A mechanistic interpretation of prey selection by Anax junius larvae ( Odonata: Aeschnidae).

Dragonfly nymphs showed a higher probability of pursuing the more abundant of 2 prey types than predicted from relative prey frequencies. An increased pursuit probability was correlated with an increased capture success on the abundant prey type. Prey selection in Anax junius nymphs appears to result from a simple behavioral rule of thumb: 'Continue to pursue only those prey types you have successfully captured in the immediate past'. -from Author