Direct and indirect effects of soil structure on the density of an antlion larva in a tropical dry forest

Farji‐Brener, Alejandro G.; Carvajal, Dorian; Gei, Maria G.; Olano, Juanita; Sánchez, Juan David

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2311.2007.00948.x

Cited by 22 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Disturbance often interacts with a feeding regime to affect decisions regarding trap relocation and construction (Chmiel et al, 2000;Barkae et al, 2010). Disturbance is common under natural conditions, as traps are often destroyed, and this often leads to relocation and lower local abundance (Gotelli, 1993;Farji-Brener et al, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of starvation and repeated disturbance on mass loss, pit construction, and spatial pattern in a trap‐building predator

Scharf

Dor

2015

Ecological Entomology

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1. Starvation tolerance is an important trait for animals, as most will encounter starvation within their lifetime. Sit‐and‐wait predators are better adapted to starvation owing to their naturally low encounter rate with prey. 2. Starvation tolerance was studied under three levels of disturbance of wormlion larvae, a strict sit‐and‐wait predator that constructs pits. 3. Frequently disturbed wormlions constructed pits less often, and larger individuals continued to construct pits more frequently than smaller ones. It was expected that a high disturbance level would lead to a high rate of mass loss, however, surprisingly, the rate of mass loss was not higher for the frequently disturbed group. This suggests that the energetic cost of pit construction and maintenance is not as high as previously suggested for other pit‐building predators. 4. Larger individuals tolerated starvation better, in losing a lower proportion of their initial body mass and having higher chances of survival throughout the experiment. 5. The effect of starvation on the distance to neighbours was also investigated, and starved individuals were expected to maximise this distance in order to avoid interference competition. However, wormlions were usually clumped, and starvation or feeding had no effect on the pits' spatial pattern, suggesting that interference competition plays a minor role in this species. 6. Generally, wormlion larvae demonstrated a high starvation tolerance and low mortality rates even after 9 weeks of starvation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of starvation and repeated disturbance on mass loss, pit construction, and spatial pattern in a trap‐building predator

Scharf

Dor

2015

Ecological Entomology

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“…This causes miniature landslides, which carry the prey back to the predator. Antlion larvae select sites for pit construction based on habitat suitability (Lucas, 1986;Farji-Brener et al, 2008), sand particle size (Allen & Croft, 1985;Loiterton & Magrath, 1996;Botz et al, 2003;Devetak et al, 2005;Matsura et al, 2005), prey availability (Griffiths, 1980;Sharf & Ovadia, 2006), level of disturbance (Gotelli, 1993) and abundance of conspecifics (Matsura & Takano, 1989;Linton et al, 1991).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Substrate particle size-preference of wormlion Vermileo vermileo (Diptera: Vermileonidae) larvae and their interaction with antlions

Devetak¹

2008

Eur. J. Entomol.

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Abstract. Wormlion larvae are found in substrates consisting of fine sand or powder, implying that they may be able to distinguish between different substrates according to particle size. To estimate the effects of particle size on wormlions, the pit-building decision of the larvae of the wormlion Vermileo vermileo was observed in four substrates consisting of different sand fractions. Wormlion larvae prefer the finest sand fraction with particle size 230 µm. When wormlions (Vermileo vermileo) and antlions (Euroleon nostras) are placed in the same container with two different substrates, interspecific predation does not occur. In two-substrate choice tests larvae of the two species show opposite preferences for two substrates offered. While wormlion larvae readily build pits in the finest sand fraction ( 230 µm), antlion larvae prefer coarser sand (with particle size 230-540 µm). Wormlion preference for the finest sands and powders, and antlion preference for sands of medium particle size was confirmed by field observations. Sand particle size affects the spatial distribution of sand-dwelling insect larvae and thus may reduce conflicts between heterosp ecifics.

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“…Furthermore, sand or loose soil may be blown by the wind and accumulate next to walls (which function similarly to a "sand fence" 57 ), providing a suitable substrate for wormlions' pits. However, walls may also facilitate the accumulation of leaf litter, presenting a potential disturbance for pit-building predators 58 , and possibly restrict the movement of potential prey.…”

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confidence: 99%

Do pit-building predators prefer or avoid barriers? Wormlions' preference for walls depends on light conditions

Scharf

Silberklang

Avidov

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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Ambush site selection by sit-and-wait predators is a complex process, involving biotic and abiotic considerations, which greatly affect hunting success and costs. Wormlions are fly larvae that dig pit-traps in loose soil and hunt the arthropod prey falling into their pits. They are abundant in urban environments, found below buildings that provide cover, and many of their pits are dug adjacent to walls. We examined here under what conditions wormlions prefer to dig their pits next to walls. We analysed our dataset in two ways: frequency comparisons among the different treatment combinations and a simulation null model assuming random movement. While the frequency comparisons suggested that wormlions avoided the walls under some cases, the simulation null model suggested that a combination of shallow sand and strong light in the centre led to an attraction towards the walls, independent of the wormlions' initial location. We suggest that wall attraction results from the certain amount of shade the walls provide. We also demonstrate that shallow sand and strong illumination are unfavourable microhabitats, either leading to more frequent movement or the digging of smaller pits. We locate our results within the broader context of sit-and-wait predators and of animals' attraction to barriers. In contrast to widely-foraging predators, sit-and-wait predators do not search for prey. Rather, they choose an ambush location and wait for the prey to enter their detection range before attacking it 1,2. This foraging mode allows sit-and-wait predators to save the energetic costs of searching and to survive long periods of shortage of prey by reducing their metabolic rate 3-5. Ambushing prey instead of searching can also lower the risk of predation on the sit-and-wait predator, due to the positive association between searching intensity and predation risk 6-8. This foraging mode's drawback, however, lies in the low encounter rate with prey, forcing such predators to be opportunistic foragers 1,9. Sit-and-wait predators must choose their ambush sites carefully. Because sit-and-wait predators count on the prey to reach them, they often select ambush sites rich in prey in order to maximize capture success 10-12. Sit-and-wait predators are therefore attracted to abiotic cues, which are either correlated with prey abundance or facilitate prey capture 13-16. However, in many other sit-and-wait predators, considerations related to minimizing ambush costs dominate over those related to high prey abundance. For example, sit-and-wait predators select sites that limit exposure to extreme thermal conditions 17-20. Trap-building predators (hereafter, TBPs) are a subgroup of sit-and-wait predators, which construct traps to facilitate the capture of prey 21,22. The most common trap-building predator groups are the web-building spiders and pit-building antlions or wormlions, presenting case studies of convergent evolution 21,23. The selection of suitable sites for trap construction and ambush for prey is even more important for this group of p...

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Direct and indirect effects of soil structure on the density of an antlion larva in a tropical dry forest

Cited by 22 publications

References 35 publications

The effects of starvation and repeated disturbance on mass loss, pit construction, and spatial pattern in a trap‐building predator

The effects of starvation and repeated disturbance on mass loss, pit construction, and spatial pattern in a trap‐building predator

Substrate particle size-preference of wormlion Vermileo vermileo (Diptera: Vermileonidae) larvae and their interaction with antlions

Do pit-building predators prefer or avoid barriers? Wormlions' preference for walls depends on light conditions

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