Transference of Induced food-habit from parent to offspring. Part I

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Abstract
Carausius morosus from a stock reared on privet for many generations were induced, with difficulty, to feed on ivy. An insect on hatching was given ivy. If after 3 days the ivy was untouched, privet was given and readily eaten. After 1 day with privet ivy was again given for another 3 days and so until the insect took ivy. In the 1st generation 10% of the insects took ivy at the 1st presentation, 32% at the 2nd, 21% at the 3rd, 12% at the 4th and so on for as many as 10 presentations before all (125 insects) were induced to eat ivy. These insects, grouped according to the presentation at which ivy was taken, were reared to maturity on ivy. In the next generation 78% of the 800 insects took ivy at the 1st presentation, 18% at the 2nd, 1.5% at the 3rd and 0.12% at each of the 4th and 5th presentations; none required more than 5 presentations before accepting ivy. Other insects of the 2nd generation were tested for preference: an insect on hatching was given both privet and ivy, being required to show its preference at 3 successive feeds. Of the offspring of privet-fed parents, 44% preferred privet, 21% preferred ivy, 35% were neutral; of the offspring of ivy-fed parents, 28% preferred privet and 35% ivy, and 35% were neutral.

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