Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 July 2009
Experiments were carried out to determine whether Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) was attracted to water on a wick suspended in an arena. When insects were preconditioned at 25, 50, 75 or 100% RH, they were attracted to the water source. Those preconditioned at 50% RH gave the greatest response and those preconditioned at 100% RH, the least. Measurement of the humidity changes in the arena caused by adding a wick containing 5 Μ1 of water showed that the gradient between the edge and centre was steepest at the start of an experiment when insect activity was also greatest. About 30 min after a wick had been placed in the arena, virtually all the water (about 94%) had evaporated, the humidity had equalised over the arena and the insects were no longer attracted to the wick. This behavioural response is discussed in relation to the insects' environment.