Influence of social situation on food consumption and growth in nymphs of the house cricket, Acheta domesticus

Abstract

Grouped nymphs of Acheta domesticus L. (Orth., Gryllidae), which mature faster than isolated ones (Chauvin, 1958), consumed more food per milligram of body weight and converted it to body tissue more efficiently than did isolated nymphs, during the fifth and sixth instars. Grouped nymphs, usually had fewer instars than isolated ones. Feeding and growth rates did not decline after isolation part-way through development. Previously isolated females, paired at 25 days, matured as rapidly as females paired throughout development, but isolated males paired at 25 days matured no faster than males which remained isolated. Nymphs paired with an older cricket gained weight as fast as nymphs in same-age pairs in early instars, but their rate of weight gain declined in later instars, and their maturation was slower. However, all females, and males paired with older males, were heavier at emergence as adults than were adults from same-age pairs. When grouped with both an older cricket and one of the same age, females developed at normal rates, but males still showed some retardation.

Availability of unfertilised eggs increases the fitness of nymphal crickets (Gryllidae)

“…In the current study, we also observed that crowding could promote feeding on unfertilised eggs and accelerate nymphal development. These results are consistent with the study of Walter (1982) and provide further evidence of the physiological mechanisms underlying the group effect in nymphal crickets. Lee and Loher (1995) reported that nymphs of another burrowing cricket species, A. muticus, did not show aggressive behaviours towards each other until 10-15 days after hatching, suggesting that nymphs may live together for a certain time before dispersing.…”

“…However, some studies have reported that larval development rate, adult survivorship and adult body size all decrease as larval density increases because of intraspecific competition (Schneider et al, 2000;Gimnig et al, 2002;Wiwatanaratanabatr & Kittayapong, 2009). Walter (1982) found that group-reared nymphs of Acheta domesticus consumed approximately 40% more food than their isolated counterparts, suggesting that greater food consumption accounts for faster growth under grouped conditions. Walter (1982) found that group-reared nymphs of Acheta domesticus consumed approximately 40% more food than their isolated counterparts, suggesting that greater food consumption accounts for faster growth under grouped conditions.…”

“…Others have reported that nymphs develop faster when reared at higher densities, including Mamestra brassicae (Goulson & Cory, 1995), Spodoptera exempta (Simmonds & Blaney, 1986) and Cimex lectularius (Saenz et al, 2014); and this phenomenon has been termed the 'group effect' (Grassé, 1946). Walter (1982) found that group-reared nymphs of Acheta domesticus consumed approximately 40% more food than their isolated counterparts, suggesting that greater food consumption accounts for faster growth under grouped conditions. In the current study, we also observed that crowding could promote feeding on unfertilised eggs and accelerate nymphal development.…”

Methods for rearing the house cricket, Acheta domesticus (L.), along with baseline values for feeding rates, growth rates, development times, and blood composition

“…MCFARLANE (1962) also noted that grouped (10) crickets grew faster than crickets reared singly. When crickets show this group effect they eat more and grow more efficiently than the singly reared animals (WATLER 1982). Survival is also increased in grouped crickets over single crickets (MCFARLANE et al 1984) but attempts (MCFARLANE andALLI 1985, 1988) to determine the basis for the group effect have been unsuccessful.…”

“…2 Craig W. Clifford and J. P. Woodring The group effect in the house cricket has been investigated by MCFARLANE 1962, MCFARLANE et al 1984, MCFARLANE and ALLI 1988, WATLER 1982. Protein and lipid requirements as well as requirements for vitamins E and K and minerals have been studied by MCFARLANE and associates (MCFARLANE 1964(MCFARLANE , 1972a(MCFARLANE , b, 1974(MCFARLANE , 1976a(MCFARLANE , b, 1978MEIKLE and MCFARLANE 1965).…”