INCREASED SUSCEPTIBILITY OF RECENTLY MOLTED CARCINUS-MAENAS (L.) TO ATTACK BY THE PARASITIC BARNACLE SACCULINA-CARCINI THOMPSON 1836

Cyprid larvae of the parasitic barnacle Sacculina carcini were tested for settlement on intermoult and recently-moulted crabs of their host, Carcinus maenas. Preference experiments in a flume with partly immobi lized crabs, indicated that cyprids settle more on recently-moulted cr abs over intermoult crabs. When cyprids of S. carcini were given only one choice, frequency of settlement on intermoult crabs was still smal ler than on recently-moulted crabs. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.. Al l rights reserved.