title: Predation of Biomphalaria glabrata during the development of Belostoma anurum (Hemiptera, Belostomatidae).
abstract: Belostoma anurum was reared under laboratory conditions. Specimens were exposed to semi-natural conditions of photo period. The mortality rate was 26.3% during the post embryonic period (38.6 +/- 0.7 days). During this time the average predation of Biomphalaria glabrata was of 99.0 +/- 9.4 snails. The mean increment ratio of length and dry weight per instar was of 1.4 +/- 0.1 and 2.8 +/- 0.5, respectively. The predation by B. anurum adults can be divided into two different periods: phase I (4.8 +/- 1.4 snails/day) and phase II (1.8 +/- 0.5 snails/day). The higher predation in phase I suggested the sexual maturation of the belostomatid.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brasil.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Pereira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001700:Biomphalaria; D005260:Female; D006430:Hemiptera / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009758:Nymph / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D011235:Predatory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*