Abstract：
It is generally believed that termites can\'t learn and are not \"intelligent\". This study aimed to test whether termites could have any form of memory. A Y-shaped test device with one release chamber and two identical test chambers was designed and constructed by 3D printing. A colony of damp wood termites was harvested from the wild. Worker termites were randomly selected for experiment. Repellent odors that could mimic the alarm pheromone for termites were first identified. Among all substances tested, a tea tree oil and lemon juice were found to contain repellent odors for the tested termites, as they significantly reduced the time that termites spent in the chamber treated with these substances. As control, a trail pheromone was found to be attractive. Subsequently, a second cohort of termites were operant conditioned by punishment using both tea tree oil and lemon juice, and then tested for their ability to remember the path that could lead to the repellant odors. The test device was thoroughly cleaned between trials. It was found that conditioned termites displayed a reduced tendency to choose the path that led to expectant punishment as compared with naïve termites. Thus, it is concluded that damp wood termites are capable of learning and forming \"fear memory\", indicative of \"intelligence\" in termites. This result challenges established presumption about termites\' intelligence.
摘要：
人们普遍认为，白蚁不能学习，也不“聪明”。这项研究旨在测试白蚁是否可以有任何形式的记忆。通过3D打印设计并构建了具有一个释放室和两个相同测试室的Y形测试装置。从野外收获了一群潮湿的白蚁。随机选择工人白蚁进行实验。首先发现了可以模仿白蚁警报信息素的驱散气味。在所有测试的物质中，茶树油和柠檬汁被发现含有被测试白蚁的驱虫气味，因为它们大大减少了白蚁在用这些物质处理的腔室中花费的时间。作为控制，一种线索信息素被发现很有吸引力。随后，第二组白蚁通过使用茶树油和柠檬汁进行惩罚来操作，然后测试他们记住可能导致驱散气味的路径的能力。在试验之间彻底清洁测试装置。发现与幼稚白蚁相比，条件白蚁选择导致预期惩罚的路径的倾向降低。因此，结论是潮湿的木白蚁能够学习和形成“恐惧记忆”，表明白蚁中的“智力”。这一结果挑战了白蚁智力的既定假设。
