The effect of resource limitation on competing populations of flour beetles,triboliumspp. (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae)

Abstract

Single-species and mixed-species populations ofTribolium castaneum(Hbst.) andT. confusumDuv. were followed in two experiments. Food (flour) was renewed at various intervals between 30 days and 180 days or was not renewed at all. As the interval between food renewals lengthened, single-species populations ofT. confusumbecame extinct later than populations ofT. castaneum, the survivor in mixed-species populations changed fromT. castaneumtoT. confusum, and the mixed-species populations became extinct later than the single-species populations. When resource is limited, therefore, populations of the two species may persist longer if they compete than if they are husbanded as single species.