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Cycloalexy
Cycloalexy is a pre-emptive, tight circular, gregarious Defense in insects, defensive behavior seen in many immature insects. The term was coined in 1988 by entomologists Joao Vasconcellos-Neto and Pierre Jolivet. The term was derived from Greek κύκλος for "circle" and αλεκ- for "to defend" and in the original usage noted that insects sometimes had their heads facing into the centre of the circle and sometimes facing outwards. The behavior is shown in the rest condition and not in response to any predators. Other authors have called for a tightening of the definition. Circular defense strategies were noted in 1981 in the Galerucinae and the term cycloalexy was informally suggested by Jolivet in a discussion with Loïc Matile. It was formally defined in 1988 as an attitude adopted at rest both during night and day with larvae at the periphery in close contact with each other. They were described in a number of chrysomelid beetle larvae (in the subfamilies Criocerinae, Chry ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Defense In Insects
Insects have a wide variety of predators, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, carnivorous plants, and other arthropods. The great majority (80–99.99%) of individuals born do not survive to reproductive age, with perhaps 50% of this mortality rate attributed to predation. In order to deal with this ongoing escapist battle, insects have evolved a wide range of Antipredator adaptation, defense mechanisms. The only restraint on these adaptations is that their cost, in terms of time and energy, does not exceed the benefit that they provide to the organism. The further that a feature tips the balance towards beneficial, the more likely that selection will act upon the trait, passing it down to further generations. The opposite also holds true; defenses that are too costly will have a little chance of being passed down. Examples of defenses that have withstood the test of time include hiding, escape by flight or running, and firmly holding ground to fight as well as producing c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
