Consequences of refuge for the functional response ofDermestes ater(Coleoptera: Dermestidae) toMusca domestica(Diptera: Muscidae)

Abstract

It is well known that a predator has the potential to regulate a prey population only if the predator responds to increases in prey density and inflicts greater mortality rates. Predators may cause such density‐dependent mortality depending on the nature of the functional and numerical responses. Yet, few studies have examined the relationship between the addition of refuges and the characteristic of functional response fits. We investigated whether addition of a refuge changed the type of functional response exhibited by Dermestes ater on Musca domestica, comparing the inherent ability of D. ater to kill houseflies in the absence and in the presence of refuge. An additional laboratory experiment was also carried out to assess handling and searching times exhibited by D. ater. Logistic regression analyses revealed a type III functional response for predator–prey interaction without refuge, and results were described by the random predator equation. The mean number of prey killed did not differ between experimental habitats, indicating that the addition of refuge did not inhibit predation. However, predators that interacted with prey without refuge spent less time searching for prey at higher densities, increasing predatory interaction. We concluded that this interaction may be weak, because data from experiments with refuge fitted poorly to models. However, the high variability and the nonsignificance of the data from the experiment with refuge show the importance of refuge for promoting spatial heterogeneity, which may prevent prey extinction.

You can’t run but you can hide: refuge use in frog tadpoles elicits density-dependent predation by dragonfly larvae

“…Furthermore, our study may represent the first evidence of predator-centric induction of densitydependent predation on a solitary, non-sessile prey species (e.g. Frost 1975;Hassell et al 1977;Menezes et al 2005). Regardless, further study of the relative contributions to density dependence by predators and prey across systems is required before we can fully appreciate the roles that various trophic levels play in the dynamics of populations.…”

A mummified human corpse and associated insects of forensic importance in indoor conditions

“…The literature describes cases of interactions between Dermestes spp. and flies [37,38]. In one of them, researchers conducting an experimental study proved that D. ater, although a typical necrophage [12], exhibits predatory behaviour [37] in relation to larvae of Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae).…”

“…and flies [37,38]. In one of them, researchers conducting an experimental study proved that D. ater, although a typical necrophage [12], exhibits predatory behaviour [37] in relation to larvae of Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae). Probably larvae of D. haemorrhoidalis, in the case we have described, behaved in the same way in preying on the pupae of blowflies in the decedent's flat.…”

Energy budgets of the Chinese green lacewing (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) and its potential for biological control of the cotton aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae)

“…However, laboratory life tables were usually constructed under nonlimiting conditions which differ from those in the field (Perdikis & Lykouressis, 2002). Determination of the functional response can be influenced by many factors (Wu et al, 2004), and, therefore, the key question herein is how we could realistically estimate the parameters in the equation (Menezes et al, 2005;Badii et al, 2004).…”