Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
F
IG. 31
Cine film series of
Loricera pilicornis
lunging at a springtail: 1-7 antennal contact, 8 the springtail jumps,
12-15 the beetle strikes the antennae together (too late), 16-20 the antennae are reopened. Single frames
from a film recording at 500 frames/second. The beetle is 7 mm long. (From T. Bauer, 1982.)
Its larva, like most insect larvae, has poorly developed vision, but it too must
make a successful living as a hunter. This it does through the use of other senses.
First, it is guided to appropriate places in the soil and litter by seeking out humidity
conditions favoured by its prey. Here it is able to detect any aggregations of Collem-
bola by chemical cues, and it starts to search using slow, sweeping movements of the
head. At intervals it stops and remains motionless with head raised in wait for passing
prey. If it moves out of an area where Collembola have recently been, it either turns
back again or moves on quickly ur til it reaches another area pervaded by their scent.
An attack is triggered by contact with special sensory hairs on the head called tricho-
bothria. Such hairs occur widely in insects (and spiders). They usually consist of a
very fine whip-like hair (flagellum) coming from a circular, thin, flexible pad which
