Mn. Parajulee et Tw. Phillips, SURVIVORSHIP AND CANNIBALISM IN LYCTOCORIS-CAMPESTRIS (HEMIPTERA, ANTHOCORIDAE) - EFFECTS OF DENSITY, PREY AVAILABILITY, AND TEMPERATURE, Journal of entomological science, 30(1), 1995, pp. 1-8
Availability of prey was an important factor for cannibalism in Lyctoc
oris campestris (F.). Cannibalistic predation in L. campestris nymphs
was density dependent irrespective of prey level or space provided. Me
an adult longevity varied under different prey, water, and temperature
regimes. Adults survived for more than 2 wks when no prey or free wat
er was provided, and survivorship increased slightly when bugs had acc
ess to free water. Females survived longer than males (P = 0.03) when
only water was provided. Under a no-prey regime, lower rearing tempera
tures yielded significantly higher adult survivorship. Lyctocoris camp
estris adults survived for 23.5 d without prey or water at 17 degrees
C. The cannibalstic predation among nymphs and the ability of adults t
o survive for an extended period of time without prey or water may ena
ble bug populations to persist until prey populations rebound in a sto
red-product ecosystem.