DOI: 10.5061/dryad.v3539d2
title: Data from: Innate ability of goats to sense and avoid ingestion of noxious insects while feeding

description: Large mammalian herbivores regularly encounter noxious insects on their
 food plants. Recent evidence revealed that goats efficiently avoid insect
 ingestion while feeding, yet it is unknown whether this ability is innate.
 We experimentally examined the behavioural responses of naïve goat kids to
 a common insect, the spring-webworm (Ocnogyna loewii). We filmed and
 analysed the kids’ behaviour while feeding and compared it to the
 behaviour described in adults. Naïve kids sorted the webworms apart from
 the food without ingesting them (all webworms survived). They exhibited
 behaviours similar to those displayed by adults, demonstrating an innate
 ability to avoid insect ingestion. The kids detected webworms using
 tactile stimulation, obtained by repeatedly touching the leaves with their
 muzzles. This enabled them to pick webworm-free leaves (leaving 93% of
 webworms behind). While adults frequently shook or discarded leaves with
 webworms or spat out webworms, these behaviours were rare in kids. The
 kids’ mean feeding rates doubled over the trials, indicating that their
 feeding efficiency on plants with and without insects improved with
 experience. Since ingesting noxious insects could be fatal, innate
 avoidance is critical. These findings highlight the importance of direct
 interactions between mammalian and insect herbivores.
description: Supplementary movie
 1A
 naive kid presented with a choice between control (left bowl) and webworm
 leaves (right bowl). The kid began feeding from the webworm leaves (first
 bite) yet, proceeded to feed from the control leaves. Once the control
 leaves were completely consumed, the kid fed on the webworm leaves while
 efficiently avoiding webworm ingestion. Video speed increased by
 ×5.Supplementary movie
 2Probing behaviour while
 feeding on leaves with webworms (right bowl). By repeatedly touching the
 leaves with its muzzle (probing), the kid was able to pick webworm-free
 leaves. Video speed increased by ×5.Supplementary movie
 3A
 feeding kid (not naïve) avoiding the ingestion of numerous webworms
 (non-choice trial). All six webworms remain intact. Video speed increased
 by ×5.Non-choice experiment-
 webworms (kid #2609)An example of a
 non-choice experiment- we presented a kid with one bowl at a time (control
 or webworm leaves) in randomized order. This bowl contains leaves with
 webworms.Non-choice experiment-no
 webworms (kid #2609)An example of a
 non-choice experiment- we presented a kid with one bowl at a time (control
 or webworm leaves) in randomized order. This bowl contains leaves without
 webworms.Dual-choice experiment-
 Trial 1 (kid #2639)We presented naive kids
 with a choice between two bowls (in randomized order) containing leaves
 alone and leaves with three webworms. We repeated this experiment over
 three consecutive days, in order to examine whether the kids learn to
 avoid webworms and feed more efficiently with experience. This video shows
 trial number 1.Dual-choice experiment-
 Trial 2 (kid #2639)We presented naive kids
 with a choice between two bowls (in randomized order) containing leaves
 alone and leaves with three webworms. We repeated this experiment over
 three consecutive days, in order to examine whether the kids learn to
 avoid webworms and feed more efficiently with experience. This video shows
 trial number 2.Dual-choice experiment-
 Trial 3 (kid #2639)We presented naive kids
 with a choice between two bowls (in randomized order) containing leaves
 alone and leaves with three webworms. We repeated this experiment over
 three consecutive days, in order to examine whether the kids learn to
 avoid webworms and feed more efficiently with experience. This video shows
 trial number 3.Dual choice
 trialsNon-choice
 experiment