Predator on other nematodes (Yeates et al., 1993;
Bilgrami and Jairajpuri, 1989).
Bilgrami and Jairajpuri (1989) divided mechanisms of
predation and food intake are divided into five phases: 1. encounter with
the prey, 2. attack reaction, 3. attack, 4. saliva release / extracorporeal
digestion and 5. food intake. Most phases were similar in M. fortidens
and M. longicaudatus.
M. fortidens attacked more
frequently and needed less time to eat the prey than M. longicaudatus. The
latter tested his prey more gently and for a long time, while in M.
fortidens the test was more severe and shorter. The rate of predation
was the same for both male and female predators and was affected by the
number of prey animals available, the hunger status of the predators and the
temperature. The
highest prey catch occurred in a population of 200 prey animals at 25-30 ° C
with predators that had starved for 12 days. Bacterivores Acrobeloides
sp., Cephalobus sp., Panagrellus redivivus and the J2
stages of the plant parasites Meloidogyne incognita and Anguina tritici were
the most preferred prey of the two predators. As observed for
Apocelaimellus nivalis, plolaimus indicus
and Hemicriconemoides mangiferae, perhaps protected by
cuticle thickness and or cuticular sheaths were not eaten (Bilgrami, 1983).
Bilgrami, A.L. 1993. Analysis of the predation by Aporcelaimellus nivalis
on prey nematodes From different prey trophic categories. Nematologica
39:356-365.
Yeates, G.W., T. Bongers, R. G. M. De Goede, D. W. Freckman, and S. S.
Georgieva. 1993. Feeding habits in soil nematode families and genera—An outline
for soil ecologists. Journal of Nematology 25:315-331