Sex and lifestyle dictate learning performance in a neotropical wasp

In contrast to extensive investigations on bee cognition, the cognitive capacities of wasps remain largely unexplored despite their key role as pollinators and predators of insect pests. Here we studied learning and memory in the neotropical wasp Mischocyttarus cerberus using a Pavlovian conditioning in which harnessed wasps respond with conditioned movements of their mouthparts to a learned odorant. We focused on the different castes, sexes, and ages coexisting within a nest and found that adults of M. cerberus learned and memorized efficiently the odor-sugar associations. In contrast, newly emerged females, but not males, were unable to learn odorants. This difference concurs with their different life-style as young males perform regular excursions outside the nest while young females remain in it until older age. Our results thus highlight the importance of socioecological constraints on wasp cognition and set the basis for mechanistic studies on learning differences across ages and castes.

Automated summary

Despite their role as pollinators and predators, the cognitive capacities of wasps, such as learning and memory, have been largely unexplored. In this study, we used Pavlovian conditioning to show that the neotropical wasp Mischocyttarus cerberus efficiently learns and remembers odor-sugar associations. However, differences in learning ability were observed between male and female wasps, possibly due to their different lifestyles. These findings highlight the importance of socioecological constraints on wasp cognition and provide a basis for further mechanistic studies on learning differences across ages and castes.