Digger wasp vs. cricket: neuroethology of a predator-prey interaction

1. Introduction 2. The Predator and the Prey 2.1 Occurence of Liris in southern France, the typical Liris-habitat, and other characteristics of the predator 2.2 Occurence, way of life and characteristics of Acheta domesticus and Gryllus bimaculatus, a possible prey 3. The Prey: Behavioural reactions of the prey due to the approach of the predator and their neuronal processing 3.1 Head-stand, stilt-stand, defensive kick 3.2 Functional morphology of the filiform hairs on the cerci of crickets 3.3 Filiform hairs: their role in recognition of the predator and in releasing the behavioural response „head-stand“ 3.4 Filiform hairs, campaniform sensilla and the defensive kick: The function of a combined mechanoreceptor system 3.5 Central nervous processing of the afferent signals from filiform hairs and campaniform sensilla 3.6 The role of the cercal (warning) system in cricket behaviour under field conditions 4. The Predator: Behavioural responses of the predator while approaching and attacking the prey 4.1 Prey specifity of the L. niger females 4.2 Prey recognition by Liris niger females 4.3 Paralysing the prey 4.4 Venoms of solitary wasps and their action on the nervous system of their prey 5. Epilogue 6. Zusammenfassung 7. Acknowledgements 8. References