At first glance, we might think that all wasps look the same. But if you look closer at the face of a paper wasp Polistes fuscatus, you’ll see a variety of distinctive markings. Each face has its own characteristic splashes of red, black, ochre and yellow, and it’s reasonably easy to tell individuals apart. And that’s exactly what the wasps can do.

Other animals also have the ability to recognise faces, including a variety of mammals such as humans, other primates, dogs and sheep. This skill goes well beyond a general ability to learn shapes or patterns – faces hold a special thrall for us. Our brains process images of faces differently than any other group