Age-dependent walking and feeding of the assassin bug Amphibolus venator

Abstract

Abstract Animal behaviours often dependent on age. In many insect species, walking shows an age-dependent decline, and food intake may also be dependent on age. However, few studies have investigated the relationship between age and walking or food intake. In the present study, we compared walking traits and food intake among individuals of different ages in the assassin bug Amphibolus venator (Hemiptera, Reduviidae). The present results showed an age-dependent decline in walking, similar to findings in many animal species. On the other hand, food intake showed a positive correlation with age. Therefore, the decline in walking did not lead to a decline in feeding. The positive relationship between food intake and age may be related to the type of predation, sit-and-wait, used by A. venator via alterations in investment in reproductive traits with age.