Prey movement, size, and glossiness interact to impact praying mantid attack behaviors

Abstract

When moving, animals are vulnerable to predation because movement can rapidly attract the attention of a predator. To reduce the risk of predation while moving, animals can use a variety of different strategies (eg erratic movement, coloration). These strategies often work in combination or may be influenced by other prey characteristics (eg size), but few studies have explored these interactions. Here, we investigate how movement trajectory (linear or erratic), prey size (small or large) and prey coloration (glossy or matte) interact to impact the attack behavior of giant rainforest mantids (Hierodula majuscula). We presented mantids with animations of moving targets and filmed their respon..