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Deterrent effects of larval tracks on conspecific larvae in Cycloneda limbifer

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Abstract

The response of Cycloneda limbifer Say (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) larvae to conspecific larval tracks was investigated with the assistance of the automatic video tracking system EthoVision. Single larvae were monitored for 1 h in an arena with a choice of two substrates, one clean and one contaminated with the tracks of conspecific larvae. Fourth instar larvae of C. limbifer effectively differentiated clean substrates from substrates with fresh tracks of conspecific first instars. Larvae walked significantly further on clean than on contaminated substrates in each 20-min period of the 1 h trials. With the exception of the first 20-min period, residence times were also longer on clean than on contaminated substrates. The mean velocity of larvae on the substrates did not differ in any period of the test. The results indicate that a deterring pheromone in fresh tracks of C. limbifer larvae effectively deters conspecific larvae from staying on sites previously exposed to larvae. The mode of action of the semiochemical repellent secreted by larvae is complementary to a previously described semiochemical-mediated egg-spacing mechanism in the coccinellid C. limbifer. Active distribution of larvae has the potential to improve the initial distribution of offspring by females among aphid colonies of varying qualities and may facilitate survival during changes in the distribution of conspecific larvae in the course of the development.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Institute of Entomology, the Czech Academy of Sciences and by the Grant Agency of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (grant No. A6007303). We thank anonymous referees for valuable comments on the manuscript and M. Červenská and J. Jabůrková for assistance with rearing of predators in the laboratory.

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  1. Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic

    Z. Růžička & R. Zemek

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  1. Z. Růžička
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  2. R. Zemek
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Correspondence to Z. Růžička.

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Růžička, Z., Zemek, R. Deterrent effects of larval tracks on conspecific larvae in Cycloneda limbifer . BioControl 53, 763–771 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-007-9109-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-007-9109-x

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