Data from: Predator-prey interactions between shell-boring beetle larvae and rock-dwelling land snails

Drilus beetle larvae (Coleoptera: Elateridae) are specialized predators of land snails. Here, we describe various aspects of the predator-prey interactions between multiple Drilus species attacking multiple Albinaria (Gastropoda: Clausiliidae) species in Greece. We observe that Drilus species may be facultative or obligate Albinaria-specialists. We map geographically varying predation rates in Crete, where on average 24% of empty shells carry fatal Drilus bore holes. We also provide first-hand observations and video-footage of prey entry and exit strategies of the Drilus larvae, and evaluate the potential mutual evolutionary impacts. We find limited evidence for an effect of shell features and snail behavioral traits on inter- and intra-specifically differing predation rates. We also find that Drilus predators adjust their predation behavior based on specific shell traits of the prey. In conclusion, we suggest that, with these baseline data, this interesting predator-prey system will be available for further, detailed more evolutionary ecology studies.

地叩甲属（Drilus）甲虫幼虫（鞘翅目（Coleoptera）：叩甲科（Elateridae））是陆生蜗牛的特化捕食者。本研究阐述了希腊境内多种地叩甲属物种捕食多种阿尔百纳螺属（Albinaria，腹足纲（Gastropoda）：烟管螺科（Clausiliidae））物种的捕食者-猎物互作的多维度特征。研究发现，地叩甲属物种可划分为兼性或专性的阿尔百纳螺属捕食专性类群。我们绘制了克里特岛的地理变异捕食率图谱，该区域平均24%的空蜗牛壳带有地叩甲幼虫造成的致命蛀孔。本研究还提供了地叩甲幼虫入侵与脱离猎物的一手观测数据及视频素材，并评估了二者潜在的协同进化影响。研究发现，贝壳形态特征与蜗牛行为性状对种间及种内捕食率差异的影响证据较为有限。同时，研究发现地叩甲捕食者会根据猎物的特定贝壳性状调整自身捕食行为。综上，我们认为依托这些基准数据，这一极具研究价值的捕食者-猎物系统可用于后续更深入细致的进化生态学研究。