Tag

Locusts

All articles tagged with #locusts

"Centrifuge-Enhanced Locusts Display Super Strength in Exoskeleton Development"
science2 years ago

"Centrifuge-Enhanced Locusts Display Super Strength in Exoskeleton Development"

Locusts exposed to simulated high gravity conditions in a custom-designed centrifuge showed increased strength in their exoskeletons and legs, but only up to a certain point. As the gravity simulation intensified, the locusts grew weaker and had higher mortality rates. This research sheds light on how insect exoskeletons can adapt to different conditions and provides insights for the development of biomaterials. The study also suggests that the ability to adapt to mechanical load may be a fundamental concept in skeletal biomaterials across various organisms, including insects and arthropods.

The Science Behind Our Sense of Smell and Insect Brains
neuroscience2 years ago

The Science Behind Our Sense of Smell and Insect Brains

Researchers studied locusts to understand why certain smells are appealing while others are not. They found that locusts innately preferred scents resembling grass and banana, while rejecting almond and citrus-like smells. The study provides insights into how an organism's preferences can constrain its learning ability, particularly in relation to the timing of rewards. The researchers also discovered that the timing of reward delivery during training was crucial for the locusts' association of scents with rewards. This research sheds light on how sensory signals are processed in the brain and how preferences are encoded.

Chemical discovered to prevent locust cannibalism
science2 years ago

Chemical discovered to prevent locust cannibalism

Scientists have discovered a pheromone emitted by locusts that helps them avoid being cannibalized when in a swarm. The chemical, phenylacetonitrile (PAN), was found to repel other locusts in behavioral tests. Future methods of locust control could use technology that tips the delicate balance between the mechanisms that cause migratory locusts to group together versus compete with one another.