Stimulus Familiarity and Alley Illumination as Determinants of Approach Response Latencies of House Crickets

Abstract

To examine the effects of stimulus familiarity on the odor preferences of insects, crickets were lodged in bins permeated with either cherry extract or oil of camphor. After approximately 3 and 9 days of such exposure, Ss were placed in an alley in which a rag doused with either the familiar or novel substance was present in the goal area. Half the Ss were tested under conditions of low illumination, and half under conditions of high illumination. Ss more rapidly approached the familiar stimulus, but this effect was largely due to the performance of crickets in. one of the two exposure conditions. An interaction indicated that exposure to the cherry extract increased its relative attractiveness, while exposure to the oil of camphor decreased its relative unattractiveness. Latencies were shorter under conditions of high than low illumination. A simple incentive model was used to account for the co-effects of familiarity and illumination.