The Wonders of Instinct: Chapters in the Psychology of Insects Trivia Questions

What is the primary food source for the Green Grasshopper?

Crickets
Butterflies
Cicadas
Ants

Correct Answer: Cicadas

Correct Answer Explanation: The Green Grasshopper primarily targets Cicadas, preferring their sugar-rich abdomen.

What is the name given to the Empusa larva because of its peculiar appearance?

The Devilkin
The Spiderling
The Caterpillar
The Grasshopper

Correct Answer: The Devilkin

Correct Answer Explanation: The Empusa larva is often called the “Devilkin” due to its distinctive, horned appearance, which makes it seem menacing despite its small size.

How long does the Capricorn Beetle larva spend in its oak-trunk home?

One year
Three years
Five years
Ten years

Correct Answer: Three years

Correct Answer Explanation: The Capricorn Beetle larva lives for a remarkably long time in its oak-trunk home, feeding on the wood and preparing for its transformation, spending a total of three years before emerging as an adult.

What is the primary role of the Burying-beetle?

Scavenging
Building nests
Hunting prey
Gravedigging

Correct Answer: Gravedigging

Correct Answer Explanation: The Burying-beetle is not just a scavenger, but a true gravedigger, burying its prey whole to provide food for its developing larvae, highlighting their cooperative nature and remarkable strength.

What unique feature does the Pine Processionary caterpillar leave behind as it moves?

A trail of scent
A trail of droppings
A trail of silk
A trail of pheromones

Correct Answer: A trail of silk

Correct Answer Explanation: The Pine Processionary caterpillar uses its silk to create a trail that guides its movement, creating a social structure as the caterpillars follow each other in long processions.

How does the Narbonne Lycosa spider make its burrow unique?

It weaves a web at the entrance
It creates a distinctive curb around the entrance
It decorates the entrance with stones
It builds a trapdoor at the entrance

Correct Answer: It creates a distinctive curb around the entrance

Correct Answer Explanation: The Narbonne Lycosa spider is known for building burrows with a distinct curb around the entrance, which is crafted from materials like grass, twigs, or even stones, highlighting their impressive architectural abilities.

What material does the Eumenes wasp use to build its dome-shaped nest?

Mud
Wood
Silk
Leaves

Correct Answer: Mud

Correct Answer Explanation: The Eumenes wasp is known for its artistry in building dome-shaped nests using mud and small stones. The nest is often decorated with additional elements, like quartz pebbles, adding a touch of elegance to their construction.

Which of the following is used by the Osmia bee to build partitions in its nest?

Wax
Mud
Silk
Chewed leaves

Correct Answer: Mud and chewed leaves

Correct Answer Explanation: The Osmia bee displays flexibility in its nest building, using both mud and a paste made from chewed leaves to create partitions within its nest, demonstrating their adaptability and ingenuity in creating a safe and organized environment for their offspring.

What unique tool does the Glow-worm use to administer an anesthetic to snails?

Its antennae
Its legs
Its mandibles
Its venom glands

Correct Answer: Its mandibles

Correct Answer Explanation: The Glow-worm utilizes its specialized set of mandibles to inject an anesthetic into snails, rendering them immobile before feeding, showcasing their remarkable ability to control their prey and avoid struggles.

How is the Glow-worm’s light produced?

By reflecting moonlight
By a chemical reaction
By bioluminescent bacteria
By rubbing its body parts

Correct Answer: By a chemical reaction

Correct Answer Explanation: The Glow-worm’s light is produced through a chemical reaction involving the oxidation of a special substance, demonstrating their complex biochemistry and adaptation to their nocturnal environment.

Which of these insects is considered a voracious eater, consuming large quantities of cabbage leaves?

The Glow-worm
The Cabbage Caterpillar
The Pine Processionary Caterpillar
The Burying-beetle

Correct Answer: The Cabbage Caterpillar

Correct Answer Explanation: The Cabbage Caterpillar is known for its insatiable appetite, consuming vast quantities of cabbage leaves during its larval stage, showcasing its remarkable capacity for growth and its potential as a destructive pest.

How does the Microgaster glomeratus wasp parasitize the Cabbage Caterpillar?

