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Light dependent shift in the anti-predator response of a pyralid moth

Svensson, AM ; Eklof, J ; Skals, Niels LU and Rydell, J (2003) In Oikos 101(2). p.239-246
Abstract
Male small china-mark moth Cataclysta lemnata (Pyralidae) swarming over shallow water show a flight activity that peaks during the afternoon but which sometimes is extended into the night. We exposed wild, naturally flying C. lemnata to simulated predator attacks consisting of a) bursts of ultrasound (26 kHz, simulating a bat) and b) a thrown stick (rapid movement, simulating a small bird), during day and night, respectively. We thus investigated the possibility that these moths are able to switch between defensive strategies as the predator regime shifts from insectivorous birds to bats in the evening. The defensive response differed qualitatively between day and night, as expected, but it was independent of the kind of stimulus. We thus... (More)
Male small china-mark moth Cataclysta lemnata (Pyralidae) swarming over shallow water show a flight activity that peaks during the afternoon but which sometimes is extended into the night. We exposed wild, naturally flying C. lemnata to simulated predator attacks consisting of a) bursts of ultrasound (26 kHz, simulating a bat) and b) a thrown stick (rapid movement, simulating a small bird), during day and night, respectively. We thus investigated the possibility that these moths are able to switch between defensive strategies as the predator regime shifts from insectivorous birds to bats in the evening. The defensive response differed qualitatively between day and night, as expected, but it was independent of the kind of stimulus. We thus demonstrate a previously unknown flexibility in the defensive strategy of moths. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Oikos
volume
101
issue
2
pages
239 - 246
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • wos:000182800600002
  • scopus:0038513864
ISSN
1600-0706
DOI
10.1034/j.1600-0706.2003.12156.x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
02012ace-e71e-4ff8-8239-478d86382d9e (old id 311928)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:57:25
date last changed
2022-01-26 20:43:56
@article{02012ace-e71e-4ff8-8239-478d86382d9e,
  abstract     = {{Male small china-mark moth Cataclysta lemnata (Pyralidae) swarming over shallow water show a flight activity that peaks during the afternoon but which sometimes is extended into the night. We exposed wild, naturally flying C. lemnata to simulated predator attacks consisting of a) bursts of ultrasound (26 kHz, simulating a bat) and b) a thrown stick (rapid movement, simulating a small bird), during day and night, respectively. We thus investigated the possibility that these moths are able to switch between defensive strategies as the predator regime shifts from insectivorous birds to bats in the evening. The defensive response differed qualitatively between day and night, as expected, but it was independent of the kind of stimulus. We thus demonstrate a previously unknown flexibility in the defensive strategy of moths.}},
  author       = {{Svensson, AM and Eklof, J and Skals, Niels and Rydell, J}},
  issn         = {{1600-0706}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{239--246}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Oikos}},
  title        = {{Light dependent shift in the anti-predator response of a pyralid moth}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0706.2003.12156.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1034/j.1600-0706.2003.12156.x}},
  volume       = {{101}},
  year         = {{2003}},
}