Do Wasps Have Brains?

Until recently, it was thought that insects like wasps did not have brains. However, a growing body of research suggests that insects do indeed have brains.

Insects are one of the most abundant creatures on Earth. They are also highly intelligent. Paper wasps, for example, can recognize simple shapes and colors. They also have surprisingly long memories. Paper wasps are also capable of forming abstract concepts. They can transfer their visual training to their sense of smell. They also have specialized brain mechanisms for processing facial markings. And researchers have found that nest-reared paper wasps retain their ability to recognize faces.

Sean O’Donnell, a professor at Drexel University, has studied social complexity in bees, termites, and wasps. His work has focused on the mushroom bodies of wasps’ brains, which are similar to the cerebrum of vertebrates. These areas are important for visual processing, memory, and learning.

O’Donnell also found that the size of wasp brains changed as the insects matured. He found that the key processing regions in male wasps increased in size as the wasps dominated their environment. However, the size of wasp brains did not change as the insects entered a social environment.

O’Donnell’s work was published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B. He is currently studying the social complexity of termites. He is also the Principal Curator in Charge (Insects) at the Natural History Museum in London.

A University of Michigan study is also shedding light on the complex social behavior of wasps. Researchers found that paper wasps lose their ability to recognize faces when they are raised in isolation. Despite this, the wasps were still able to recognize faces when they were introduced to new stimuli.

Continue reading:

Can Wasps Take Over a Bees Nest? How Are Wasps Good For the Environment? How to Get Rid of Wasp Nests in the Ground How to Keep Wasps Out of Your Home Several Types of Insects Can Cause an Allergic Reaction in Humans How Can Wasps Break Through Walls? How Can Wasps Be Smoked Out? Can You Kill Wasps With Fly Spray?