The Feeding Biology of Ant-Lion Larvae: Prey Capture, Handling and Utilization

Abstract

SUMMARY (1) The general feeding biology of Morter obscurus is described. (2) First instar larvae, because they use a different pit construction technique, have steeper-walled pits than later instars. Pit diameter and larval length are linearly related. (3) Capture success is determined mainly by the relative sizes of predator and prey. For a given relative size instar 1 larvae are more successful because of the steep-walled pits. Capture success drops to zero when ants can place some of their legs outside the pit. Third instar larvae were more successful than second instar larvae in pits of the same size. Capture success, particularly for large larvae, is 100% over much of the prey size range. (4) Successful attacks on ants with thick exoskeletons occurred almost exclusively via the gaster whereas mandible insertion for ants with thin exoskeletons frequently occurred elsewhere. (5) Differences in pit morphology and prey capture behaviour in Macroleon lynceus are documented and related to habitat differences. In Morter, pit morphology is crucial for prey capture, while strength is more important for the larger Macroleon. (6) Handling time was divided into time to capture (Ta), time to death (Td), and time to extract body contents (Te). T, was constant for small prey but increased rapidly for larger prey. Td was constant for all sizes of predator and prey. Te increased with prey size and decreased with increasing predator size and temperature. Te seems to depend not only on the amount of extractable food but also on the shape of the victim. (7) Hunger has no effect on prey handling time or food extraction efficiency. However hungry larvae are more likely to move their pits. Ant-lions can capture prey falling into the pit when already feeding and so increase their food supply. (8) Growth rates of larvae feeding on different sized prey were measured. Large larvae grew more slowly than small ones when fed on the same sized prey because of higher maintenance costs. For a given sized predator, growth per unit weight of prey received declined with increasing prey size because of increased feeding costs. Each size of ant-lion had a prey size for which the costs per unit return were a minimum, this size changing abruptly from very small prey for the first two instars to large prey for the final instar. (9) The feeding biology of the three instars is compared and contrasted. First instar larvae are adapted to achieve a high capture success rate on a small prey size range because feeding costs are high and escapes therefore expensive. For large larvae, maintenance costs are more important and selection has favoured a large size range of catchable prey. While the behaviour of ant-lion larvae is consistent with an energy maximizer strategy it is concluded that the approach is of limited value in this instance.