Rajavel A R
Vector Control Research Centre (ICMR), Indira Nagar, Pondicherry, India.
Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 1992 Sep;23(3):453-7.
Phenomenon of natural cannibalism was observed to be exhibited by late (III and IV) instar larvae of Armigeres subalbatus. Cannibalistic behavior in this species was studied in response to food and density. Cannibalism among late instars was found to occur even in the presence of an adequate quantity of food. The rate of cannibalism was enhanced when food was restricted to only the early stages. Even in the total absence of food early instars did not show any cannibalistic behavior. Density had no influence on the rate of cannibalism. Under forced cannibalism and predation fourth instar larvae could not successfully pupate but the duration was prolonged. Cannibalism was thus facultative without any value for the survival of larvae. It may help in maintaining a balance in immature density in their natural habitats.
已观察到骚扰阿蚊的晚期（III龄和IV龄）幼虫表现出自然同类相食现象。针对食物和密度对该物种的同类相食行为进行了研究。发现即使在有充足食物的情况下，晚期幼虫之间也会发生同类相食。当食物仅限制在早期阶段时，同类相食的发生率会提高。即使在完全没有食物的情况下，早期幼虫也未表现出任何同类相食行为。密度对同类相食率没有影响。在强迫同类相食和捕食的情况下，IV龄幼虫无法成功化蛹，但化蛹持续时间延长。因此，同类相食是偶发性的，对幼虫的生存没有任何价值。它可能有助于在其自然栖息地维持未成熟个体密度的平衡。
