Abstract

The present paper reports cases of predation on two Italian species of stag beetles, Platycerus capreaand Platyceruscaraboides, by saproxylic Diptera of which preys were seldom reported or unknownin the litera-ture. Resulting from eight years of collections in many sites in northern Italy, the robber flies Laphria meridiona-lisandChoeradessp.eclosed inrearing boxes of P. caraboides, and the muscid fly Phaonia palpataemerged from deadwood inhabited byboth Platycerusspecies. These Dipteradeveloped in deadwood ofbroadleaves species,wherethey wereuncommon predators of Platycerusimmaturestages.Predator-prey interactions betweenAsilidaeandMuscidae larvae andPlatycerusimprove the knowledge on thecommunity of these species with hidden habitsin the saproxylic scene.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.