Pereira M H, Silva R E, Azevedo A M, Melo A L, Pereira L H
Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brasil.
Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo. 1993 Sep-Oct;35(5):405-9. doi: 10.1590/s0036-46651993000500004.
Belostoma anurum was reared under laboratory conditions. Specimens were exposed to semi-natural conditions of photo period. The mortality rate was 26.3% during the post embryonic period (38.6 +/- 0.7 days). During this time the average predation of Biomphalaria glabrata was of 99.0 +/- 9.4 snails. The mean increment ratio of length and dry weight per instar was of 1.4 +/- 0.1 and 2.8 +/- 0.5, respectively. The predation by B. anurum adults can be divided into two different periods: phase I (4.8 +/- 1.4 snails/day) and phase II (1.8 +/- 0.5 snails/day). The higher predation in phase I suggested the sexual maturation of the belostomatid.
