A cage containing male mosquitoes has a small earphone placed on top, through which the sound of a female mosquito is played. All the males immediately fly to the earphone and thrust their abdomens through the fabric of the cage. What is the best explanation for this behavior?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Copulation is a fixed action pattern, and the female flight sound is a sign stimulus that initiates it. This behavior is an example of an innate behavior triggered by a specific stimulus, which is a sign stimulus. The female flight sound is a sign stimulus that triggers the innate behavior of copulation in the male mosquito. This is an example of a fixed action pattern, where a series of behaviors are performed in a specific order in response to a particular stimulus.

A Cage Containing Male Mosquitoes Has a Small Earphone Placed