Classical conditioning in Zootermopsis angusticollis

Presenting Author(s)

Joseph H. Norman

Cape Girardeau, MO, USA

Co-Author(s)

TJ

Timothy Judd, Ph.D.

Lab owner, professional mentor, Chair, Department of Biology
Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, Missouri, United States
HG

Hannah Gass

Classical conditioning has been well studied in vertebrates, social Hymenoptera and cockroaches. Although termites are roaches’ social phylogenetic descendants, learning in termites has not been well documented. Termites mainly rely on chemical cues for feeding; thus, they would be predicted to associate odor with food. In this study, we tested the ability of the termite Zootermopsis angusticollis to learn via classical conditioning. We used a natural odorant in conjunction with sugar water to attempt to elicit a feeding response. Termites were individually contained and exposed to our unconditioned and conditioned stimuli over the course of four trials, after which the response to the conditioned stimulus alone was recorded. We found that the individuals that were trained showed a positive response to the conditioned stimulus. Thus, Z. angusticollis can associate a novel odor with food.