| I am collaborating with Alejandro
Lopera at the University of New Orleans to understand the evolution of
a previously unknown, highly derived predatory behavior in a dung beetle
species that attacks and kills millipedes. Our results show that this
species is specialized solely to prey on millipedes. We have examined
the predatory behavior using choice experiments in the field and also
designed experiments to determine foraging and detection strategies. Based
upon its unusual morphological adaptations, we have been able to identify
an entire species group from museum collections that is distributed widely
across Central and South America. Allometric measurements coupled with
anecdotal collection information provide evidence that this group shares
the same common ecological niche as millipede predators. |
