Abstract
Some animals have evolved chemical weapons to deter predators. Bombardier beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) can eject toxic chemicals at temperatures of 100 °C from the tips of their abdomens, ‘bombing’ the attackers. Although some bombardier beetles can reportedly deter predators, few studies have tested whether bombing is essential for successful defence. Praying mantises (Mantodea) are ambush predators that attack various arthropods. However, it is unclear whether bombardier beetles deter mantises. To test the defensive function of bombing against praying mantises, I observed three mantis species, Tenodera sinensis, Tenodera angustipennis, and Hierodula patellifera (Mantidae), attacking the bombardier beetle Pheropsophus jessoensis (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) under laboratory conditions. All mantises easily caught the beetles using their raptorial forelegs, but released them immediately after being bombed. All of the counterattacked mantises were observed to groom the body parts sprayed with hot chemicals after releasing the beetles. When treated P. jessoensis that were unable to eject hot chemicals were provided, all mantises successfully caught and devoured the treated beetles. Therefore, bombing is essential for the successful defence of P. jessoensis against praying mantises. Consequently, P. jessoensis can always deter mantises.
Highlights
Prey animals escape from predators in various ways (Edmunds, 1974; Sugiura, 2020a)
Many studies have shown that prey can evade predators before subjugation (Edmunds, 1974; Ruxton, Sherratt & Speed, 2004), and recent studies have indicated that prey can escape predators after subjugation (Umbers & Mappes, 2015; Sugiura & Sato, 2018; Sugiura, 2020a, 2020b)
The chemicals ejected by P. jessoensis were sprayed on the head, forelegs, and/or thorax of each mantis
Summary
Prey animals escape from predators in various ways (Edmunds, 1974; Sugiura, 2020a). Many studies have shown that prey can evade predators before subjugation (Edmunds, 1974; Ruxton, Sherratt & Speed, 2004), and recent studies have indicated that prey can escape predators after subjugation (Umbers & Mappes, 2015; Sugiura & Sato, 2018; Sugiura, 2020a, 2020b). Many animal species have evolved chemical weapons to defend themselves against predators (Eisner, 1970; Eisner, Eisner & Siegler, 2005). In many chemically defended prey, contact with a predator triggers the ejection of defensive chemicals
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