The effect of Calosoma sycophanta L. (Coleoptera : Carabidae) feeding on the pine processionary moth, Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Denis & Schiffermuller) (Lepidoptera : Thaumetopoeidae), in the laboratory

Abstract

We determined the feeding capacity of Calosoma sycophanta L. (Coleoptera: Carabidae) by feeding them the pine processionary moth (PPM), Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Denis & Schiffermuller) (Lepidoptera: Thaumetopoeidae), under laboratory conditions. C. sycophanta is one of the most important predators of PPM larvae and pupae. Adult C. sycophanta can consume as much as 7-8 times their weight in food per day. On average, each C. sycophanta adult injured 10 PPM larvae while consuming 7 of these prey per day. The adults lived for 3-4 years. When young C. sycophanta larvae feed on 1 PPM larva, they can reach 1.4-1.6 cm in length and 0.11-0.16 g in weight. One adult beetle eats 210-280 PPM larvae per year and 840-1120 PPM larvae during its lifetime.