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Frugivory in the tiger beetle, Cicindela repanda

Hill, J.M.; Knisley, C.B.rry

The Coleopterists Bulletin 46(3): 306-310

1992


ISSN/ISBN: 0010-065X
Accession: 031507528

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This paper reports on the first known study of frugivory by a tiger beetle. Adults of C. repanda Dejean, a common, widespread water edge species, were observed feeding on sassafras (Sassafras albidium) fruits on the ground on a Maryland (USA) beach. Results of two experiments where equal numbers of sassafras and pokeweed fruits were placed on the ground near and away from the site of the initial observation indicated that beetles were readily attracted to and consumed both types of fruits, but a preference for one fruit type was not established. In a laboratory experiment, some beetles fed on pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) and strawberry (Euonymus amerianus) bush fruits, which prolonged their survival compared to beetles that were given but did not feed on magnolia (Magnolia virginia) and viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium) fruits. This study suggests that C. repanda may be an opportunistic frugivore, especially in the fall just after emergence, and could obtain valuable energy resources from fruits prior to overwintering.

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