Evol Ecol Res 2: 119-128 (2000) Full PDF if your library subscribes.
Kinship and cannibalism in the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella: No evidence of kin discrimination
Michael Boots *
Entomology Laboratory, College of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Japan
Address all correspondnece to Michael Boots, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Kyushu University, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka-shi 812, Japan.
e-mail: mike@biology.kyushu-u.ac.jpABSTRACT
Generally, cannibals should avoid consuming related individuals so as to reduce indirect fitness costs. Here, I examine the effect of kinship on larval cannibalism in the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella. First, a series of ‘no-choice’ experiments was performed in which third instar larvae were confined with either a second instar sibling or an unrelated second instar individual. Next, ‘choice’ experiments were performed in which third instar larvae were given the choice of a sibling or an unrelated individual, with all three individuals confined to one petri dish. The results from both experimental designs were consistent in that they showed no evidence that cannibals avoid siblings. Sibling cannibalism occured even when there was a choice of an unrelated individual. It is unclear whether this phenomenon is adaptive.
Keywords: cannibalism, discrimination, fitness costs, insect, kin selection, siblings.
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