Marvelous Mantids

Amelia Bennett

Introduction Materials and Methods Conclusion

Praying mantids have a higher brain function than the average invertebrate. This Materials ⬜The mantids were too young to handle and train
• Mantids (x3)
experiment tests how they learn from the information given to them in their
environment. This is useful in the psychological study of many different complex • Food source culture (Drosophila melanogaster) ⬜The mantids have different temperaments
• Containers/housing (32 oz.)
organisms’ learning capabilities. The methods used could help train household pets.
Carle et al. fed their subjects “with fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) three times per • Misting bottle with water ▪ S. Su is extremely picky
Method(s)
week” (Carle et al., 2018). While Wilder and Rypstra fed their mantids “3-5 fruit flies
(Drosophila hydes)” (Wilder and Rypstra, 2005). This experiment used Drosophila
1. Having a different mantis for each method used (x3)  ▪ S. R is in the middle
2. Feed mantids every few days to a week apart
melanogaster. Animals such as dogs, horses, and other animals are rewarded and 3. Wait for them to finish fly and offer another ▪ S. Sa is the most cooperative
“typically treated well with positive reinforcement of behaviors that they naturally 4. Mist housing daily
performed, thus encouraging the repetition, in increased frequencies, of these 5. Continuing steps 2 and 3 until substantial data has been collected  ⬜The mantids ate based on their size and temperament
behaviors and the ability to conjoin the behavior with a command” (Wagschal 2020). 6. Put the data together
On the other hand, farm animals and other animals used for labor are trained with Experimental Set Up ▪ S. Su ate the least
“emphasis on brutal physical punishment” (Wagschal 2020). In this experiment, it was
aimed toward positive reinforcement. Between both two methods, positive ▪ S. R ate in the middle between the other two
reinforcement works more effectively. Over time, the bees are “likely over time to learn
nonoverlapping foraging routes and show resource partitioning” (Dubois, et al., 2021). ▪ S. Sa ate the most considering it is the largest and the most
The bees will stop going to the flowers used by the opposing hive and form their own cooperative
routes. This behavior further proves that the bees can learn specific behaviors when
the action benefits them. ⬜The mantids had learned where they get fed and will often only
leave my hand to get onto the lid that they are fed on
▪ S. Su does not jump off the lid of the container when it is
Feeding Graphs removed
▪ S. R jumps off more often
Experimental Design ▪ S. Sa never really jumped off the lid to begin with
S. Su
⬜The original objective was to see if the
mantids would learn simple tasks Based on the data collected, the
S. Sa number of flies that each subject ate
▪ This was not possible considering the while under surveillance correspond
mantids were too young to be handled with the size of the subject. S. Sa is

▪ They did learn to associate being

S. R twice the size of S. Su and S. R. This
also was based on how calm each
placed on the lid with being fed subject is. S. Sa is the calmest while S.
Graph 1 Flies Eaten While Observed
Su has always been quite a bit
⬜My original hypothesis was that the
panicked.
mantids could learn
(Photo taken by Amelia Bennett) Photograph of S. R

⬜The new hypothesis is that the mantids

would eat depending on their size
⬜IV- Age of mantis
References
⬜DV- Number of flies eaten
Carle, T., Moriwaki, R., Hurlbert, A., & Yamawaki, Y. (2018). Aversive Learning in the Praying Mantis (<italic>Tenodera aridifolia</italic>), a Sit and
Wait Predator. Journal of Insect Behavior, 31(2), 158–175. https://doi-org.proxygsu-scob.galileo.usg.edu/10.1007/s10905-018-9665-1
Dubois, T., Pasquaretta, C., Barron, A. B., Gautrais, J., & Lihoreau, M. (2021). A model of resource partitioning between foraging bees based on
learning. PLoS Computational Biology, 17(7), 1–19. https://doi-org.proxygsu-scob.galileo.usg.edu/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009260

⬜Control(s)- Type of prey used, housing Penagos-Corzo, J. C., Pérez-Acosta, A. M., & Hernández, I. (2015). Social Interaction and Conditional Self-Discrimination under a Paradigm of
Avoidance and Positive Reinforcement in Wistar Rats. Psicologica: International Journal of Methodology and Experimental Psychology, 36(1), 1–
15.

structure, and humidity provided Wagschal, S. (2020). Animal Training and Its Cognitive Implications in the Early Modern Iberian World. Romance Notes, 60(3), 503–512. https://doi-
org.proxygsu-scob.galileo.usg.edu/10.1353/rmc.2020.0048
Graph 2 Flies Added To Housing (Photo taken by Amelia Bennett) Photograph of S. Sa