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Published online 15 November 2007 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news.2007.252
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Mechanical pied pipers for cockroaches
Insects can be lured into a shelter by scented robo-roaches.
Scientists have designed tiny robots that can mingle with a social group of cockroaches and influence their behaviour.
They say that similar robots will help them to unpick the decision-making processes in other gregarious species that carry out 'collective behaviours' such as deciding where to rest or selecting food sources.
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A one-metre diameter plastic arena containing two 155-centimetre diameter shelters? Quite a feat indeed! PierreV
I like PV's comment. A quart into a pint pot springs to mind. The whole thing takes on a surreal feel: Robots wrapped in damp blotting paper, and smelling of 'eau de cockroach'...hmmm. Cockroaches are nocturnal, and therefore prefer to be active in the dark, not rest in the dark, surely? Have I misconstrued this sentence in the text? What is the purpose of this investigation? I think that mainly, we need to find ways to exterminate the critters. I suggest sticky traps. There is no build up of immunity to that, as there is with poisons. Anyway, keep up the good work!