Stocker Benedict, Barthold Sonja, Betz Oliver
Evolutionsbiologie der Invertebraten, Institut für Evolution und Ökologie, Universität Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
Insects. 2022 Jul 23;13(8):667. doi: 10.3390/insects13080667.
The representatives of the megadiverse rove beetle subfamilies Paederinae and Staphylininae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) are considered generalist predators, although their exact prey-capture behaviour and performance and possible links to mouthpart morphology have rarely been described. Here, we examine these relationships for selected species by SEM analyses of mouthparts and front legs and highspeed videography of prey-capture behaviour. We describe the observed behaviours and structural properties and quantify relationships between prey type, mouthpart morphology, and predatory performance based on morphometric measurements of both the shape and lever properties of the mandible. We show that the Staphylininae considered have morphological and behavioural properties generally associated with generalist predation and that the Paederinae considered display characteristics that are highly specialized on elusive prey such as Collembola. We found correlations between mandible shape and leverage, and body size and prey type. We report distinct prey-capture behaviours: the beetles use front legs and/or mandibles to attack prey, drag prey, or cage it between their legs. These strategies differ among species and situations. Overall, this exploratory study provides insights into the morphology and types of prey capture that must have played a major role in the evolution of these beetles.
甲虫科中多样性极高的隐翅虫亚科和蚁甲亚科的代表被认为是广食性捕食者，尽管它们确切的捕食行为、捕食能力以及与口器形态可能存在的联系很少被描述。在此，我们通过对口器和前腿的扫描电子显微镜分析以及捕食行为的高速摄像，研究了选定物种的这些关系。我们描述了观察到的行为和结构特性，并基于下颌骨形状和杠杆特性的形态测量，量化了猎物类型、口器形态和捕食能力之间的关系。我们发现，所研究的蚁甲亚科具有通常与广食性捕食相关的形态和行为特性，而所研究的隐翅虫亚科则表现出高度特化于难以捕捉的猎物（如弹尾虫）的特征。我们发现下颌骨形状与杠杆作用、体型大小与猎物类型之间存在相关性。我们报告了不同的捕食行为：甲虫使用前腿和/或下颌骨攻击猎物、拖拽猎物或将猎物夹在腿间困住。这些策略因物种和情况而异。总体而言，这项探索性研究为这些甲虫进化过程中必定发挥了重要作用的捕食形态和类型提供了见解。
