius butterflies "trap lining" nectar sources - meaning that individual bugs follow pretty much the exact same route visiting flowers each day.  Implying that there is some sort of memory at work that spans the night.  I think this came out of Larry Gilbert's Costa Rica field work back in the 80's (assuming that my memory is better than a bug's).

john

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From: Bill Cornelius <billcor at mcn.org>
Sent: Friday, July 8, 2022 9:10 PM
To: John Shuey <jshuey at TNC.ORG>; Leps list <leps-l at mailman.yale.edu>
Subject: Re: [Leps-l] looking for info about butterfly recognition of individual humans

Hi John:

That's an interesting article. Do you know of anything similar concerning butterflies? I have a bet with a state parks ranger, but she has to prove butterflies don't remember individuals. I'm pretty sure that's an impossible proof to begin with but I still need to show something besides my own observation & opinion or she can claim default.

Bill :)

On Jul 8, 2022, at 4:46 PM, John Shuey <jshuey at TNC.ORG<mailto:jshuey at TNC.ORG>> wrote:


Although everyone knows that birds are superior beings, it surprised me that Common Terns could recognize a threat arriving in an orange VW van from one year to the next and fly out to attack and stain the vehicle before the person even got out, having not seen the vehicle or person for 10 months.

Crows are known to recognize faces that do evil to them.   See -https://www.npr.org/2019/09/13/760666490/crows-are-they-scary-or-just-scary-smart<https://www.npr.org/2019/09/13/760666490/crows-are-they-scary-or-just-scary-smart>

john


From: Leps-l <leps-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:leps-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu>> On Behalf Of Michael Gochfeld
Sent: Friday, July 8, 2022 5:14 PM
To: Bill Cornelius <billcor at mcn.org<mailto:billcor at mcn.org>>; Leps list <leps-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:leps-l at mailman.yale.edu>>
Subject: Re: [Leps-l] looking for info about butterfly recognition of individual humans

It shouldn't be a surprise that an insect can recognized a food-giver or a threat.  Whether and how they classify these and to what extent they can distinguish individuals can be tested.  How long they "remember" ----not sure.  Whether they recognize visually or olfactory, and whether it is the person or the body language would be good to study.

On a different note:

Although everyone knows that birds are superior beings, it surprised me that Common Terns could recognize a threat arriving in an orange VW van from one year to the next and fly out to attack and stain the vehicle before the person even got out, having not seen the vehicle or person for 10 months.

MIKE GOCHFELD

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From: Leps-l <leps-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:leps-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu>> on behalf of Bill Cornelius <billcor at mcn.org<mailto:billcor at mcn.org>>
Sent: Friday, July 8, 2022 12:45 AM
To: Leps list <leps-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:leps-l at mailman.yale.edu>>
Subject: [Leps-l] looking for info about butterfly recognition of individual humans

Hi List:

I read some time ago, before fact checking was an industry, that some reared Heliconius charithonia will recognize individual people that have acted threateningly or non threateningly towards them and react correspondingly days or weeks later. Can anyone send me any info on that? My own experience with Polygonias indicates they do have that capability. I'm looking for support but any info will do.

thanks
Bill Cornelius
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