PheroMod Project

We propose to study the modulatory effect of pheromones on experience-dependent behaviour of three insect species, the honeybee Apis mellifera, the ant Lasius niger and the moth Agrotis ipsilon, in order to determine the mechanisms that are either conserved across species or species-specific and associable with particular life-styles. The species differ in their evolutionary histories and ecological environments. This research project will achieve a comprehensive knowledge on how pheromones influence learning performances in three paradigmatic insect taxa that are models for fundamental and applied biological research. 

 

The general objective of this research project is to achieve an integrated understanding of how pheromones can act as modulators of experience-dependent behaviours of insects, in particular of insects’ learning and memory capabilities, besides their specific known function of inducing stereotyped behaviours. We will focus on three paradigmatic insect taxa that are models for fundamental biological research with a capital importance in economic activities: honeybees, ants and moths