Wasps eavesdrop on rivals to assess their fighting abilities

Study provides further evidence of tiny-brained insects’ capacity for sophisticated behaviours

Wasps with brains a million times smaller than humans can spy on their rivals to assess their fighting abilities, according to a new study.

Scientists say the findings – based on observations of female paper wasps – provide further evidence of the insects’ capacity for sophisticated behaviours.

The experiment sought to challenge the idea that, compared to many vertebrate animals, insects were unable to use “social eavesdropping” to learn about potential rivals before interacting with them personally.