2023 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2023 · GS Paper I

Question 15: Environment and Ecology

Which of the following organisms perform waggle dance for others of their kin to indicate the direction and the distance to a source of their food?

aButterflies
bDragonflies
cHoneybees
dWasps

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (c).

Honeybees perform the waggle dance, decoded by Karl von Frisch, inside the hive. The angle of the waggle run relative to vertical shows the direction of the food relative to the sun, and the length of the run shows the distance. Butterflies, dragonflies and wasps do not use this dance to share food locations.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Butterflies do not communicate food locations by dance.
  • (b) Dragonflies are solitary hunters and do not dance to signal food.
  • (c) Correct: honeybees waggle-dance to signal direction and distance.
  • (d) Wasps do not use the waggle dance.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2023, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.