Investigation of Pit Size Versus Larval Size in an Antlion
The purpose of this study was to test whether there was a relationship between the size of an antlion and the size of its pit. Fieldwork was undertaken at UT's Brackenridge Field Laboratory in Austin, Texas. There we selected two aggregations of larval antlions from which to obtain the data. Pit diameter and slope were measured to obtain the pit volume. After pits were measured, larvae were collected and weighted in the lab with an analytical balance. Regressions of larval weight versus pit diameter, slope, and pit volume were obtained. All three variables showed significant coefficients of determination (R-squared * 0.7). These results are then compared to previous studies that found weaker relationships between larval size and pit size. Possible reasons for these differences are discussed.
Introduction
The antlion got its name from early European scholars who likened the insect to, a small creature, extremely hostile to ants. Antlion larvae are carnivorous predators that feed mainly on small mobile arthropods such as ants, as well as the occasional spider, beetle, fly, caterpillar, wasp, and mite that falls into its pit. Our research was conducted on the species Myrmeleon crudalis, which is from the order Neuoptera. This species lives preferably in sheltered, sandy regions and builds shallow, cone-shaped pits in the surrounding substrate. The larvae use these pits to capture their prey. The insect falls into the pit and is unable to climb up the loose sand on the sides of the pit. The antlion lies buried at the bottom of the pit and catches its prey with its strong, piercing mandibles. The larvae secrete digestive enzymes through the mandibu...
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...anisms - orb-weaving spider and antlion
Spider builds its web on principle of least-weight structure
This minimizes amount of material needed to catch prey - a balance of energy expenditure and success rate
Spider constructs its web so that large, harmful prey fly through
Antlions may function in same way
Lucas proposes antlions regulate pit diameter so large prey can escape
Studying trap biomechanics increases understanding of advantages, disadvantages, and constraints placed on trap-building predators
Also increases understanding of evolutionary adaptations these organisms display in trap-building behavior
Does pit size increase with increase in larval size in late instars?
Do late instars stop making pits?
What is the average weight at the time of pupation?
Like the orb-web spider, do antlions balance energy cost and success rate?
The gall is made of plant tissue but aspects of genetically coded stimulus from the insect makes the gall from the normal plant tissue (Abrahamson, 1989). The gall can be many different sizes in diameter. Survival depends on the gall size, the smaller the galls means that the larvae is vulnerable to parasitoid oviposition, but when the galls are larger they are more likely to be attacked by avian predators (Abrahamson, 1989). Gallmaker enemies can influence the survival of individual gallmakers. The natural enemies of the gallmakers can have a potential effect and alter gallmaker traits for other generations if survivorship varies (Abrahamson, 1989). This study wanted to know three things, how many gallmakers there are as well as how many natural enemies there are, and to what extent of the goldenrod fly mortality was due to insect and bird enemies listed above. They also wanted to know what gall size did these natural enemies prefer and what kind of
The sowbugs remained in the damp soil for 34 minutes, and the dry soil for a short 6 minutes (Table 1). The sowbugs remained in the damp soil 85% of the time, as opposed to 15% on the dry soil (Table 1). These results suggest that moisture was a causative agent in environment preference for the sowbugs (Table 1).
T. californicus is found from Alaska to Baja in small, shallow tidepools and tidal flats in the upper spray zone where they cannot avoid the full effect of visible and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Individuals assemble in areas of lower radiation at midday, yet have no preference to the intensity of light at dawn and dusk (Hartline and Macmillan 1995). These tiny arthropods inhabit all types of marine sediments from sand to fine mud and ooze. Along with plankton, T. californicus eats microscopic algae, protists, bacteria, diatoms, algae and microbes (McGroarty 1958). When the concentrations of the species in their habitats are high, T. californicus will turn to cannibalism for a food source. The nautilus eye present in the species is rich with fatty acids and provides a good food source for the animal.
..., Department of Zoology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, Available from Journal of Insect Physiology. (46 (2000) 655–661)Retrieved from http://www.units.muohio.edu/cryolab/publications/documents/IrwinLee00.pdf
To conduct the experiment, the beetles were massed, then attached to a petri dish with a 30 centimeter piece of dental floss. The beetle’s mass was the independent variable. Afterwards, the floss was tied to the beetle’s midsection with a slip knot. Then, the beetle was placed on a piece of fabric with the petri dish attached to it. As soon as the beetle was able to move with one paperclip inside the petri dish, more were added, one by one, until it could not move any further. After the beetle could not pull any more, the paperclips were massed and the results were recorded. The dependent variable was the mass that the beetles could pull. No control group was included in this experiment.
