The complex effect of illumination, temperature, and thermal acclimation on habitat choice and foraging behavior of a pit-building wormlion

Katz, Noa; Pruitt, Jonathan N.; Scharf, Inon

doi:10.1007/s00265-017-2362-9

Cited by 14 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…Abiotic conditions, such as previous medium quality or light exposure, most likely have little effect on the behaviours of wormlions [ 50 – 52 ]. This also applies to thermal experience, apparently, as the initial hindering effects of high temperature in terms of trap construction rates were diminishing over time in wormlions due to acclimatization [ 51 ]. The process of acclimatization nevertheless has its limits, as wormlion larvae kept at higher temperatures did not show an increased ability for heat shock recovery [ 53 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Past thermal conditions affect hunting behaviour in larval antlions

Miler

Czarnołęski

2021

R. Soc. open sci.

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Some sit-and-wait predators, such as antlion larvae, construct traps to capture passing prey. The location of these traps depends on many abiotic and biotic factors, including temperature and the presence of conspecifics, which probably stimulate behaviours that minimize the costs and maximize the benefits of trap building. Here, we exposed second instar antlion larvae to elevated temperatures of 25°C (mild treatment) or 31°C (harsh treatment) for one month and then transferred them to common conditions (20°C) to examine the effects of previous thermal treatment on aggregation tendency and trap size. We predicted that antlions that experienced harsh conditions would subsequently increase the neighbouring distance and trap diameter to reduce competition with conspecifics and improve prey capture success, compensating for past conditions. In contrast with these predictions, antlions exposed to harsh conditions displayed a trend in the opposite direction, towards the decreased neighbouring distance. Furthermore, some of these antlions also built smaller traps. We discuss possible reasons for our results. The effects of previous thermal exposure have rarely been considered in terms of trap construction in antlions. Described effects may possibly apply to other sit-and-wait predators and are significant considering that many of these predators are long-lived.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Past thermal conditions affect hunting behaviour in larval antlions

Miler

Czarnołęski

2021

R. Soc. open sci.

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“…2018). They also prefer shaded over lit microhabitats, although this preference also depends on the microhabitat shape and temperature (Katz et al 2017; Katz and Scharf 2018).…”

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confidence: 99%

Wormlions prefer both fine and deep sand but only deep sand leads to better performance

et al. 2018

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Wormlions are small fly larvae that dig pits in loose soil to trap their prey. Similar to other trapbuilding predators, like spiders and antlions, they depend on the habitat structure for successful trap construction and prey catch. We examined whether sites at which wormlions are present differ in sand depth and particle size from nearby sites, at which wormlions are absent. Next, in the laboratory we manipulated both sand depth and type (fine vs. coarse) to determine their joint effect on microhabitat preference, the size of the constructed pit, wormlion movement, and their latency to respond to prey. We expected better performance by wormlions in fine and deep sand, and the sand in wormlions' natural sites to be finer and deeper. However, in only partial agreement with our expectations, wormlion sites featured finer sand but not deeper sand. In the laboratory, wormlions preferred both fine and deep sand, and moved more in shallow and coarse sand, which we interpret as an attempt to relocate away from unfavorable conditions. However, only deep sand led to larger pits being constructed and to a faster response to prey. The preference for fine sand could, therefore, be related to other benefits that sand provides. Finally, body mass was a dominant factor, interacting with the preference for both deep and fine sand: deep over shallow sand was more favored by large wormlions and fine over coarse sand by smaller ones. Our results suggest that several factors should be incorporated when studying microhabitat selection.

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“…Klein ( 1982 ) concluded that antlion larvae of the same species increased their trap-building frequency at lower temperatures, but Green’s ( 1955 ) results suggest that Klein used a thermal range (38–47 °C) that may exceed the thermal tolerance limit of this species. Interestingly, Katz et al ( 2017 ), demonstrated that the larvae of wormlions, another group of insects (Diptera: Vermileonidae) that, independently of antlions, evolved sit-and-wait predatory larvae that build pitfall traps, built the largest traps at a moderate temperature when exposed to three different thermal treatments, supporting the idea of a bell-shaped thermal dependence of trap building. However, prior acclimation of wormlions to thermal treatments decreased the thermal sensitivity of trap building.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Thermal dependence of trap building in predatory antlion larvae (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae)

Antoł

Rojek

Miler

et al. 2018

J Ethol

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Trap-building predators remain under strong selection from thermal microenvironments. To address how soil temperature and body size affect trap building, we conducted a laboratory experiment using larvae of the antlion Myrmeleon bore at six ecologically relevant temperatures. Larger larvae built larger traps, and warmer soil led to more and larger traps. Body mass did not alter the dependence of trap building on temperature. Our results suggest that the physiological capacity of antlion larvae, which is affected by larval size and body temperature, is the major determinant of trap building. This effect should be considered when assessing interactions between antlions and prey.

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The complex effect of illumination, temperature, and thermal acclimation on habitat choice and foraging behavior of a pit-building wormlion

Cited by 14 publications

References 62 publications

Past thermal conditions affect hunting behaviour in larval antlions

Past thermal conditions affect hunting behaviour in larval antlions

Wormlions prefer both fine and deep sand but only deep sand leads to better performance

Thermal dependence of trap building in predatory antlion larvae (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae)

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