Some Experiments on Form Perception in the Nymphs of the Desert Locust, Schistocerca Gregaria Forskål

Abstract

ABSTRACT Nymphs of the desert locust are spontaneously attracted to simple forms in the visual environment, and show a preference for certain figures. Experiments are described which analyse certain of the important properties which make a figure attractive to this insect. The insects show a preference for long straight vertical edges as opposed to short straight vertical edges. Straight vertical edges are preferred to straight oblique edges and vertical figures with straight edges are preferred to vertical figures with wavy or serrated edges. In the absence of straight vertical edges a preference is shown for the figure with the more complex contour (for figures of comparable size). It is postulated that in this insect form discrimination is based on the number of stimulus changes per unit time produced by moving contours and on the spatial and temporal distribution of such changes. The results are compared with those of previous workers and in particular with those of Hertz and of Wolf and Zerrahn-Wolf on the bee.