Abstract
The efficiency of biological control programs with predators depends on knowing defense behaviour of caterpillars to avoid or to reduce predation. The objective was to evaluate whether caterpillars of Thyrinteina arnobia (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) associate different defense behaviours against the predator Podisus distinctus (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) and to describe them. Adults of this predator were released in three wood screen cages (50 cm × 40 cm × 40 cm) and maintained without food for two days. Caterpillars of T. arnobia of different instars were released inside each cage. Behaviour patterns of these caterpillars were evaluated during 6 consecutive hours. The caterpillars, initially, explored the environment and they assumed camouflage position. They attacked the predators with the jaws. A new defense behaviour was observed in 43% of T. arno bia caterpillars. They hung from silk threads in the cage when upset by the predators. Caterpillars of this herbivore presented different defense behaviour including camouflage, attacking the predator with its jaws and hung from silk threads. This last one is the most efficient defense behaviour against the predator P. distinctus.
Zusammenfassung
Die Effizienz biologischer Bekämpfungsprogramme mittels Räubern beruht auf der Kenntnis der Verteidigungsstrategien der Schaderreger zur Vermeidung oder Verminderung der Prä-dation. Das Ziel dieser Studie war die Untersuchung der Frage, ob Larven der Schmetterlingsart Thyrinteina arnobia (Lepido-ptera: Geometridae) unterschiedliche Abwehrstrategien ge-genüber der räuberischen Wanze Podisus distinctus (Heterop-tera: Pentatomidae) verwenden und, falls dies zuträfe, sie zu beschreiben. Adulte Exemplare der Raubwanze wurden zu diesem Zweck in drei Holzrahmenkäfige der Ma ß e 50 cm × 40 cm × 40 cm zwei Tage ohne Futter gehalten. Dann wurden Larven unterschiedlicher Entwicklungsstadien von T. A r nob ia in die Käfige gesetzt. Das Verhalten dieser Larven wurde wäh-rend der folgenden 6 Stunden beobachtet. Zu Beginn erkunde-ten die Schmetterlingslarven die Umgebung und nahmen dann eine Tarnhaltung ein. Während Angriffen der Raubwanzen attackierten sie die Räuber mit Hilfe ihrer Mandibeln. Ein bis-lang nicht bekanntes Abwehrverhalten bestand darin, dass 43% der angegriffenen Tiere ihren Aufenthaltsort mit Hilfe von Spinnfäden verlie ß en. Dieses Abwehrverhalten ist effizienter als die Tarnung und der Angriff der Raubwanze P. distin ctus.
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Soares, M.A., Zanuncio, J.C., Leite, G.L.D. et al. Does Thyrinteina arnobia (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) use different defense behaviours against predators?. J Plant Dis Prot 116, 30–33 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03356283
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03356283