Context:

Research conducted by the University of Exeter has uncovered the remarkable cognitive abilities of female digger wasps, which can remember the locations of up to nine nests amidst hundreds of others. These wasps demonstrate sophisticated scheduling by feeding their young in a specific age order and adjusting their routines if necessary, such as when an offspring dies or has previously received more food. The study highlights that these insects can track where and when they have fed their young with impressive accuracy, a task complex even for human brains. Remarkably, despite the challenging nesting environment of featureless sand and numerous intermingled nests, the wasps rarely make errors in revisiting their own nests, with only 1.5% of 1,293 food deliveries going astray. This research challenges perceptions of insect intelligence, suggesting that even small brains are capable of complex decision-making processes.

Dive Deeper:

• Female digger wasps exhibit the ability to remember the locations of up to nine separate nests among hundreds, showcasing an impressive level of cognitive function for such small creatures.

• These wasps engage in complex scheduling by feeding their young in a specific age order and are able to modify this order if circumstances change, such as when one offspring dies or has received more food initially.

• The study indicates that these wasps can remember detailed information about where and when they fed their young, surpassing what is generally expected from an insect brain in terms of complexity.

• Digger wasps create short burrows for their eggs and periodically return to provide additional food, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of nurturing and resource allocation.

• Living in a challenging environment of featureless sand among many other nests, the wasps demonstrate remarkable accuracy in returning to their own nests, with errors occurring in only 1.5% of over a thousand food deliveries.

• The findings suggest that the cognitive abilities of insects, specifically their capability for intricate decision-making, are more advanced than traditionally believed.

• This research challenges the perception that small-brained animals lack the capacity for complex behavior, highlighting the advanced mental feats these wasps perform in their natural habitat.