Abstract
The Water Stick Insect,Ranatra dispar, is shown to be able to capute and hold a number of prey simultaneously. Capture of prey characteristically occurs in 3 distinct patterns (Type 1, 2 and 3), each characterized by a different number of prey caught. The time since las feeding by the predator has a significant effect on wether the predator will capture more than one prey. Once feeding starts, there is a critical period during which, if an encounter takes place the predator will attempt to capture either a second or third prey. The critical peroid is longer, the higher the motivation level of the predator. It is suggested that this prey-capture behaviour potentially increase the size of a meal as groups of prey move past the stationary prdator.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andorfer, B. 1980 The school behaviour ofLeucaspius delineatus in relation to ambient space and the presence of a Pike.Oecologia (Berlin) 47: 137–140.
Bailey, P. C. E. 1984 The feeding behaviour of a sit-and-wait predator-Ethological studies onRanatra dispar (Heteroptera: Nepidae)-the water stick insect. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Adelaide.
Bailey, P. C. F. In press a The feeding behaviour of a sit-and-wait predator,Ranatra dispar (Heteroptera: Nepidae): The effect of pery density and age structure on the number of prey eaten.Z. Tierpsychol.
Bailey, P. C. E. In press b The feeding behaviour of a sit-and-wait predator,Ranatra dispar (Heteroptera: Nepidae): Optimal foraging and feeding dynamics.Oecologia (Berlin).
Bailey, P. C. E. In press c The feeding behaviour of a sit-and-wait predator,Ranatra dispar (Heteroptera: Nepidae): The combined effect of food deprivation of predator arousal and prey capture.Z. Tierpsychol.
Bailey, P. C. E. in press d The feeding behaviour of a sit-and-wait predator,Ranatra dispar (Heteroptera: Nepidae): Description of behavioural components of prey capture, and the effect of food deprivation on predator arousal and capture dynamics.Behaviour.
Baker, R. R. 1978 The evolutionary ecology of animal migration. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 678 pp
Beukema, J. J. 1968 Predation by the three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculcatus) the influence of hunger and experience.Behaviour 31: 1–126.
Braden, F. 1982 Body size and orientation in aggregations of toad tadpoles.Copeia 1982 (3): 672–680.
Clarke, T. A., A. O. Flechsig & R. W. Grigg 1967 Ecological studies during project Sealab.Science 157: 1381–1389.
Cook, R. M. & B. J. Cockrell 1978 Predator ingestion rate and its bearing on feeding and the theory of optimal diets.J. Anim. Ecol. 47: 529–547.
Curio, E. 1976 The ethology of predation, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 250 pp.
Hardman, J. M. & A. L. Turnbull 1980 Functional response of the Wolf Spider,Pardosa vancouveri, to changes in the density of vestigialwinged fruit fies.Res. Pop. Ecol. 21: 233–259.
Haynes, D. L. & P. Sisojevic 1966 Predatory behaviour ofPhilodromus rufus (Araneae: Thomisidae).Can. Entomol. 98: 113–133.
Heinrich, B. & F. D. Vogt 1980 Aggregation and foraging behaviour of whirligig beetles (Gyrinidae).Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 7: 179–186.
Johnson, D. M., B. G. Akre & P. Growley 1975 Modelling arthropod predation: Wasteful killing by damsel fly naiads.Ecology 56: 1081–1093.
Kruuk, H. 1972 The spotted hyena. University of Chicago Press; Chicago and London, 335 pp.
Nakamura, K. 1977 A model for the functional response of a predator to varying prey densities: based on the feeding biology of the Wolf Spider.Bull. Nat. Inst. Agricul. Sci. 31: 29–89.
Radinovsky, S. 1964 Cannibal of the pond.Nat. Hist. 11: 16–24
Riley, C. F. 1921 Responses of the large Water-Strider,Gerris regingis Say, to contact and light.Ann. Entomol. Soc. Amer. 14: 231–289.
Schaller, G. B. 1972 The Serengeti lion. University of Chicago Press, Chicago and London, 472 pp.
Spence, J. R. 1980 Density estimation for water-striders (Heteroptera: Gerridae).Freshwater Biol. 10: 563–570.
Wassersug, R. J. 1981 An analysis of school structure for tadpoles (Anura: Amphibia).Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 9: 15–22.
Williams, D. S. 1979 The feeding behaviour of New ZealandDolomedes species (Araneae: Pisauridae).N. Z. J. Zool. 6: 95–105.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
About this article
Cite this article
Blailey, P.C.E. ‘A prey in the hand’, multi-prey capute behaviour in a sit-and-wait predator,Ranatra dispar (Heteroptera: Nepidae), the Water Stick Insect. J. Ethol. 3, 105–112 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02350300
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02350300