Section of Nematology, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh-202 002.
The predatory behviour of Laimydorus baldus Baqri&Jam, 1982 was studied in 1% water aqar. Predation depended on chance encounters. L. baldus probed body of prey over a short distance and paralysed it by disorganizing internal body organs with odontostyle and fed on prey contents. The duration of feeding lasted for 60 min. on Rhabditis sp. and 40 min. on Hirschmanniella oryzae which were the most preferred preys. L. baldus also fed on the eggs of Rhabditis sp. but not on its own eggs. Rate of predation was directly correlated to number of prey. The aggregation of 2–4 predators around a single prey was observed. Temperatures ranging from 25–30°C were most suitable for predation by L. baldus.
Laimydorus baldus, predator, prey, predation, Rhabditis sp., Hirschmanniella oryzae
