Olfactory Learning Supports an Adaptive Sugar-Aversion Gustatory Phenotype in the German Cockroach

An association of food sources with odors prominently guides foraging behavior in animals. To understand the interaction olfactory memory and preferences, we used glucose-averse (GA) German cockroaches. Multiple populations cockroaches evolved a gustatory polymorphism where glucose is perceived as deterrent enables GA to avoid eating glucose-containing toxic baits. Comparative behavioral analysis using an operant conditioning paradigm revealed that learning guide decisions. Cockroaches learned associate specific fructose (phagostimulant, reward) within only 1 h session, caffeine (deterrent, punishment) after three sessions. Glucose acted reward wild type (WT) cockroaches, but innately attractive odor was associated glucose. Olfactory retained for at least 3 days Our results reveal tastants can serve potent or punishment associative learning, which reinforces preferences. therefore, resistance sugar-containing may also generalize their baits contain same similar even if they do not