Yamagishi, A. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2024

Helical grooves on the surfaces of microtrichia in European Hornets: Functional significance for antipodal relation between right and left hindwings

The surface structures of microtrichia on the hindwings of Verspa Crabro (European hornets) were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Helical grooves were seen in the microtrichia on both the ventral and dorsal sides. Their helical orientation varied spatially across the wing surface but were the same in the ventral and dorsal surfaces. Notably the grooves wound antipodally between the left and right wings. The observed chirality relation might be related to the effective anti-wetting of hindwings. The results demonstrated the importance of microscopic chirality in understrading the functions of insect wings.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2020

Helping Behavior in Prairie Voles: A Model of Empathy and the Importance of Oxytocin

Several studies suggest that rodents show empathic responses and helping behavior toward others. We examined whether prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) would help conspecifics who were soaked in water by opening a door to a safe area. Door-opening latency decreased as task sessions progressed. When the conspecific was not soaked in water, the latency of the door-opening did not decrease, indicating that the distress of the conspecific is necessary for the learning of the door-opening. These suggest that prairie voles learn helping behavior. We found no sex difference in the door-opening latency or the interest in other voles soaked in water. Additionally, we also examined the helping behavior in prairie voles in which oxytocin receptors were genetically knocked out. Oxytocin receptor knockout voles demonstrated less learning of the door-opening and less interest in other voles soaked in water. This suggests that oxytocin is important for the emergence of helping behavior.

animal behavior and cognition↗