Predator-Prey Interactions between Shell-Boring Beetle Larvae and Rock-Dwelling Land Snails

<div><p><i>Drilus</i> beetle larvae (Coleoptera: Elateridae) are specialized predators of land snails. Here, we describe various aspects of the predator-prey interactions between multiple <i>Drilus</i> species attacking multiple <i>Albinaria</i> (Gastropoda: Clausiliidae) species in Greece. We observe that <i>Drilus</i> species may be facultative or obligate <i>Albinaria</i>-specialists. We map geographically varying predation rates in Crete, where on average 24% of empty shells carry fatal <i>Drilus</i> bore holes. We also provide first-hand observations and video-footage of prey entry and exit strategies of the <i>Drilus</i> 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 <i>Drilus</i> 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.</p>