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Predator-prey encounters: deciphering the robbery relationship between highwayman flies and their ant victims
Zhao,Ying; Yu,Yulong; Chen,Zhi; LI,Ying; Teng,Huidan; Chomicki,Guillaume; Zhang,Chuntian; Chen,Gao
2023
Source PublicationINTEGRATIVE ZOOLOGY
ISSN1749-4869
AbstractExamples of predator-prey interactions in which flies rob ants are uncommon. To date, this behavior has only been recorded in the genus Bengalia Robineau-Desvoidy (Bengaliinae, Diptera, Calliphoridae). These predatory flies ambush ants, and rob them of the food or offspring that they are carrying. However, because of the rarity of this behavior, the reasons and consequences (evolutionary advantages) are unknown, and indeed, the behavior has been sometimes considered anecdotal. In this study, we employed field investigations and behavioral analyses to investigate whether the sex of the fly Bengalia varicolor, or the weight and quality of the food carried by Pheidole nodus ants influenced fly-ant interactions in their natural habitats. We show that food weight and quality influenced the behavior of B. varicolor independent of the fly's sex. Robbing behavior by the flies was more successful when the food robbed was of high-quality and light in weight. Furthermore, the weight of the food robbed modulated the escape distance the flies could carry it. This then may affect the food quality and weight transported by the ants. This is a novel example of deciphering the relationship between highwayman flies and their ant victims. Given the widespread distribution of Bengalia flies, we suggest that such interspecific predator-prey encounters may shape the robbery interactions and the carrying behavior of further ant species in nature.
KeywordBengalia kleptoparasitism Pheidole predatory flies robbing KLEPTOPARASITISM AVAILABILITY FOOD FLY
Subject AreaZoology
DOI10.1111/1749-4877.12732
Indexed BySCI
WOS IDWOS:000994706900001
Citation statistics
Document Type期刊论文
Identifierhttp://ir.kib.ac.cn/handle/151853/75269
Collection中国科学院昆明植物研究所
Recommended Citation
GB/T 7714
Zhao,Ying,Yu,Yulong,Chen,Zhi,et al. Predator-prey encounters: deciphering the robbery relationship between highwayman flies and their ant victims[J]. INTEGRATIVE ZOOLOGY,2023.
APA Zhao,Ying.,Yu,Yulong.,Chen,Zhi.,LI,Ying.,Teng,Huidan.,...&Chen,Gao.(2023).Predator-prey encounters: deciphering the robbery relationship between highwayman flies and their ant victims.INTEGRATIVE ZOOLOGY.
MLA Zhao,Ying,et al."Predator-prey encounters: deciphering the robbery relationship between highwayman flies and their ant victims".INTEGRATIVE ZOOLOGY (2023).
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