Silkworm larvae (Bombyx mori) can learn cues associated with finding food

Abstract

The present study investigated the ability of silkworm Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) larvae to learn. Silkworm larvae were trained to consume food that was placed on red paper; consequently they became attracted to red, rather than blue paper even in the absence of food. In contrast, untrained controls had no preference for either red or blue paper. These results suggested that silkworm larvae learned to associate red paper with food, and that they can discriminate colors. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5609468

Keywords

• Bombyx mori
• Color discrimination
• Food
• Larva
• Learning
• Silkworm