The effect of mass-rearing on death-feigning behaviour in the sweet potato weevil (Coleoptera: Brentidae)

摘要

AbstractThe aim of our study was to examine the effect of mass-rearing, in which there is no exposure to predators, on antipredator traits of insects for improving sterile insect technique programs. The duration of death-feigning (antipredator behaviour) in sweet potato weevil Cylas formicarius (Summers) (Coleoptera: Brentidae) after mass-rearing for 71 generations were compared with those in wild strain. There was no significant difference in the duration of death-feigning between wild and mass-reared strains. This indicated that the death-feigning behaviour of mass-reared strain was maintained for 71 generations even in the absence of predators. We discuss the reasons why death-feigning behaviour is maintained after mass-rearing.