LABORATORY STUDIES OF PREDATION OF SNAILS BY LARVAE OF THE MARSH FLY, SEPEDON TENUICORNIS (DIPTERA: SCIOMYZIDAE)
- 31 May 1971
- journal article
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in The Canadian Entomologist
- Vol. 103 (5) , 638-649
- https://doi.org/10.4039/ent103638-5
Abstract
Larvae of the marsh fly, Sepedon tenuicornis Cresson, were used to determine (1) number and approximate volume of snails killed before pupation, (2) time required to make the first kill as a function of distance and snail density, and (3) vulnerability of snails of different sizes to larvae of different sizes.Results1. Mean number of snails killed (by 34 larvae): 8.1 ± 2.5, (S.E.) Volume: 544 ± 256 mm3.2. Regression line relating time required to kill as a function of snail density: T (minutes) = 65.3–111.6 × (snail density).Regression line relating time to kill and snail densities of 0.6 and 1.2 snails/cm as a function of distance from snails: T = 0.79–0.33 × (distance).Data from a snail density of 0.3/cm could not be pooled because of high day-to-day variation in larvae.3. Vulnerability of snails can be expressed for each larva length by the equation: Fraction of snails killed = a + b × (snail size).Values of a and b are as follows:Keywords
This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit:
- The Subfamilies of Sciomyzidae of the World (Diptera: Acalyptratae)Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 1965