Original paper
Biogeography of the Moth Genus Eupithecia in Oceania and the Evolution of Ambush Predation in Hawaiian Caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)
Montgomery, Steven L.
Entomologia Generalis Volume 8 Number 1 (1982), p. 27 - 34
5 references
published: Dec 15, 1982
DOI: 10.1127/entom.gen/8/1982/27
ArtNo. ESP146000801003, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
The Eupithecia Curtis 1823 are well represented in every faunal region and have colonized the most remote Hawaiian Archipelago. The larvae, including Hawaiis E. monticolens Butler 1888, are predominantly flower or seed feeders, thus it was quite unexpected to discover that E. orichloris Meyrick 1899 is strictly an ambush predator. The caterpillar uses a foraging strategy unique in Lepidoptera by perching tightly along leaf edges until a passing insect touches its posterior abdomen. Suddenly, the inchworm strikes backwards, seizing and lifting the prey with prehensile legs bearing enlarged, spinelike setae and sharp tarsal claws. Lab and field studies proved that all larval instars are completely carnivorous. Continued collecting has revealed similar behaviors and structures for the inchworms of 12 other endemic Eupithecia. The adaptive radiation of predatory species has made a subgroup morphologically quite distinct in the larvae from the herbivorous monticolens, but they show no closer extra-Hawaii relationships.
Keywords
arthopods • Hawaii • Eupithecia • inchworm