Non-carnivorous Insects

Question 1

define insect cannibalism

Answer 1

the killing and consumption of a conspecific

Question 2

what orders is insect cannibalism seen in

Answer 2

• odonata
• orthoptera
• hemiptera
• lepidoptera
• diptera
• neuroptera
• coleoptera
• hymenoptera

Question 3

what are the types of insect cannibalism

Answer 3

• filial cannibalism
• sibling cannibalism
• intrauterine cannibalism
• sexual cannibalism

Question 4

why may an insect undergo insect cannibalism

Answer 4

• overcrowding, artificial diet, and starvation
• cannibalism also reduces intraguild predation

Question 5

define intraguild predation

Answer 5

the combination of predation and competition where one insect kills and eats its predator

Question 6

explain influencing factors of non-carnivorous insects engaging in carnivorous tendencies

Answer 6

• density-dependent factors
• high temperature
• low humidity
• precipitation
• asynchrony with the host plant
• poor nutritional quality of the host diet

Question 7

patterns of non-carnivorous insects - eating and size of prey relationship

Answer 7

• insects are more likely to cannibalize smaller conspecifics
• they may attack larger ones but only if they are infected, injured, or inactive

Question 8

patterns of non-carnivorous insects - egg laying

Answer 8

• they are more likely to lay their eggs in large masses rather than singly
• bc if they are many of them together, it is more likely that they will cannibalize each other

Question 9

explain how cannibalism may be a bad evolutionary strategy

Answer 9

insects may eat their own broods thus not passing genes to the next generation

Question 10

explain how cannibalism may be a good evolutionary strategy

Answer 10

by eliminating conspecifics that are infected with pathogens, less fit individuals are eliminated, increasing the overall fitness