The Ability of Insects to Distinguish Number

Pollinating insects, bees, bumble-bees, butterflies, and moths have been found able to distinguish numbers, if these are expressed in symmetrical figures as pictured in fig. 3. This ability seems to be dependent upon the stage of psychic development of insects and varies considerably among different groups. Different groups of numbers are clearly expressed in the flower types (fig. 4) and may serve as pointers for pollinating insects to find their plants. The comparative study of trimerous, tetramerous, and pentamerous flower types provides a new approach to the evolution of flowering plants.