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Cannibalism in phytophagous Argina cribraria larvae and its possible significance*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

T. C. Banerjee
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Burdwan University, Burdwan 713 104, India
A. K. Mahapatra
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Burdwan University, Burdwan 713 104, India
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Abstract

Most fifth instar Argina cribraria female larvae reared in paired groups on fresh sunnhemp leaves practised cannibalism on the male. A potential cannibal pounced on the victim and severed its dorsal vessel, causing profuse bleeding of haemolymph, immobility and contraction. The cannibal fed on victim's carcass and might consume 1–2 larvae and 1–3 pupae. More females emerged from an experiment having larval cannibalism. The cannibals were lighter, but the relative titres of sugars, proteins and phenols were higher in cannibals than those in control female caterpillars.

Résumé

La plupart de la cinquième instar Argina cribrarla femelle de larve ravageant en un groupe de paires sur les feuilles fraîches de “Sunnhemp” pratiquèrent le cannibalisme sur le mâle. Un cannibale potentiel se jeta sur la victime et désunit ses vaisseaux dorsaux causant hémorragie abondante de haemolymphe, immobilité et contraction. Le cannibale se nourrissant de la carcasse de la victime pouvait consumer 1–2 de larve et 1.3 de chrysalide. Plus de femelles émergèrent d'une expérience ayant un cannibalisme de larve. Les cannibales étaient plus legers mais les titres relatifs du sucre, des protéines et du phénol étaient plus élevés en cannibales qu'à ceux de chénilles (en femelle) contrôlées.

Type
Research Articles
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1987

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References

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