Interactions between social and feeding behaviour in Sinella coeca (Collembola)

Abstract

The diet of Sinella coeca was found to be very wide, including food of animal origin. The springtail was able to discriminate between animal food of different origins and showed marked cannibalism on dead conspecifics.The palatability of dead individuals of S. coeca varied with time: specimens sacrificed 8–10 hours before the tests were preferred.Interactions between feeding choices and social behaviour were studied by means of easily quantifiable behavioural patterns such as cleaning and physical contact. Competitive interactions were significantly higher in the presence of dead individuals of their own species, whereas the cleaning activity of isolated individuals diminished significantly in these circumstances. © 1983 Taylor & FrancisGroup, LLC.