Animal–robot interaction induces local enhancement in the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann

 Animal–robot interaction (ARI) is an emerging field that uses biomimetic robots to replicate
 biological cues, enabling controlled studies of animal behavior. This study investigates the potential
 for ARI systems to induce local enhancement (e.g. where animals are attracted to areas based on
 the presence or actions of conspecifics) in the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (C.
 capitata), a major agricultural pest. We developed biomimetic agents that mimic C. capitata in
 morphology and color, to explore their ability to trigger local enhancement. The study employed
 three categories of artificial agents: full biomimetic agent (FBA), partial biomimetic agent (PBA)
 and non-biomimetic agent (NBA) in both motionless and moving states. Flies exposed to
 motionless FBAs showed a significant preference for areas containing these agents compared to
 areas with no agents. Similarly, moving FBAs also attracted more flies than stationary agents. Time
 spent in the release section before making a choice and the overall experiment duration were
 significantly shorter when conspecifics or moving FBAs were present, indicating that C. capitata is
 highly responsive to biomimetic cues, particularly motion. These results suggest that ARI systems
 can be effective tools for understanding and manipulating local enhancement in C. capitata,
 offering new opportunities for sustainable pest control in agricultural contexts. Overall, this
 research demonstrates the potential of ARI as an innovative, sustainable approach to insect
 population control, with broad applications in both fundamental behavioral research and
 integrated pest management.