Niche Relations of Predatory Stinkbugs (Podisus spp., Pentatomidae) Attacking Tent Caterpillars (Malacosoma americanum, Lasiocampidae)

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Abstract
Colonies of the eastern tent caterpillar (M. americanum, Lasiocampidae) and nearly 700 associated adults of the predatory stinkbugs P. maculiventris, P. placidus, P. modestus and P. serieventris (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) were censused in 1977-1979 near Ithaca, New York. Most observations were made in an old field where 3 of the 4 pentatomid species (all but P. serieventris) occurred and attacked the tent caterpillars. While differences in seasonal timing occurred among the 3 stinkbug species in the old field, they were found together at tents each spring midway through the larval development of M. americanum. During this period of seasonal overlap, the 3 spp. displayed similar patterns of activity and sought out prey of similar size on the same trees. The 3 predators differed, however, in their locations on individual trees: P. placidus occurred most often inside tents, P. maculiventris on or within 30 cm of tents, and P. modestus more than 30 cm distant from the nearest tent. Because individual predators readily attack prey already subdued by other individuals, this divergence in hunting sites reduced interspecific interference in consumption of prey.

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