Ok, I'll define intelligence as the capacity to learn. Is there one insect that stands out among the rest? Better yet, is there an insect that can be trained?
I understand that certain insect colonies create social structures but I'm thinking a single bug. I had a mantis land on my leg as I was sitting the other day. He just sat there for awhile before slowly turning his head to where he seemed to look me right in the eye and study me for a minute or two. So I placed the fingers of my right hand in front of him and he slowly climbed aboard. I then moved moved the fingers of my other hand in front of him and he did the same. I kept repeating this and the mantis started to get the hang of it and pretty soon he was practically running across my fingers. Going nowhere but moving fast. Did something happen in that little head of his to at least give him confidence to run upon my fingers without fear or was he just trying to get the hell out of there? Don't know why he just didn't fly away.
Anyway it doesn't sound like much but it did get me thinking about insect intelligence. Is there such a thing, can an insect learn?