Associative learning of non-sugar nectar components: amino acids modify nectar preference in a hawkmoth

Abstract

The nearly ubiquitous presence of amino acids in the nectar of flowering plants has led to significant interest in the relevance of these compounds to pollinator behavior and physiology. A number of flower-visiting animals exhibit behavioral preferences for nectar solutions containing amino acids, but these preferences vary by species and are often context- or condition-dependent. Furthermore, the relative strength of these preferences and potential influence on the foraging behavior of flower visiting animals remains unclear. Here, we use innate preference tests and associative learning paradigms to examine the nectar preferences of the flower-visiting hawkmoth, Manduca sexta, in relation to both sugar and amino acid content. M. sexta exhibited a strong preference for higher sucrose concentrations, while the effect of amino acids on innate feeding preference was only marginally significant. However, with experience, moths were able to learn nectar composition and flower color associations and to forage preferentially (against innate color preference) for nectar with a realistic amino acid composition. Foraging moths responding to learned color cues of nectar amino acid content exhibited a behavioral preference comparable to that observed in response to a 5% difference in nectar sucrose concentration. These results demonstrate that experienced foragers may assess nectar amino acid content in addition to nectar sugar content and caloric value during nectar foraging bouts.