據(jù)發(fā)表在新一期PNAS（Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences）的文章報道，與多個蜂后生活在公社性群體中的紙巢黃蜂可識別各自的臉孔,。這種能力與該黃蜂的區(qū)別形狀和圖案的較為一般的能力是分開的,；它看來是各種譜系的包括人在內(nèi)的社會性動物獨立演化而成的一種專門的技能。
Michael Sheehan 和 Elizabeth Tibbetts假設(shè)：紙巢黃蜂Polistes fuscatus 學(xué)會辨識臉孔畫面的速度會比辨識其它畫面更快,，而且精度更高,。他們還預(yù)測，一種密切相關(guān)的其蜂巢中只有一個蜂后的物種Polistes metricus 則不會有這種學(xué)習(xí)識別長相的特別官能,。
研究人員用T-形迷宮來訓(xùn)練這兩種黃蜂區(qū)分兩幅畫面,，這種迷宮的整個地面除了某一分部中的一個安全區(qū)之外都是通電的。盡管安全區(qū)本身的地點在每次試驗中會有變化,，這兩種畫面中的一幅—有時為一個黃蜂的臉,，有時為另外一個畫面—始終被放置在該安全區(qū)中。紙巢黃蜂學(xué)習(xí)識別“安全”臉孔的速度要比與該安全區(qū)相關(guān)的其它畫面的速度更快,，而且它們做到這點的速度也要比P. metricus 更快,。文章的作者提出，黃蜂和哺乳動物有著顯著不同的眼睛和神經(jīng)結(jié)構(gòu),，但這兩個組群卻獨立地演化出了識別其物種中其它個體臉孔的能力,。（生物谷Bioon.com）
doi: 10.1073/pnas.1110306108
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Specialized Face Learning Is Associated with Individual Recognition in Paper Wasps
Michael J. Sheehan, Elizabeth A. Tibbetts
We demonstrate that the evolution of facial recognition in wasps is associated with specialized face-learning abilities. Polistes fuscatus can differentiate among normal wasp face images more rapidly and accurately than nonface images or manipulated faces. A close relative lacking facial recognition, Polistes metricus, however, lacks specialized face learning. Similar specializations for face learning are found in primates and other mammals, although P. fuscatus represents an independent evolution of specialization. Convergence toward face specialization in distant taxa as well as divergence among closely related taxa with different recognition behavior suggests that specialized cognition is surprisingly labile and may be adaptively shaped by species-specific selective pressures such as face recognition.
