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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 9, 2026

Appetitive Associative Olfactory Learning in Drosophila Larvae

Appetitive Associative Olfactory Learning in Drosophila Larvae

Published on: February 18, 2013

Associative learning in a harvestman (Arachnida, Opiliones).

Gilson Costa dos Santos¹, Jerry A Hogan, Rodrigo Hirata Willemart

¹Laboratório de Ecologia Sensorial e Comportamento de Artrópodes (LESCA), Escola de Artes Ciências e Humanidades, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua Arlindo Béttio, 1000 - Ermelino Matarazzo, 03828-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Behavioural Processes

|August 13, 2013

Summary

Harvestmen (Opiliones) demonstrated associative learning by associating a chemical cue with a dark shelter. This study shows learning capabilities in arachnids previously unobserved in this order.

Keywords:

Chemoreception Cognition Olfaction Orientation Sensory ecology

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Published on: December 12, 2012

Area of Science:

Ethology
Arachnology
Animal Behavior

Background:

Associative learning is documented in invertebrates but understudied in arachnids.
Previous research focused on spiders and whip-spiders, leaving harvestmen (Opiliones) largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate associative learning in the Neotropical harvestman, Discocyrtus invalidus.
To determine if harvestmen can associate a chemical stimulus with a shelter.

Main Methods:

An experimental arena was designed with a light source and two floor openings.
One opening led to a dark shelter, the other was blocked.
Filter papers with chemical stimuli (mate or green tea) were placed near openings.
37 harvestmen were tested daily for 14 days, with behavior recorded.

Main Results:

Harvestmen showed increased speed in finding the refuge over 14 days.
Exploratory behavior decreased, and movement towards the open shelter increased.
These changes indicate a learned association between the chemical cue and the shelter.

Conclusions:

Discocyrtus invalidus exhibits associative learning capabilities.
The study successfully demonstrated that harvestmen can associate chemical stimuli with shelter locations.