Testing the predatory behaviour of Podarcis sicula (Reptilia: Lacertidae) towards aposematic and non-aposematic preys

Food preferences and the effects of prey chemical repellents in the dietary behaviour of Podarcis sicula were testedusing four species of Carabid beetles as prey models. The goal of the study was to assess (i) the ability of P. sicula to recognizeinsect preys provided with chemical repellents and aposematic colorations under laboratory conditions, and (ii) the importanceof chemical signals used by the prey model as antipredatory strategy. Preys used in this study were Brachinus sclopeta andAnchomenus dorsalis (aposematic species) and Amara anthobia and A. aenea (non-aposematic species). Aposematic speciesare characterized by warning color pattern and by production of chemical repellents, while non-aposematic ones do not.Amara anthobia and A. aenea were attacked with high frequency by P. sicula, Brachinus sclopeta and Anchomenus dorsaliswith low frequency. Non-aposematic species were preyed more often than the aposematic ones. Brachinus sclopeta waspreyed after low latency, while Amara anthobia and A. aenea after long latency. Non-aposematic species were captured andeaten without difficulty, while when B. sclopeta or A. dorsalis were captured, lizards always tossed their head and then rubthe snout on the soil, probably because of the unpalatability of aposematic preys.