It lays its eggs in the caterpillar’s food supply
It injects its eggs into the caterpillar’s body
It lays its eggs on the caterpillar’s eggs
It consumes the caterpillar’s eggs

Correct Answer: It lays its eggs on the caterpillar’s eggs

Correct Answer Explanation: The Microgaster glomeratus wasp demonstrates an interesting parasitic strategy by laying its eggs directly on the Cabbage Caterpillar’s eggs. The wasp larva then feeds on the caterpillar’s blood, eventually killing it, revealing a complex relationship between these two insects.

Approximately how much of the Cicada’s abdomen does the Green Grasshopper consume?

1/4
1/2
3/4
Entire abdomen

Correct Answer: Entire abdomen

Correct Answer Explanation: The Green Grasshopper’s predatory instinct is highlighted by its voracious appetite, consuming nearly the entire abdomen of its Cicada prey, showcasing its effectiveness in extracting the most valuable nutrients from its meals.

What is the maximum length of a Pine Processionary caterpillar procession?

3 yards
6 yards
12 yards
24 yards

Correct Answer: 12 yards

Correct Answer Explanation: The Pine Processionary caterpillar’s social behavior is demonstrated by its long processions, which can reach up to 12 yards in length, highlighting the importance of collective movement and social structure within this species.

What is the approximate size of a Lycosa spider’s egg-sac?

A peanut
A cherry
A small apple
A large grape

Correct Answer: A cherry

Correct Answer Explanation: The Lycosa spider’s maternal care is emphasized by the size of its egg-sac, which is comparable to a cherry, highlighting the dedication of these spiders to protecting their offspring.

How many caterpillars can a single Eumenes Amedei wasp lay in a nest?

1-3
5-10
15-20
25-30

Correct Answer: 5-10

Correct Answer Explanation: The Eumenes Amedei wasp’s industrious nature is shown by its ability to lay 5-10 caterpillars in a single nest, highlighting their ability to provide for multiple offspring with a single construction effort.

What is the maximum number of eggs that a Microgaster glomeratus wasp can lay in a single Cabbage Caterpillar egg?

Correct Answer: 65

Correct Answer Explanation: The Microgaster glomeratus wasp’s parasitic strategy is highlighted by its ability to lay up to 65 eggs in a single Cabbage Caterpillar egg, demonstrating its ability to maximize its reproductive success by exploiting its host’s resources.

During which month does the Glow-worm larva typically return to the surface after spending the winter underground?

January
March
April
June

Correct Answer: April

Correct Answer Explanation: The Glow-worm larva’s life cycle showcases its adaptability to its environment, spending the winter underground and returning to the surface in April, demonstrating its resilience and ability to survive challenging conditions.

What is the term for an innate behavior that is not learned?

Instinct
Intelligence
Reflex
Adaptation

Correct Answer: Instinct

Correct Answer Explanation: Instinct refers to innate behaviors that are not learned but are often complex and adaptive, highlighting the remarkable abilities of organisms to respond effectively to their environment without prior experience.

What are the fleshy, non-jointed appendages found on some caterpillars called?

Thorax
Abdomen
Prolegs
Spinnerets

Correct Answer: Prolegs

Correct Answer Explanation: Prolegs are the fleshy, non-jointed appendages found on some caterpillars, serving as additional gripping points for navigating surfaces and contributing to their remarkable mobility.

Which organs on a spider’s abdomen produce silk?

Spinnerets
Thorax
Legs
Venom glands

Correct Answer: Spinnerets

Correct Answer Explanation: Spinnerets are the organs on a spider’s abdomen that produce silk, highlighting the intricate processes involved in creating this versatile material for various purposes, such as webs, cocoons, and even hunting traps.

What is the immobile stage of a butterfly’s life cycle, enclosed in a hard case, called?

Larva
Pupa
Chrysalis
Egg

Correct Answer: Chrysalis

Correct Answer Explanation: The chrysalis is the immobile stage of a butterfly’s life cycle, where metamorphosis occurs within a hard case, showcasing the remarkable transformations that insects undergo during their development.

What is the organ on a female insect used to lay eggs called?

Ovipositor
Antennae
Prolegs
Spinnerets

Correct Answer: Ovipositor

Correct Answer Explanation: The ovipositor is the specialized organ on a female insect used to lay eggs, showcasing the reproductive processes and adaptations that enable these insects to ensure the survival of their offspring.

What is the young, immature stage of an insect called?

Pupa
Chrysalis
Larva
Egg

Correct Answer: Larva

Correct Answer Explanation: The larva is the young, immature stage of an insect, often exhibiting different appearances and behaviors compared to the adult form, showcasing the developmental stages of insect life.

