Predatory behaviour ofScatophaga stercoraria under laboratory conditions |
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| Authors: | E S Failes J W Whistlecraft A D Tomlin |
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| Institution: | (1) University of Western Ontario, N6A 5B7 London, Canada;(2) London Research Centre, Agriculture Canada, 1400 Western Road, London, Ontario, Canada;(3) Present address: Department of Environmental Biology, University of Guelph, N1G 2W1 Guelph, Ontario |
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| Abstract: | Laboratory experiments tested the effectiveness ofScatophaga stercoraria (L.) as a predator of various insect species. Photophases, ages and gender of predators and effects of dung presence on predation
rates were compared for either sex using counts of prey cadavers, behavioral observations and oviposition rates. Males consistently
killed more prey than females, but longer photophases did not significantly increase daily predation rates. Nine to 10-day-old
flies approaching sexual maturity achieved highest predation rates. Dung was found to affect predatory behaviour but not cumulative
predation. Predatory behaviour of sexually mature males was more affected than female behaviour by the presence of dung, whereas
sexually immatures flies showed no response to dung presence.
Preconditioning ofS. stercoraria adults using 3 prey species of different sizes did not affect the prey chosen in subsequent random choice experiments. Larger
prey species such asMusca domestica (L.) orDelia antiqua (Meigen) were preferred toDrosophila sp. by both sexes ofS. stercoraria. This species may be a useful predator for future integrated pest management techniques in vegetable crops or control of
house flies in barns.
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| Keywords: | Scatophagidae Scatophaga stercoraria predatory behaviour beneficial arthropod onion maggot |
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