Shelter-building behavior and natural history of two pyralid caterpillars feeding on Piper stipulaceum.

ABSTRACT: Shelter-building behavior by caterpillars provides a mechanism of defense against predators, microenvironment enhancement, and in some cases nutritional benefits. This study provides a detailed description of the life cycle and shelter-building process of caterpillars, and identifies constraints and factors influencing this adaptive behavior in Lepidomys n. sp. near proclea Druce (Pyralidae: Chrysauginae), a tropical dry forest pyralid. Five macroscopic larval instars were detected during the life cycle, and activities performed during shelter-building were categorized and timed. Caterpillar predators were identified, and 20% of all collected larvae died due to attack by parasitoid wasps. Shelter-building behavior was found to be constrained by the ontogenetic stage of caterpillars and inf

SUBMITTER: Abarca M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4206229 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature