Defensive and Offensive Behavioral Interactions between Shelter-Building Caterpillars and Hunting Wasps.
Misaki Tsujii1, Shinji Sugiura2
1Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, Japan.
Zoological Science
|October 9, 2025
Summary
Predatory wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) attack caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) using different strategies based on caterpillar shelter defenses. Caterpillars evolved varied defenses to evade wasp predators.
Area of Science:
- Zoology
- Ecology
- Behavioral Ecology
Background:
- Many prey animals construct shelters for protection against predators.
- Predators often develop specialized strategies to overcome prey defenses, including shelters.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the behavioral interactions between shelter-building caterpillars and their specialized wasp predators.
- To compare the defensive strategies of two caterpillar species and the offensive strategies of two wasp species.
Main Methods:
- Laboratory observations of female wasps attacking caterpillar larvae.
- Analysis of wasp attack behaviors and caterpillar shelter defenses.
- Comparison of prey evasion rates based on shelter type and wasp strategy.
Main Results:
- Two caterpillar species, Haritalodes derogata (open shelters) and Demobotys pervulgalis (closed shelters), were preyed upon by Anterhynchium flavomarginatum and A. gibbifrons wasps.
- A. flavomarginatum used two attack strategies: boring into shelters or invading them.
- A. gibbifrons used one strategy: cutting silk threads to open shelters.
- Approximately 50% of caterpillars successfully evaded predation.
Conclusions:
- Caterpillar shelter morphology and behavior are crucial for evading wasp predators.
- Each caterpillar species exhibits specific anti-wasp defenses.
- Each wasp species possesses offensive traits tailored to overcome specific caterpillar defenses, indicating co-evolutionary adaptations.
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