Deraeocoris schach, a new predator of Euphydryas aurinia and other heteropteran feeding habits on caterpillar web (Heteroptera: Miridae; Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

Abstract

In this paper, preliminary results on a field study aiming to identify predators of the Marsh Fritillary<em> Euphydryas aurinia</em> (Rottemburg, 1775) in Central Italy are presented. Several heteropterans were found on the larval nests of <em>E. aurinia</em> for dietary reasons: <em>Deraeocoris schach</em> (Fabricius, 1781) that is a predator of Marsh Fritillary larvae, <em>Palomena prasina</em> (Linnaeus, 1761) and <em>Spilostethus saxatilis</em> (Scopoli, 1763) that feed on the droppings of larvae; <em>Graphosoma lineatum</em> <em>italicum</em> (Müller, 1766) that visits the larval web during winter diapause.