Predation by the carabid beetles Pterostichus madidus and Nebria brevicollis is affected by size and condition of the prey slug Deroceras reticulatum

摘要: Summary 1 Slugs are important pests in many agricultural crops but molluscicides commonly used to control slugs affect non-target organisms. Encouraging biological may help reduce molluscicide use, the efficiency of potential natural enemies needs be investigated. 2 Serological tests have shown that certain carabid species consume slugs. These techniques, however, do not distinguish between scavenging and true predation, nor they provide information on size or other characteristics prey consumed. The study reported here was undertaken establish whether dead might an factor contributing positive serological test results. 3 Both Pterostichus madidus (Fabricius) Nebria brevicollis consumed Deroceras reticulatum (Muller) under laboratory conditions. Dead were scavenged preference injured healthy slugs. 4 Only small, live (< 0.11 g) killed by both beetle species, which may, therefore, incapable killing larger slugs. 5 generalist appeared unable overcome defence mucus produced data suggest results from field collected beetles reflect rather than predation