Back to Search
Start Over
Age and experience influence patch assessment for oviposition by an insect predator.
- Source :
-
Ecological Entomology . Oct2004, Vol. 29 Issue 5, p578-583. 6p. - Publication Year :
- 2004
-
Abstract
- 1. Dynamic models of optimal foraging predict that an animal's decision to accept or reject a patch depends not only on the environment and patch quality, but also on its internal state. Previous experiments have shown that the two-spot ladybird beetle,Adalia bipunctata(L.), is reluctant to lay eggs in a patch of prey contaminated by the oviposition-deterring pheromone produced by conspecific larvae.2. An experiment was conducted to test whether the internal state of anA. bipunctatafemale affects its oviposition response to oviposition-deterring pheromone. Firstly, the oviposition response to oviposition-deterring pheromone of young and old females was compared. Secondly, the oviposition response to oviposition-deterring pheromone of females previously exposed continuously to oviposition-deterring pheromone was compared with that of females of the same age but with no previous experience of oviposition-deterring pheromone.3. Old females and females with previous experience of oviposition-deterring pheromone were less reluctant to lay eggs in the presence of oviposition-deterring pheromone than young and naive females. These results are consistent with the predictions of optimal foraging theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *LADYBUGS
*PREDATORY animals
*DEVELOPMENTAL biology
*LARVAE
*EGGS
*AMMOCOETES
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 03076946
- Volume :
- 29
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Ecological Entomology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 14410389
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0307-6946.2004.00633.x