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SELECTION OF TERRESTRIAL GASTROPOD PREY BY CYCHRINE AND PTEROSTICHINE GROUND BEETLES (COLEOPTERA: CARABIDAE)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Scott C. Digweed
Scott C. Digweed
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E3
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Abstract

I examined the relative feeding preferences of five carabid beetle species for terrestrial gastropod prey. Scaphinotus marginatus Fischer, thought to be a snail specialist, discriminated among seven species of potential prey by size and species, with the slug Deroceras reticulatum (Müller) being the most preferred. Scaphinotus marginatus appears to use its elongated and narrowed mouthparts, head, and thorax to prey upon terrestrial snails without having to crush their shells. The relative feeding preferences of four pterostichine generalist predators (Pterostichus adstrictus Eschscholtz, P. pensylvanicus LeConte, P. protractus LeConte, and P. surgens LeConte) for two species of small snails [Discus cronkhitei (Newcomb) and Euconulus fulvus (Müller)] also were examined. Although all four carabids ate E. fulvus in varying proportions, only P. protractus consumed D. cronkhitei. I suggest that snail shell thickness and differing feeding preferences affect which snail species are eaten by these pterostichines.

Résumé

J’ai étudié les préférences alimentaires relatives pour certains gastropodes terrestres chez cinq espèces de carabes. Scaphinotus marginatus Fischer, réputé être un consommateur spécialiste de gastropodes, peut discriminer entre sept espèces de proies potentielles en fonction de leur taille et de leur nature spécifique, et manifeste une préférence pour la limace Deroceras reticulatum (Müller). Scaphinotus marginatus semble utiliser ses pièces buccales allongées et étroites, sa tête et son thorax pour attraper des gastropodes terrestres sans avoir à en écraser la coquille. Les préférences relatives de quatre carabes ptérostichinés généralistes (Pterostichus adstrictus Eschscholtz, P. pensylvanicus LeConte, P. protractus LeConte et P. surgens LeConte) pour deux espèces de petits gastropodes [Discus cronkhitei (Newcomb) et Euconulus fulvus (Müller)] ont également été examinées. Bien que les quatre carabes consomment des E. fulvus dans des proportions différentes, seul P. protractus consomme des D. cronkhitei. Je crois que l’épaisseur de la coquille des gastropodes et des préférences alimentaires variées déterminent quelles espèces de gastropodes sont consommées par ces carabes ptérostichinés.

[Traduit par la rédaction]

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 125 , Issue 3 , June 1993 , pp. 463 - 472
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1993

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