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Post by exoticimports on Mar 27, 2021 16:11:52 GMT -8
It occurs to me that I’ve never found a saturnidae cocoon showing signs of predation by birds or mammals. Some, such as cecropia, leave residue when torn from a surface, and certainly I’d have noted that. One could argue that a predated “missing” Promethea would not be noticed; but then too a remnant would remain in some cases.
In fact, Promethea are clearly visible to me- are they not to birds and starving squirrels? And I’ve found cecropia that had been buried below the snow, yet had not been harmed by mice.
I did a quick search on the topic and found no real research paper. Odd.
Your observations?
Chuck
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Post by Paul K on Mar 27, 2021 16:51:39 GMT -8
It occurs to me that I’ve never found a saturnidae cocoon showing signs of predation by birds or mammals. Some, such as cecropia, leave residue when torn from a surface, and certainly I’d have noted that. One could argue that a predated “missing” Promethea would not be noticed; but then too a remnant would remain in some cases. In fact, Promethea are clearly visible to me- are they not to birds and starving squirrels? And I’ve found cecropia that had been buried below the snow, yet had not been harmed by mice. I did a quick search on the topic and found no real research paper. Odd. Your observations? Chuck I really just look for cocoons for last three years but yes, I never see any predation by mammals or birds. Usually it is by wasps or flies species (parasite).
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Post by eurytides on Mar 27, 2021 19:33:53 GMT -8
I have read a few papers on the topic as well. It’s not rare.
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Post by exoticimports on Mar 27, 2021 20:35:32 GMT -8
That’s a neat video. That said, its outside what I’ve observed.
Like to hear more.
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Post by eurytides on Mar 28, 2021 8:55:01 GMT -8
Unless you are out there doing a systematic study, you probably won’t see this sort of thing. I have come across cocoons that look they have been ripped open. I also remember reading a study of predation rates of cecropia cocoons, comparing forests to urban areas. Certainly, birds and mice do find them and predate on the pupae.
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