Behavioral Diversity of Social Insects

 

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2018, Volume 39

Darcy G. Gordon & Angela M. Seliga

Abstract

Behavioral Diversity of Social Insects (BDSI) is a modular laboratory exercise designed to introduce students to methods of quantifying animal behavior by acquainting them with a diverse, ubiquitous, and interesting group of insects. Through interactive classroom instruction, field activities, and laboratory assays with termites and ants, students gain appreciation for insect diversity and apply the scientific method to behavioral observations. The BDSI exercise is composed of three main modules: Introduction to Social Insect Behavior, Field Biology, and Laboratory Assays. The introductory module is oriented towards getting students to understand how to measure insect behavior and the importance of its application. This is accomplished through a student demonstration of emergent behavior and an observational video activity. The field module takes students outside to explore the natural habitats of local ants, observe them, and collect specimens that they can identify by applying field biology skills. Finally, the assay module engages students in data collection and analysis by testing hypotheses regarding ant food preference, termite trail following, and ant and termite aggression and phototaxis. These activities are easily modified to fit into a variety of undergraduate laboratory courses such as an introductory course on ecology and evolution, animal behavior, or entomology.

Keywords:  ecology, animal behavior, entomology, modular, social insects, directed inquiry

University of Wisconsin, Madison (2017)