Hidden colour aversions in domestic chicks triggered by pyrazine odours of insect warning displays

Article Abstract:

The warning signals of toxic insects often combine pyrazine odors with conspicuous colorations, such as red or yellow. An investigation of these warning signals in prey choice experiments with birds shows that pyrazine interacts with red and yellow to trigger strong aversions to these typical aposematic colors that are not shown in the absence of the odor. Pyrazine is not inherently aversive and does not produce aversion when combined with a less conspicuous color. These provide the first proof that the purpose of multicomponent signals lies in the psychological responses produced by the interaction of different sensory components.

Research, Pyridazine, Color of insects, Insect coloration

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## Unpalatable evolutionary principles

Article Abstract:

Experiments on artificial palatable and unpalatable prey show that initially aggregation facilitates predator avoidance by unpalatable prey, resulting in the evolution of aposematism in the aggregated species. The gregariousness generates conditions for development of evolutionary advantageous warning signals, thus facilitating unpalatability effectiveness. Once the warning signals are established, other toxic prey species elicit similar warning signals, without the help of aggregation.

Reports, Predation (Biology), Aposematism

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Novelty effects in a multimodal warning signal

Article Abstract:

The warning signals of toxic insects often combine bright coloration with sounds or odours. Pyrazine is a common insect warning odour and can elicit avoidance in domestic chicks, Gallus gallus domesticus. The link between colour and odour found in experiments with pyrazine in domestic chicks was investigated. It is suggested that the novelty of the pyrazine is more responsible for eliciting a color bias rather than aspects of the odour.

Insects

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