Implications of insect responses to supernormal visual releasing stimuli in intersexual communication and flower-visiting behaviour: A review

Animals, including human beings, tend to respond more strongly to stimuli that are associated with the highest relative rewards. This applies not only to food rewards but also to reproductive success. In the present review article this issue is discussed for insects in connection with intersexual co...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inEuropean journal of entomology Vol. 113; no. 1; pp. 429 - 437
Main Author KRAL, Karl
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Science 01.01.2016
Subjects
bumblebees
butterflies
floral size
floral symmetry
food reward
foraging
insects
mating
orchid mimicry
pollinators
ultraviolet signals
visual stimuli
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Summary:Animals, including human beings, tend to respond more strongly to stimuli that are associated with the highest relative rewards. This applies not only to food rewards but also to reproductive success. In the present review article this issue is discussed for insects in connection with intersexual communication and flower-visiting behaviour. Implications of the preference for supernormal visual releasing stimuli are examined from a sensory and evolutionary perspective, including a consideration of the choice of potential mates and recognition of the most rewarding flowers.
ISSN:1210-5759
1802-8829
DOI:10.14411/eje.2016.056