Document Detail


Visual stimuli that elicit visual tracking, approaching and striking behavior from an unusual praying mantis, Euchomenella macrops (Insecta: Mantodea).
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  22342660     Owner:  NLM     Status:  Publisher    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
In comparison to other similarly sized mantis species examined in previous studies, Euchomenella macrops has a significantly smaller head, shorter foreleg tibia, but longer prothorax which have been interpreted as specializations for the capture of smaller, slower prey. We tested this conjecture by assessing the rates at which computer generated stimuli elicit visual tracking, approaching, and striking behaviors by adult females. When presented with black disks moving erratically against a white background, strike rate rose progressively as disks enlarged up to 44deg (visual angle) if the disks moved rapidly (e.g., 143deg/s); at slower speeds (113, 127deg/s), smaller disks (<27deg) were preferred. When black moved linearly from the visual periphery to visual field center (at 73 or 143deg/s) and then stopped, E. macrops struck consistently at disks as small as 5deg after movement ceased. E. macrops also struck at higher rates in response to 23deg erratically moving (subjective) red (versus subjective blue or green) disks that were luminance matched to a grey background although they tracked all colors at equally high rates. Unlike some other species, E. macrops did not strike at higher rates in response to elongated rectangular stimuli moving parallel (versus perpendicular) to their long axis, although the former elicited higher rates of approaching. An analysis of tracking behavior revealed that virtually all tracking movements were a result of head (versus) prothorax rotation.
Authors:
Frederick R Prete; Robert Theis; Justin L Komito; Jessica Dominguez; Salina Dominguez; Gavin Svenson; Frank Wieland
Publication Detail:
Type:  JOURNAL ARTICLE     Date:  2012-2-7
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of insect physiology     Volume:  -     ISSN:  1879-1611     ISO Abbreviation:  -     Publication Date:  2012 Feb 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2012-3-1     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  2985080R     Medline TA:  J Insect Physiol     Country:  -    
Other Details:
Languages:  ENG     Pagination:  -     Citation Subset:  -    
Copyright Information:
Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Affiliation:
Northeastern Illinois University, Department of Biology, 5500 N. St. Louis Ave., Chicago, IL 60625, USA.
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