What is the term for behaviors related to marriage or mating?

Nuptial
Social
Predatory
Instinctive

Correct Answer: Nuptial

Correct Answer Explanation: Nuptial behaviors encompass all aspects related to marriage or mating, showcasing the complex courtship rituals, competition for mates, and reproductive strategies employed by insects.

What is the state of being insensible to pain called?

Anaesthesia
Hypothermia
Hyperthermia
Coma

Correct Answer: Anaesthesia

Correct Answer Explanation: Anaesthesia is the state of being insensible to pain, often used in medical procedures and sometimes observed in insects, highlighting their physiological responses to various stimuli and their ability to manage pain and discomfort.

What is the female reproductive organ, where eggs are produced, called?

Ovary
Uterus
Testis
Ovary

Correct Answer: Ovary

Correct Answer Explanation: The ovary is the female reproductive organ where eggs are produced, showcasing the essential role it plays in reproduction and the continuation of insect species.

What is the immobile stage of an insect’s life cycle, typically after the larval stage, called?

Larva
Pupa
Egg
Chrysalis

Correct Answer: Pupa

Correct Answer Explanation: The pupa is the immobile stage of an insect’s life cycle, following the larval stage, during which significant changes occur, leading to the emergence of the adult form.

What does the Green Grasshopper primarily target when hunting Cicadas?

Their wings
Their legs
Their head
Their abdomen

Correct Answer: Their abdomen

Correct Answer Explanation: The Green Grasshopper targets the Cicada’s abdomen, which contains the most nutrient-rich parts, specifically the sugary fluid, demonstrating their ability to identify and exploit the most valuable parts of their prey.

How does the Empusa larva use its head-dress?

As a camouflage
As a communication tool
As a defensive weapon
As a food-gathering tool

Correct Answer: As a defensive weapon

Correct Answer Explanation: The Empusa larva utilizes its distinctive head-dress as a defense mechanism, butting its prey to deter attacks, showcasing its remarkable adaptations for protecting itself and avoiding predation.

What special chamber does the Capricorn Beetle larva construct before its transformation?

A cocoon
A burrow
A nest
A chrysalis

Correct Answer: A cocoon

Correct Answer Explanation: The Capricorn Beetle larva exhibits foresight by constructing a special chamber for its transformation, preparing for the transition into the adult form within a safe and protected environment.

What do Burying-beetles do when encountering large prey that requires displacing obstacles?

They abandon the prey
They rely on other beetles to help
They work together to bury the prey
They wait for the prey to decompose

Correct Answer: They work together to bury the prey

Correct Answer Explanation: Burying-beetles demonstrate remarkable cooperation, working together to bury large prey, even if it requires displacing or breaking obstacles, showcasing their impressive coordination and strength.

What is the primary function of the silk trail left by the Pine Processionary caterpillar?

To attract mates
To mark territory
To guide movement
To build nests

Correct Answer: To guide movement

Correct Answer Explanation: The Pine Processionary caterpillar’s silk trail serves as a guide for its movement, keeping the caterpillars in line and maintaining unity within the group, highlighting the importance of social cohesion and coordinated behavior.

What materials does the Narbonne Lycosa spider use to build its burrow’s curb?

Wood
Stones
Silk
Grass and twigs

Correct Answer: Grass and twigs

Correct Answer Explanation: The Narbonne Lycosa spider uses readily available materials like grass and twigs to build its burrow’s distinctive curb, showcasing its adaptability to its environment and its resourcefulness in utilizing available resources for construction.

What decorative elements does the Eumenes wasp often incorporate into its nest?

Flowers
Shells
Quartz pebbles
Feathers

Correct Answer: Quartz pebbles

Correct Answer Explanation: The Eumenes wasp adds an artistic touch to its nest by incorporating quartz pebbles, demonstrating its aesthetic sensibilities and its ability to decorate its home with visually appealing elements.

How does the Osmia bee control the sex of its offspring?

By manipulating the environment
By choosing its mate
By controlling the size of the egg
By varying the size of its nest cells

Correct Answer: By varying the size of its nest cells

Correct Answer Explanation: The Osmia bee exhibits control over the sex of its offspring by varying the size of its nest cells, showcasing its ability to manipulate its reproductive strategy to ensure the survival of its offspring.

