Abstract
A census of small mammal populations was taken, and freeze-dried gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.), pupae were placed at 6 sites near the leading edge of moth spread into the southeastern United States. Pupal predation was monitored during 3 consecutive nights and a significant relationship between the number of live small mammals and predation was observed. There was a significant inverse relationship between vertebrate and invertebrate predation levels. Pupal predation by vertebrates increased as small mammal density increased, but invertebrate predation apparently decreased with increasing small mammal density. At all sites, pupae were preyed on beginning the 1st night of exposure, suggesting that the native generalist predator complex should exhibit no time lag in recognizing and accepting gypsy moth pupae as a new food item. The percentage of intact pupae preyed on by vertebrates increased from day 1 to day 2 but then declined on day 3. In contrast, invertebrate predation increased from day 1 to day 2 and remained at the higher rate on day 3. These observations are discussed in relation to behavioral characteristics of the predator populations.
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