Turkish Journal of Zoology
DOI
-
Abstract
We determined the feeding capacity of Calosoma sycophanta L. (Coleoptera: Carabidae) by feeding them the pine processionary moth (PPM), Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Denis & Schiffermüller) (Lepidoptera: Thaumetopoeidae), under laboratory conditions. C. sycophanta is one of the most important predators of PPM larvae and pupae. Adult C. sycophanta can consume as much as 7-8 times their weight in food per day. On average, each C. sycophanta adult injured 10 PPM larvae while consuming 7 of these prey per day. The adults lived for 3-4 years. When young C. sycophanta larvae feed on 1 PPM larva, they can reach 1.4-1.6 cm in length and 0.11-0.16 g in weight. One adult beetle eats 210-280 PPM larvae per year and 840-1120 PPM larvae during its lifetime.
Keywords
Calosoma sycophanta, feeding effect, Thaumetopoea pityocampa
First Page
367
Last Page
372
Recommended Citation
KANAT, MEHMET and MOL, TORUL (2008) "The Effect of Calosoma sycophanta L. (Coleoptera: Carabidae) Feeding on the Pine Processionary Moth, Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Denis & Schiffermüller) (Lepidoptera: Thaumetopoeidae), in the Laboratory," Turkish Journal of Zoology: Vol. 32: No. 4, Article 1. Available at: https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/zoology/vol32/iss4/1
