Prudent Predation: A Field Study Involving Three Species of Tiger Beetles

Abstract

Compared to 2 of its congeners [Cicindela patruela and C. sexguttata], adults of the tiger beetle C. repanda (Dejean) are unsuccessful predators. Fewer encounters with prey lead to attacks and fewer attacks lead to captures. Many small arthropods in C. repanda habitat are immune to attack from all 3 spp. of tiger beetles. C. repanda adults also refused to attack insects that were easily captured by adults of the other 2 spp., and also by larval C. repanda. Adult C. repanda prudence may have evolved to increase the amount of food available to its larvae.