Wasps have a good memory for a face

[Indenturedebtor]

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14776-wasps-have-a-good-memory-for-a-face.html?DCMP=ILC-hmts&nsref=news1_head_dn14776

Wasps can remember each other after a busy week apart, according to new research. It's a level of social memory never seen before in insects, which were long thought to be too small-brained for such a feat.

Queens of the paper wasp, Polistes fuscatus, form cooperative nests after fighting to establish a dominance hierarchy.

When big-brained vertebrates like primates fight to establish dominance, they benefit from their ability to remember previous adversaries. But insects, even those with complex social colonies, were thought to lack that kind of individual social intelligence.

Michael Sheehan and Elizabeth Tibbetts at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, tested that idea.

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Always happy to see research that furthers our appreciation of the abilities of the animal world. A little less "Human Arrogance" would go a long way towards us showing more respect for the environment.

[grannie4peace]

1. man, that's trippy :):):)

[Muttocracy]

2. wasn't there a study about sheep recognizing each other

I swear I read about that a few years ago. Clearly we are just tuned in to the human perspective and missing out. I wonder how many non-human animals think we all look alike ;)

[Indenturedebtor]

5. Wouldn't be surprised hehe - here's another one about Chimps recognizing bums

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14783-chimps-never-forget-a-bum.html?DCMP=ILC-hmts&nsref=news2_head_dn14783

:lol:

[CarlFrank]

3. Crows remember

There was a report I read somewhere that CROWS can remember humans. Apparently in this study wherever, some humans treated some crows badly (on purpose, for the study) and another group of humans treated them nicely by giving them food, etc. When the two groups of humans came back later, the crows pecked and flapped at the humans who treated them badly. They did not peck at the other group.

[lynnertic]

8. Crows are smarter than you think!

I read an article (here?) about a theory that mankind decided we were 'above' animals in order to rationalize killing them for food.

[the other one]

4. But aren't all animals just food for us sent by spaghetti monster?

Meat is murder. Even wasps.

Although I confess that I do eliminate wasp nests in pre-emptive self-defense. Its my version of the Bush doctrine. But I say a prayer first and commend their souls to the universe.

[lynnertic]

7. they don't die when you wreck the nest, they just move a few feet away.

in my experience.

[central scrutinizer]

6. WASPS: "All _______ (fill in the blank) look the same to me"

Oh, you meant wasps, not White Anglo Saxon Palinbots