A2 Review article, Literature review, Systematic review
Antipredator strategies of pupae : how to avoid predation in an immobile life stage? (2019)


Lindstedt, C., Murphy, L., & Mappes, J. (2019). Antipredator strategies of pupae : how to avoid predation in an immobile life stage?. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B : Biological Sciences, 374(1783), Article 20190069. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2019.0069


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Publication details

All authors or editorsLindstedt, Carita; Murphy, Liam; Mappes, Johanna

Journal or seriesPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B : Biological Sciences

ISSN0962-8436

eISSN1471-2970

Publication year2019

Volume374

Issue number1783

Article number20190069

PublisherThe Royal Society Publishing

Publication countryUnited Kingdom

Publication languageEnglish

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2019.0069

Publication open accessOpenly available

Publication channel open accessPartially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX)https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/66170

Additional informationThis article is part of the theme issue ‘The evolution of complete metamorphosis’.


Abstract

Antipredator strategies of the pupal stage in insects have received little attention in comparison to larval or adult stages. This is despite the fact that predation risk can be high during the pupal stage, making it a critical stage for subsequent fitness. The immobile pupae are not, however, defenceless; a wide range of antipredator strategies have evolved against invertebrate and vertebrate predators. The most common strategy seems to be ‘avoiding encounters with predators' by actively hiding in vegetation and soil or via cryptic coloration and masquerade. Pupae have also evolved behavioural and secondary defences such as defensive toxins, physical defences or deimatic movements and sounds. Interestingly, warning coloration used to advertise unprofitability has evolved very rarely, even though the pupal stage often contains defensive toxins in chemically defended species. In some species, pupae gain protection from conspecifics or mimic chemical and auditory signals and thereby manipulate other species to protect them. Our literature survey highlights the importance of studying selection pressures across an individual's life stages to predict how ontogenetic variation in selective environments shapes individual fitness and population dynamics in insects. Finally, we also suggest interesting avenues for future research to pursue.


Keywordsinsectslarvaepreyprotecting oneselfprotective colorationdefence mechanisms (biological phenomena)

Free keywordspredator–prey interactions; protective coloration; pupal defence; physical defence; chemical defence


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Ministry reportingYes

Reporting Year2019

JUFO rating2


Last updated on 2024-08-01 at 20:45