Journal of Insect Behavior (2008) 21, 47-54

L.P. Lounibos, S. Makhni, B.W. Alto and B. Kesavaraju (2008)
Surplus killing by predatory larvae of Corethrella appendiculata : Prepupal timing and site-specific attack on mosquito prey
Journal of Insect Behavior 21 (2), 47-54
Abstract: Surplus or 'wasteful' killing of uneaten prey has been documented in the fourth larval instar of various species of the mosquito genus Toxorhynchites that occur in treeholes and other phytotelmata. Here we document surplus killing by the predatory midge Corethrella appendiculata, which in Florida cohabits treeholes and artificial containers with larvae of Toxorhynchites rutilus. Provided with a surfeit of larval mosquito prey, surplus killing was observed only in the fourth instar of C. appendiculata, peaking in intensity in the final 24 h prior to pupation, as observed for Toxorhynchites spp. Attack sites identified from videotaped encounters with mosquito prey were divided among head, thorax, abdomen, and siphon. Consumed mosquito larvae (n = 70) were attacked primarily on the head (46%) or siphon (34%), but surplus-killed prey (n = 30) were attacked predominantly on the thorax (83%). Despite its independent evolution among different insect species in aquatic container habitats, the functional significance of prepupal surplus killing remains unclear.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): L. Philip Lounibos, Barry W. Alto, Banugopan Kesavaraju

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
Toxorhynchites rutilus (predator)			U.S.A. (SE)
Corethrella appendiculata (predator)			U.S.A. (SE)