Insects can’t be trained — at least not in the way you’re thinking of. No pats on the head for fetching a tiny ball or flying to a certain spot on command.
But research on hoverflies is challenging what entomologists thought they knew about insect learning.
These small, bee-mimicking insects are helping researchers understand how visual information shapes decision-making in animals with very small brains. Rather than being trained, hoverflies adjust their behavior in response to what they see and the conditions around them.
In this article, we’ll explore:
Yes, insects can learn from experience.
Many insects can associate sights, smells or locations with rewards and then change their behavior based on past outcomes.
In learning experiments with insects like fruit flies and hawkmoths, insects often demonstrate:
And hoverflies? They’re becoming an increasingly useful subject for entomologists. While they aren’t classic models for reward-based learning, hoverflies help researchers explore how visual information and repeated experience shape behavior in a very small nervous system.
In entomology, “training” isn’t about teaching insects to perform tasks. It’s about understanding how an insect’s experience and sensory information influence behavior.
Also known as flower flies (family Syrphidae), hoverflies are often mistaken for bees because of their similar coloring and frequent visits to flowers. Unlike bees, they don’t sting, but they do spend much of their adult lives moving between blooms in search of nectar and pollen.
So why are hoverflies especially useful for studying learning and decision-making in insects? From a research standpoint, they offer:
These traits become especially apparent during daily foraging.
During the day, adult hoverflies move from flower to flower while searching for food. Much like bees, this process is guided by what they see rather than by a fixed route.
As hoverflies fly, they respond to visual information such as color, shape and motion. When conditions change, they adjust their flight paths and landing choices instead of following the same pattern every time.
For example, a hoverfly approaching a cluster of flowers may change course if another insect moves into view or if the visual contrast of the flowers shifts.
Instead of training hoverflies the way you’d train a dog, scientists track how insects respond to visual cues across repeated encounters. (Unfortunately for the hoverflies, no one’s handing out treats for good behavior.)
In controlled studies, hoverflies are presented with artificial flowers that differ in features like color or shape. Rather than rewarding one choice over another, scientists track which flowers the insects approach or land on repeatedly across multiple encounters.
Over time, patterns begin to form. Some hoverflies show consistent preferences for certain visual cues, such as particular colors. This suggests that their choices are shaped by visual experience rather than chance.
These studies show that hoverflies can:
What researchers have not clearly demonstrated is classic reward-based learning, where an insect is taught to associate a specific cue with a sugar reward and remember it over time. In other words, hoverflies aren’t learning tricks for treats.
Instead, the evidence points to flexible decision-making guided by visual information in the moment. That flexibility allows hoverflies to respond effectively to changing environments without needing formal training.
Insect learning has practical implications beyond the lab. Understanding how insects learn helps researchers:
These insights about insect learning matter for anyone working in agriculture or conservation — fields where understanding pollinator behavior has never mattered more.
Whether you’re drawn to pollinator health, pest management or understanding how insects respond to a changing world, UF’s entirely online entomology graduate programs give you a flexible framework for graduate-level study.
These online programs are designed for professionals who want to study insect behavior in one of four specializations. Learn from anywhere, study on your schedule and build expertise that connects research to real-world impact.
Curious what that experience looks like in practice? Here’s what UF graduates have to say about the programs.
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