Indirect effect on survivorship of caterpillars due to presence of invertebrate predators

Abstract

An indirect effects is defined here as a reduction in prey survivorship as a consequence of a reduction in growth rate of prey due to the presence of a predator that alters prey behavior. A method for partitioning the direct and indirect effects of predators on prey survivorship indicated that predatory wasps (Polistes sp.:. Vespidae) had both direct and indirect negative effects on survivorship of buckmoth caterpillars (Hemileuca lucina: Saturniidae). In a field experiment, the direct and indirect effects together accounted for 61% of the mortality of the caterpillars. A third of this reduction in survivorship due to the wasps was attributed to an indirect effect, due to the decreased growth rate of the caterpillars that moved into the interior of the hostplant to escape from the wasps. In contrast, in another field experiment, although predatory stinkbugs (Podisus maculiventris: Hemiptera) contributed to 56% of the mortality of buckeye caterpillars (Junonia coenia: Nymphalidae), the indirect effect of stinkbugs on buckeye caterpillars only accounted for 2% of the reduction in survivorship of these caterpillars. These differences in the indirect effect are discussed in particular relative to the behavior of predators and prey, ratio of predator to prey sizes, and morphology of the hostplants.