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

B. copulation is a fixed action pattern, and female flight sound is a sign stimulus that initiate it

C. Through classical conditioning male mosquitoes have associated the inappropriate stimulus from the earphone with the normal response of copulation.

D. The sound from the ear phones irritate the male mosquitoes, causing them to attempt to sting it

Question

Ronan Farrell

Biology

2 December, 05:41

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

B. copulation is a fixed action pattern, and female flight sound is a sign stimulus that initiate it

C. Through classical conditioning male mosquitoes have associated the inappropriate stimulus from the earphone with the normal response of copulation.

D. The sound from the ear phones irritate the male mosquitoes, causing them to attempt to sting it

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Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Miller · Answer 1

The correct answer is B. copulation is a fixed action pattern, and female flight sound is a sign stimulus that initiates it.

Explanation:

This kind of behavior is common among insects and other animals, and it involves stimulus from sounds emitted by the female, in this case, flight sound.