| Abstrakt: |
Food preferences of 5 species of adult carabids, Scarites substriatus, Evarthrus alternans, Pterostichus chalcites, P. lucublandus, and Harpalus pensylvanicus, were investigated under laboratory conditions. Various plant and animal material, as well as detritus were tested. Dead black cutworm larvae were the most preferred food for all species tested. H. pensylvanicus and E. alternans did, however, feed on a number of seeds. H. pensylvanicus may be quite omnivorous in its feeding habits. In general, dead crickets and both live and dead smooth-skinned Lepidoptera larvae were attractive food items, while isopods, phalangids, slugs, and earthworms were not. E. alternans, P. lucublandus, and H. pensylvanicus significantly preferred dead invertebrates over live ones. The attractiveness of dead animal material has special significance. The application of insecticides, which kill large numbers of insects, may be indirectly poisoning potential predators because of the carabid's willingness to feed on dead or dying insects. |
