Predation of Larvae of the Tobacco Cutworm Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) by Polistes Wasps

概要

論文の詳細を見る
Predation by Polistes wasps, i.e. P. jadwigae and P. chinensis, on the tobacco cutworm Spodoptera litura was studied in the two taro fields in which larvae of different stages and numbers were artificially placed, in 1972 in Ino, Kochi. Both species of wasps more frequently explored the field with mature larvae than that with middle stage ones, and they killed more larvae in the former field. Wasps searched prey more frequently and more larvae were attacked in the field with a high larval density than with a low larval density. However, the rate of predation was smaller in the former field than in the latter one. The threshold prey density of the behavioural response of the wasps gradually decreased day by day after their orientation to the hunting site. The decrease in the number of larvae in the plots attacked by wasps was too great to be accounted for by the predation. It is considered that this was resulted from the disturbing effect of wasps on a larval aggregation, because S. litura larvae fall from the host plant to the ground to avoid the wasp's attack.
日本昆虫学会の論文
1976-06-25