Predatory behavior of the praying mantis,Tenodera aridifolia I. Effect of prey size on prey recognition

Abstract

Abstracts --Predatory behavior and effect of prey size of the praying mantis, Tenodera aridifolia, was investigated using three-dimensional prey models. Parameters of prey such as width, length, shape (length/width), area (width • length) and volume were investigated for effects on Watch and Attack responses. Regression analyses suggest that volume is the most important variable in prey recognition. This behavioral trait is considered adaptive, since prey volume is the most reliable measurement for the energy content of the prey.Prey recognition is important for predatory animals. Prey animals may be scarce, can frequently move, flee or even counterattack predators. Mittelstaedt (1957) clarified the orientation mechanism in the prey attack of the praying mantis. Rilling et al. (1959) concluded that the distance from the prey, prey movement and prey contour were significant in predatory behavior. Holling (1964) proved experimentally the optimal radius of the cylindrical prey model predicted from the structure of the mantis foreleg. Maldonado et al. (1967) concluded that the discrepancy between hit distance and distance of maximum motivation was filled with lunging.However, studies on predatory behavior have been made focused on a few aspects of prey recognition in the praying mantis and other predatory animals. Studies of size recognition by the predator have had only a single parameter of the prey size examined, without comparing prey length, width, shape, area and volume pa: rameters. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the effect of prey size on the predatory behavior and the significance for prey recognition of each parameter of the prey size in the praying mantis, Tenodera aridifolia (Stoll). Materials and Methods AnimalsThe praying mantis, Tenodera aridifolia, used in these experiments were collected as egg cases at Iwakura and Kirarazaka in Kyoto city in March, 1988. The egg cases were kept until hatching (May) on the rooftop of the building of the Zoological Department, Kyoto University. Hatched insects were reared individually to prevent cannibalism and fed on live crickets, Gryllus bimaculatus (de Geer), on a regular schedule described below. The 6th and 7th instar nymphs of the mantis were used in the present experiment. The mean body lengths were 53.9_+2.1 (R+S.D.) and 69.2• in the 6th and 7th instars, respectively. Feeding ScheduleIn the experiments of predatory behavior, the mantises were tested from the 0th (initial) day to the 3rd (final) day of starvation (Fig. 1). On the day of molting to the 6th or 7th instar (day 0), the insects were provided only with water. From the following day (day 1) to the

Response Properties of Visual Interneurons to Motion Stimuli in the Praying Mantis, Tenodera aridifolia

“…In behavioral experiments, the mantis frequently strikes a small moving block (Iwasaki, 1990;Prete, 1990) or a small moving square generated on a computer display (Prete and Mahaffey, 1993;Prete and McLean, 1996). This behavioral size-preference coincides with the spatial tuning of the SF neurons.…”

“…Rilling et al ., 1959; LF, large-field motion-sensitive; SF, small-field motion-sensitive. Holling, 1964;Iwasaki, 1990;Yamawaki, 2000a). Over the last decade, Prete and his colleagues have been studying the prey recognition algorithm used by the mantis.…”

Predatory behavior of the praying mantis,Tenodera aridifolia II. Combined effect of prey size and predator size on the prey recognition

“…Materials, feeding schedule, experimental apparatus, prey model and experimental procedure were described in detail in the previous paper (Iwasaki 1990).…”

“…It had been already established that for prey recognition in this mantis the most important parameter of prey size is the volume (Iwasaki 1990). The goal of the present paper is to clarify the rules of prey recognition, such as relative prey sizes, i.e., rations of prey size to predator size, as applied to all the stages of the praying mantis.…”

Relacões tróficas entre Euborellia annulipes, Harmonia axyridis e três pragas para aplicação em manejo

“…Isso resulta em escolhas de presas maiores e mais nutritivas, com maior facilidade de manipulação (IWASAKI, 1990;RICHTER, 1990;STREAMS, 1994;MARK;OLESEN, 1996 …”