Question

What insect can count?

Answer 1

Немецкие ученые обнаружили, что венерина мухоловка (dionaea muscipula) обладает способностью выполнить "счет" - каждое прикосновение к ее механорецепторным волоскам вызывает определенную реакцию ловушки насекомых: мгновенное захлопывание, активацию пищеварительных ферментов и поглощение пищи.

Answer 2

Some insects, such as bees and ants, are believed to have the ability to count to some extent. For example:

1. Bees: Honeybees have been observed to demonstrate a rudimentary form of counting. They can assess quantities and distances when foraging for food. For instance, if a bee finds a particularly rich nectar source, it may perform a "waggle dance" that indicates both the direction and distance to other bees in the hive. The duration and intensity of the dance convey information about the quality and quantity of the food source.

2. Ants: Certain species of ants also exhibit behaviors that suggest they can count. For instance, when searching for food, ants may lay down pheromone trails that lead back to the nest. The strength of these trails may vary depending on the quantity of food discovered. Additionally, some species of ants can recognize when the number of returning foragers is insufficient to exploit a food source efficiently, indicating a form of numerical assessment.

While these behaviors demonstrate some level of numerical cognition, it's important to note that insect counting abilities are far less sophisticated than those of humans and some other animals. They rely on simple mechanisms and cues rather than complex mathematical processing.