If A is larger than B, and B is larger than C, which is larger out of A and C?
This question tests a kind of logic called transitive inference. It allows you to figure out information you haven’t been told, based on relationships you do know. Only some animals, including humans, monkeys and fish, can do this. Now we know that wasps can, too – the first insects we’ve found with this ability.
Scientists in America gave wasps a choice of two colours, one of which gave them a small electric shock if landed on. The insects soon learned which colours were safe in each pair. They were then able to use this information to land on correct colours in pairings they’d never seen before.
It’s believed that this is because wasps have a clear ranking system in their society, which means they already use this skill. An earlier study found that bees, who don’t have many ranks, don’t have the same ability.
Puzzle
Can you rank these five wasps from smallest to largest?
- The smallest wasp is red
- E and C are next to each other
- D is larger than A
- B is two smaller than E
- The two red wasps aren’t next to each other
- E isn’t the largest wasp
This article was published in Issue 34 of Double Helix magazine (https://www.csiro.au/en/Education/Double-Helix). Copyright for this article is held by CSIRO.
Lachlan Writes Science 