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| Cotinis mutabilis being placated |
Introduction
Unlike many vertebrates, insects and other arthropods often fail to react strongly or at all when they perceive danger. This can result in surreal scenarios; aphids can often be seen right next to sleeping coccinellids, and may even attempt to climb onto their shells! Furthermore, even normally wary taxa may calm down instantly after encountering food, and then become quite oblivious. This is often useful during photography, as feeding specimens generally cease to move.
Chart legends
Placatability:
H = highly placatable; specimens lose nearly all fear when they are fed
OH = often highly placatable; specimens lose nearly all fear when successfully fed, but sometimes may refuse food
S = somewhat placatable; specimens will refuse food when extremely alarmed, and lose some/most fear after successful feeding
F = placatable when force-fed; alarmed specimens will ignore food if they can flee; if they cannot flee, they will feed and calm down. Note that some highly placatable taxa refuse food only when force-fed, and some highly non-placatable taxa always accept it when force-fed.
R = rarely placatable; specimens normally do not accept food when alarmed. However, slightly moribund specimens may sometimes feed (note that heavily moribund insects usually refuse all food, even if normally highly placatable)
N = not placatable
Primary tasting organs:
These elicit strong feeding responses when the insect contacts a food source with them, if it is not sufficiently frightened. Note that many insects are poor at locating food and will only notice it if their primary tasting organs accidentally collide with a food source.
A = antennae
P = palps
L = legs
Placation chart, arranged by taxon
Note that I am unfamiliar with the behaviors of certain taxa, and these may be excluded or contain less accurate ratings. I have based this on local species; your results may vary. Morphologically anomalous species are excluded for convenience. Assume only adults/adultlike young are being discussed, unless otherwise indicated.
ORDER Coleoptera
- Tenebrionidae (adults/larvae): S or OH, A, P
- Elateridae: H, A?, P?
- Carabidae: OH, P; nocturnal spp. may eat in daylight
- Coccinellidae (all): OH, sometimes F, either or both A, P
- Scarabaeidae, Melolonthinae: R, P
- Scarabaeidae, Cotinis mutabilis: OH, P
- Chrysomelidae (adults/larvae): R?
- Melyridae, Collops quadrimaculatus(?): H?, P, A?
- Staphylinidae: R?
ORDER Hymenoptera
OH, A, P, sometimes S, F
ORDER Lepidoptera
- Larvae: either OH or S; primary taste-organs unclear but around mouthparts
- Adult moths, if not mouthless: H, A?, L
- Adult butterflies: OH if F, A? L
ORDER Hemiptera
- Hoppers: N
- Aphids: OH?
- Heteropterans: R, L, A?; however sometimes herbivorous spp. attempt to probe skin
ORDER Zygentoma
- Synanthropic silverfishes: R, A? P?
ORDER Embiidina
S, A?, P? Adult males cease feeding after eating the final molt.
ORDER Blattodea
- Roaches: am unfamiliar, but based on reliable reports from others: OH (at least some), A, P
- Termites: apparently N
ORDER Orthoptera
Highly variable between species; possibilities include OH when F, N, A?, P
ORDER Diptera
- "Classic" (large-eye) flies: OH when F, L
- Gnat/mosquito/midge-shaped: H when F, L, P
- Crane flies: OH when F, P
- "Classic" maggots: OH? Apparently almost completely fearless.
ORDER Neuroptera
- Green lacewings: H when F, P, A?
ORDER Araneae
Salticidae: S? Some species appear completely fearless, H for these
Other free-living spiders: possibly S/R
Obligate web-hunting spiders: N, but Gasteracantha and several others known to OH even when webless
ORDER Isopoda
S/R, A
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