CANNIBALISM AND DELAYED PUPATION IN HIDE BEETLES, DERMESTES MACULATUSDEGEER (COLEOPTERA, DERMESTIDAE)

The onset of pupation can be influenced by abiotic conditions, such as temperature and humidity, but examples of facultative delays in pupat ion according to biotic factors, such as predators, have not been docu mented. Experiments with captive hide beetles, Dermestes maculatus DeG eer, reveal that exposed pupae are frequently cannibalised by larvae w hen they are unable to seek protection in a pupal chamber. Furthermore , individuals without suitable pupation sites delay pupation by over 2 0 days, an increase of about one-third in the duration of the juvenile period. Although facultative delay of pupation may allow larvae to lo cate suitable protective sites, it also results in loss of body mass o r greater risk of fatal disease.