Hd. Jones et Ms. Cumming, FEEDING-BEHAVIOR OF THE TERMITE-EATING PLANARIAN MICROPLANA-TERMITOPHAGA (PLATYHELMINTHES, TURBELLARIA, TRICLADIDA, TERRICOLA) IN ZIMBABWE, Journal of zoology, 245, 1998, pp. 53-64
The predatory behaviour of the terrestrial planarian Microplana termit
ophaga has been studied by a series of long-term observations, video r
ecords and photographs. The planarians feed by 'fishing' for termites
at the open vent of the mound of Odontotermes transvaalensis, mainly f
or 2 or 3 hours after dawn. Locomotion (primarily by ciliary gliding)
is described and a full account is given of feeding behaviour, includi
ng the stalking and selection of prey, the method of capture (termites
are bodily lifted out of the vent by the adhesive front end of the pl
anarian) and the time course of feeding and digestion (typically about
6 min). The largest meal observed by one individual was of 13 termite
s consecutively consumed over 3 h 14 min. Large numbers of soldiers at
the rim reduce the predation rate, though planarians can capture sold
iers.