Predatory capacity and prey selectivity of nymphs of the dragonfly Pantala hymenaea.
Predatory capacity and prey selectivity of nymphs of the dragonfly Pantala hymenaea (Odonata: Libellulidae) were evaluated on larvae of the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) and larvae of the midge Chironomus plumosus (Diptera: Chironomidae) as prey. With functional response methodology, 7 larval densities were exposed to predator individuals in a glass jar under laboratory conditions. The study was performed in 2 experiments. The 1st was a test system with each prey species alone. The 2nd tested a mixture of both prey species in a 1:1 ratio. Prey selectivity and prey capacity were significantly greater on midge larvae than on mosquito larvae.
Quiroz-Martínez
Humberto
H
Laboratorio de Entomología Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, México.
Rodríguez-Castro
Violeta Ariadna
VA
Solís-Rojas
Carlos
C
Maldonado-Blanco
María Guadalupe
MG
D000818:Animals; D002683:Chironomidae; D003465:Culex; D007313:Insecta / Q000502:physiology*; D007814:Larva; D011235:Predatory Behavior