PSYCHE 
Vol. 88 
1981 
No. 1-2 
ANTI-PREDATOR STRATEGIES. 
II.* GRASSHOPPERS (ORTHOPTERA, ACRIDIDAE) 
ATTACKED BY PRIONYX PARKERI AND SOME 
TACHYSPHEX WASPS (HYMENOPTERA, SPHECINAE 
AND LARRINAE): A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY 
By A. L. Steiner 
Department of Zoology, University of Alberta 
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2E9 
Introduction 
Predator and anti-predator adaptations, strategies, have been 
studied extensively in recent years (see for instance Curio 1976 and 
Edmunds 1974 for some recent reviews). Problems of predator-prey 
coevolution, mimicry, protective coloration (e.g., Cott’s monu- 
mental work, 1940), optimal strategies, etc., have received a great 
deal of attention. Defense mechanisms are extremely diverse and 
can even involve use of a commensal species (e.g. Ross 1971). A 
variety of sensory channels can be used such as visual (e.g. Cott 
1940; Robinson 1969), acoustical (e.g. Roeder 1965), chemical (e.g. 
Eisner and Meinwald 1966; Eisner 1970), mechanical, vibratory (e.g. 
Tautz and Markl 1975) to mention only a few examples. Predators 
such as mammals, birds, reptiles (e.g. Curio 1970), fish, mollusks 
have been extensively studied. 
Among insects, solitary and social wasps have also been inten- 
sively studied but on the whole surprisingly little is known about the 
defensive mechanisms of their “helpless” prey. Prey capture is often 
very difficult to observe and even more so to study extensively in 
natural conditions. The few exceptions mostly deal with prey that 
represent a potentially formidable opponent (e.g. spider, praying 
*For part I see Steiner 1968 in the Literature Cited. 
Manuscript received by the editor May 11, 1981 