What is the primary function of the anesthetic administered by the Glow-worm to snails?

To kill the snails
To weaken the snails
To immobilize the snails
To digest the snails

Correct Answer: To immobilize the snails

Correct Answer Explanation: The Glow-worm’s anesthetic is used to immobilize snails before feeding, ensuring a less strenuous and more efficient meal, demonstrating their ability to subdue their prey effectively.

What is the primary reason the Cabbage Caterpillar consumes large quantities of cabbage leaves?

To attract mates
To store energy
To build nests
To defend its territory

Correct Answer: To store energy

Correct Answer Explanation: The Cabbage Caterpillar consumes large quantities of cabbage leaves primarily to store energy, facilitating its growth and development during its larval stage, showcasing its remarkable ability to transform food into energy for its transformation.

Which of the following is not a characteristic of the Microgaster glomeratus wasp’s parasitic strategy?

It lays its eggs in the caterpillar’s food supply
It lays its eggs on the caterpillar’s eggs
The wasp larva feeds on the caterpillar’s blood
The wasp larva eventually kills the caterpillar

Correct Answer: It lays its eggs in the caterpillar’s food supply

Correct Answer Explanation: The Microgaster glomeratus wasp’s parasitic strategy doesn’t involve laying eggs in the caterpillar’s food supply; instead, it focuses on directly parasitizing the caterpillar’s eggs, showcasing a more targeted approach to exploiting its host.

What does the presence of the distinctive curb around the Narbonne Lycosa spider’s burrow indicate?

A sign of a dominant spider
A warning to potential predators
An indicator of a successful hunt
An aid in navigating the environment

Correct Answer: A warning to potential predators

Correct Answer Explanation: The distinctive curb serves as a warning to potential predators, alerting them to the presence of the spider and its burrow, showcasing its defense mechanism and ability to protect its territory.

What unique aspect of the Eumenes wasp’s nest construction demonstrates its adaptability?

Its ability to choose various nesting sites
Its ability to control the sex of its offspring
Its ability to decorate its nest with quartz pebbles
Its ability to build nests from different materials

Correct Answer: Its ability to choose various nesting sites

Correct Answer Explanation: The Eumenes wasp’s ability to choose various nesting sites, showcasing its adaptability to different environments and its capacity to find suitable locations for its nest.

How does the Osmia bee’s flexible nest building contribute to its reproductive success?

It allows it to build larger nests
It enables it to control the sex of its offspring
It helps it avoid competition with other bees
It allows it to adapt to various housing options

Correct Answer: It allows it to adapt to various housing options

Correct Answer Explanation: The Osmia bee’s flexibility in its nest building allows it to adapt to various housing options, increasing its chances of finding suitable locations for its nest and ensuring the survival of its offspring.

What is the primary purpose of the Glow-worm’s light production?

To attract mates
To deter predators
To communicate with other Glow-worms
To illuminate its surroundings

Correct Answer: To attract mates

Correct Answer Explanation: The Glow-worm’s light production serves primarily as a means of attracting mates, showcasing its ability to use bioluminescence for communication and reproduction.

What aspect of the Cabbage Caterpillar’s behavior makes it a significant agricultural pest?

Its ability to consume large quantities of leaves
Its ability to spread diseases
Its ability to attract predators
Its ability to compete with other insects

Correct Answer: Its ability to consume large quantities of leaves

Correct Answer Explanation: The Cabbage Caterpillar’s voracious appetite for cabbage leaves makes it a significant agricultural pest, as it can quickly decimate crops, impacting agricultural productivity.

Why is the Microgaster glomeratus wasp’s parasitic strategy considered a complex biological interaction?

It involves a delicate balance between predator and prey
It highlights the adaptability of both species
It showcases the interconnectedness of insect populations
All of the above

Correct Answer: All of the above

Correct Answer Explanation: The Microgaster glomeratus wasp’s parasitic strategy exemplifies a complex biological interaction, involving a delicate balance between predator and prey, highlighting the adaptability of both species and showcasing the interconnectedness of insect populations.

What is the primary purpose of the distinctive curb around the Narbonne Lycosa spider’s burrow?

To attract prey
To signal the presence of the spider
To camouflage the burrow
To store food

Correct Answer: To signal the presence of the spider

Correct Answer Explanation: The distinctive curb acts as a signal, alerting potential predators to the presence of the spider and its burrow, serving as a warning and defense mechanism.