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Larval Behaviour and Cannibalism of Alphitobius Diaper/nus (panzer) (coleoptera : Tenebrionidae) in the Laboratory

G. Nahar
Institute of Food and Radiation Biology, Atomic Energy Research Establishment G.P.O. Box No.3787, Savar Dhaka

Misbah Uddin
Institute of Food and Radiation Biology Atomic Energy Research Establishment G.P.O. Box No.3787, Savar Dhaka

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Behaviour associated with cannibalism in Alphitobius diaporinus (Panzer) larvae are described. A. diaperinus cannibals upon all the developmental stages and eggs in presence or absence of food. Adults showed less interest to eat their own egg. The cannibalistic attitude was severe during the scarcity of food. Ten matured larvae can predate a total number of 4.2 ± 0.09, 6th instar larvae in seven days. This amount was 21.0 ± 0.14 when first stage larvae were exposed as prey. All feeding larval stages are found strong cannibal on the non- mobile eggs and pupae. For everyday increase of larval age, there is a corresponding predation increase of 0.94 pupa/ insect

Keywords: Alphitobius diaperinus , Behaviour, Cannibalism

Location:

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Pest Management

Commodity: Insects

Objectives:

To study the cannibalistic behaviour of larval stage of lesser mealworm, A. diaperinus and to assess the rate of predation within the species.

Methodology:

The study was carried out at the Institute of Food and Radiation Biology, Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Savar. Dhaka. Experimental insects were maintained in glass jars (15 x 7 x 4 cm) in wheat food media at a temperature of 30 ± 1° C and 75 ± 5 % relative humidity in the laboratory. To avoid any kind of contamination, the grains used in the experiment were cleaned properly and sun dried before setting the experiment. Predation of egg by three larval size (small, medium and large) and adults (irrespective of male and female) were observed in presence and absence of food. First and 2nd instar larvae were considered as small, 3rd and 4th instar were as medium and 5th to 7th instar as large size. A total of fifty insects were considered from each size and three hundred eggs were supplied separately to all the 4 categories of insects. The experiment was set early in the morning (6 AM) and observations were recorded from 9 AM - 6 P.M with three hours intervals. To determine the cannibalistic efficiency of 8th stage larvae, which are vigorous cannibal on all the developmental stages, experiments were conducted separately with different instars as prey. Eighth stage larvae (n=10) were taken as predator and the desired developmental stages (n=20) were supplied as prey. In all tests, the prey larvae were replaced everyday to the same predator and the number of insect predated upon was carefully recorded and also their moulting time was noted. In an another experiment, the immobile pupae were used as food and all the developmental stages from 1st -8th instar insects were considered as predator to assess the instar wise cannibalistic efficiency on pupa. Five replications were considered in each experiment.

Source of Information: Bangladesh J. Agril. Sci. 33(2): 161-165, July, 2006

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Adults of Alphitobius diaperinus did not eat eggs in presence of food but found to cannibal in absence of food. However, the consumption of eggs was significantly lower (59.3) than larvae. On the other hand, larvae predated eggs both in presence and absence of food. Among the three categories of larvae, the rate of egg predation was slower in the small group. It was observed that when a larva reaches the eggs, the remaining larvae moved around the egg cluster forming a characteristic circular pattern. It was quite appropriate in case of small larval group. The larva then start to suck the liquid content of the egg one by one followed by eating the egg shell. The mean egg consumption was 25.9 ± 0.7 and 144.5 ± 21.4 respectively in presence and absence of food which were statistically lower than other two. larval categories. The medium and large sized larvae were found as effective egg eater both in presence or absence of food and their predation was statistically identical. In presence of food, the medium and large sized larvae (n=50) can consume an average of 86.7 ± 8.34 and 66.1 ± 4.99 eggs per day respectively. On the other hand the numbers were 199.6 ± 15.54 and 200.4 ± 16.59 in absence of food for the same sized larvae respectively. The remaining eggs were allowed to hatch. Cannibalism in A. diaperinus can be predicted on the basis of larval instar and moulting status. As distinct moulting periods and differences in size are common attributes to all insects, these factors are likely to be important in determining outcomes of cannibalistic encounters in this species. Cannibalism in larval and adult stages significantly contributes in suppressing the natural population of A. diaperinus, which has not been reported before.

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