Effects of soil substrate on the ecological features of the sand pit-building Antlions Myrmeleon formicarius Linnaeus, 1767 (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) larvae in the Amanos Mountains of Turkey

Abstract

The hunting behavior of antlion larvae is unique in the insect world and soil characteristics may strongly affect their microhabitat selection. Therefore, the substrate type of sand pit construction is expected to have an important role in their traps. Different types of soil substrates can be inhabited by Myrmeleon formicarius Linnaeus, 1767 larvae. This study was conducted during 2018-2019 June-August in the Amanos Mountains of Turkey to examine assess the relationship between the microhabitat preference of larvae of M. formicarius. In this study, five substrate types were determined as particularly according to their habitat preference. In this study, the preference of fine-grained soils is found more adaptive because of the pits are constructed in these substrates are more functional for longer periods and they are much more successful in trapping their preys than the coarse-grained soil pits. Furthermore, it was found that there is a direct relationship between the pit size and substrate particle structure. Therefore, the detection and selection of microhabitats under more convenient ecological conditions, which increase capture success and elucidate the hunting strategy, may be carried out during strong soil substrate selection for Myrmeleon Linnaeus species. It was concluded that there is no strong relationship between the soil substrate type, pH, and trap diameter.