Foraging behavior and habitat selection in pit-building antlions

Project Team:

Ofer Ovadia - Primary Investigator

  

Aziz Subach - Research Fellow

Inon Scharf - PhD Candidate

Erez Barkae - Masters Student

 
 

Project Description:

In this project we study how foraging behavior and habitat selection of antlion larvae are affected by different conditions and constraints. Most studies on foraging behavior were performed using widely foraging animals, but here we test prediction of optimal foraging using a sit-and-wait predator, the pit-building antlion larva Myrmeleon hyalinus.

Habitat selection and foraging behavior were found to be flexible and easily affected by biotic and abiotic factors. For example, antlion larvae reduce activity in response to predation, they respond to feeding regime in pit modifications and also to abiotic factors, such as external light and sand depth. M. hyalinus larvae show an active process of habitat selection, in contrary to some other antlion species. They avoid direct sun, but prefer some light over complete darkness.
 

Collecting Myrmeleon hyalinus larvae

Project Funding:

 

Links:

Related information and collaborating labs

Publications:

  1. Scharf, I. and & Ovadia, O. 2005. Factors influencing site abandonment and site selection in a sit-and-wait predator: A review of pit-building antlion larvae. Journal of Insect Behavior 19:197-218  [pdf]

  2. Scharf, I., Hollender, Y., Subach, A. and Ovadia, O. 2008. Effect of spatial pattern and microhabitat on pit construction and relocation in Myrmeleon hyalines (Neuropetera: Myrmeleontidae) larvae. Ecological Entomology 33:337-345  [pdf]

  3. Loria, R., Scharf, I., Subach, A. & Ovadia, O. The behavioral response of antlion larvae differing in their foraging mode to predator presence, predator type and habitat structure. Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology 62:1185-1192  [pdf]

  4. Scharf, I., Subach, A. and Ovadia, O. 2008. Effect of light on foraging behavior and microhabitat selection in pit-building antlion larvae. Animal Behaviour 76:2049-2057. [pdf]
  5. Scharf, I., Golan, B. and Ovadia, O. 2009. The effect of sand depth, feeding regime, density and body mass on the foraging behavior of a pit-building antlion. Ecological Entomology 34:26-33.  [pdf]
  6. Scharf, I., Barkee, E.D. and Ovadia, O. 2009. Response of pit-building antlions to repeated unsuccessful encounters with prey. Animal Behaviour (Accepted)