How Did Wasps Find Their Way Home?
WouterThose annoying wasps that buzz around your head can be a nuisance. They can be very difficult to get rid of. Fortunately, they can also be controlled, if you know how.
A recent study at the Australian National University found that ground-nesting wasps use their homing skills to find their nests. They fly in arcs that start close to the nest and then increase in size. They also turn back toward their nest. Their arcs are determined by differences in their environment.
Zeil and his team analyzed the wasps’ flight patterns and used 3D models of their environment to render the wasps’ views. Their findings reveal that the wasps use visual breadcrumbs to locate their nests.
The researchers also used high-speed cameras to study the movements of the wasps’ bodies and heads. The cameras built a 3D model of the wasps’ flight pattern. This model was used to predict the paths that the wasps will take when returning to their nest.
The study, published in the Current Biology journal, found that wasps use a combination of photographic memory and visual cues to navigate. They also fly backwards to get a better view of their surroundings. This is referred to as a learning flight.
Zeil’s team is also investigating how the wasps’ homing abilities can be used to develop tools for ecological neuroscience. These tools will help researchers understand how insects process information in the wild.
Wasps can also be found in houses. They can enter through windows, basements, and vents. They can also crawl into wall cavities. The best way to prevent wasps from entering your home is to seal off entry points.
