Group predatory behavior by the assassin bugAgriosphodrus dohrniSignoret (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) |
| |
Authors: | Hiroshi Inoue |
| |
Institution: | (1) Entomological Laboratory, College of Agriculture, Kyoto University, 606 Kyoto, Japan |
| |
Abstract: | Summary Nymphs ofAgriosphodrus dohrni
Signoret (Reduviidae) have a strong gregariousness and show group predatory behavior. This study was conducted to clarify adaptive
significance of group predation of this species, including laboratory observations and 6-year field surveys.
In the laboratory, observations on both solitary and group attacking against armyworms were made at varying prey size classes
to compare the capture success rate by solitary predators with that by groups. The efficiency in capturing the prey was significantly
higher in group attacking at any prey size class compared.
Data obtained from the field surveys indicated the tnedency for searching nymphs to feed in group and to increase the number
of predators feeding per prey item with increasing prey size. Average sizes of prey captured were also larger in group feeding
throughout the nymphal stage. In particular, it was remarkable that, when prey were “creeping” types, the upper size limit
of prey eaten was dramatically increased. |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|