Abstract: The house cricket, Acheta domesticus, was used to test whether food and potential mates drive aggressive behavior. Male crickets were randomly selected in pairs and place into a cage to observe aggressive behaviors in the presence of no food, food, and female. The cage provided a confine area for the crickets to fight one another while the variables of food and female were used in attempts of increasing aggressive interactions between the male crickets. There was no significance found through this experiment due to a lack of data. It was discovered that the experiment would have to be done at a larger scale to be able to see any significance in the two variables.
There is no doubt that arthropods are an extremely successful group of animals, with an estimated 5-10 million species worldwide[1], and this can be attributed to having an exoskeleton; it provides many benefits, such as protection from parasitism and other threats. However, one major disadvantage of having an exoskeleton is the limitations that an inelastic cuticle can place on growth. The exoskeleton provides protection, but when freshly moulted the animal is soft and vulnerable, as well as having limited mobility and use of appendages; many seek shelter before moulting[2]. There are similarities and differences between the moult cycles of all the arthropods, however only crustaceans and insects will be discussed here.
hunter has to get up close to his prey, typically between two metres for fish and
Outline the physical similarities between the (Blaptica dubia) cockroach and the cricket. Explain previous studies on physical stress in the cricket and in different species of cockroaches. Briefly discuss how the metabolic rate between the two species has been found to be very similar.
There are nearly one million species of insects known. Insects are defined by having six legs and a body divided into three segments: head, thorax, and abdomen. Chitin is an organic material that makes up an insects exoskeleton. There are three life cycles of insects, ametabolous or incomplete and paurometabolous or gradual, and homotabolous or complete metamorphosis. These life cycles are important in the aging of insects for aiding in legal investigations, (Houck and Siegel. Entomology).
...his builds a relationship between the two causing the predator to consume its meat without looking away (Pollan 307). This causes that person to no want to know what they are eating because people are used to not knowing what they are eating.
Just as in any other sport, understanding gives rise to advantage and success. As serious fishermen, we had dedicated much thought to understanding the fish, hypothesizing their behavior. One understanding we had already gained through previous experiences was that fish readily eat the prey that is normally available. This, we concluded, was a sort of defense against fishermen and their foreign lures and was acquired through the fishes’ own previous experience of eating a lure. In applying this understanding to our fishing, we performed a routine food chain analysis to find out what our lures needed to imitate. The results were that the part of the food chain just beneath our quarry consisted mostly of small fish such as anchovies and young yellowtail, smaller than those shad and bluegill normally eaten in freshwater ponds. To compensate for this difference we would have to use lures smaller than those we were used to using. Luckily we had some.
Forensic entomology is the study of insects and arthropods and their relation to a criminal investigation. Forensic entomology can determine the postmortem interval (PMI) or how long since the descendants’ death, whether the body has been moved since expiring, and what injuries may have been sustained (Ryan, 2011). When decomposition begins, insects establish a colony to lay eggs on the remains; these eggs will hatch into larvae that will eat the human organs and tissues. Forensic entomologists can determine the specific insects present in the body and estimate how long a body has been left exposed by examining the stage of development of the fly larvae; however, these findings are not always plausible. The fly larvae look and act different at each stage of development. The time required for stage development is not only affected by environmental influences such as geographical location, climate, and weather conditions, but also by type of insect. The forensic entomologist must consider these conditions when estimating the postmortem interval. Knowledge of insects, their life cycles, and their habits make entomological evidence a priceless tool for an investigation. Forensic entomology has proved its significance in a number of cases; though circumstances such as weather, temperature, and time of year clearly affect the development of insect infestation, and the expert must keep these in the forefront of his/her mind (Innes, 2000).
Another species built nets that covered an area the size of a tennis court. Ants know the best time to build a nest, that’s after it rains. The damp soil is easier to work with. There are many chambers in an ants nest. Some rooms are used to store the food.
Arthropods are in the kingdom Animalia which is in the subphylum Arthropoda. A species can be classified as an Arthropod if they have an exoskeleton, a coelom, and if they are mostly dioecious. An “ exoskeleton is an external skeleton made of chitin. [A] coelom is fluid filled cavity between organs and body wall” (Babin,2017). Examples of Arthropods are: spiders, ticks, millipedes, and centipedes. The objective of this experiment was to find Arthropods and test. Different habitats were established to see which will produce a greater amount of Arthropod. It was believed that the Arthropod diversity of a shaded area will be more that that of an area near a canal. The shaded area would have more arthropod diversity because more plants would be around it. Since there will be leaves and trees, plant diversity will be greater. Also, having “ plant diversity can positively affect arthropod{s}” ( Bennett and Gratton, 2013) because there will be more arthropods to utilize.