Researchers are finding that insects display valuation quirks once thought to belong only to larger-brained animals. Perception, prior experience, and simple neural constraints can nudge an insect toward choices that look “irrational” by classical economic standards. These biases reveal how a compact nervous system balances speed, accuracy, and energy cost, and they offer a window into basic rules of decision-making that operate across species.
Learning how insects evaluate options could change how we design habitats, time interventions, or support beneficial species. The next step is to trace how specific sensory and memory mechanisms create these valuation illusions, and to ask which biases help versus hinder survival. Follow the article to see which experiments uncover those stepping stones from insect behavior to broader lessons about human potential, adaptability, and inclusive approaches to stewardship.
Many animal choices are economic, requiring the evaluation of costs and benefits. However, as in humans and other vertebrates, the behaviour of insects often deviates from economic rationality due to the cognitive and perceptual biases that underly their decision-making, distorting the perceived value of options.
