Two-choice experiments on prey preferences of a generalist predator Pterostichus melanarius, and five species of slug prey, were conducted in the laboratory. Different preferences of P. melanarius for each of the slug species are described. They are interpreted as the outcome of differing slug species-specific defence mechanisms. The influence of hunger level, temperature, day/light period, condition of slugs and beetles, weight of slugs and beetles, and the sex of beetles were controlled experimentally or statistically. The order of slug species preference for predation by P. melanarius was: Deroceras reticulatum (Agriolimacidae), Malacolimax tenellus, Lehmania marginata (Limacidae), Arion distinctus and A. subfuscus (Arionidae). Efficiency of slugs' species-specific defence mechanisms reflected their phylogeny. Defence mechanisms of slugs from the superfamily Arionoidea were significantly more effective at deterring an attack of non-specialised ground beetles than the defence mechanisms of slugs from Limacoidea superfamily. P. melanarius significantly preferred Agriolimacidae to Limacidae, and Limacidae to Arionidae. Slug species was the strongest factor influencing prey preferences of P. melanarius amongst slug prey. Surprisingly, this preference was much more significant than the slug weight. Weight and sex of P. melanarius had no impact on its prey preference.
Kresba perem (90x320mm). Sokl v podobě nádoby, nad ní dvě ležící figury a stojící ženská postava., Togner 2003#, 69-79, pozn. 6., and Ze souboru kresebných návrhů A. M. Lublinského, původně cca 500 listů, se dochovalo cca 100 kreseb, které jsou prokazatelně jeho autorskými díly. Sousoší ilustruje jednu ze sedmi epizod ze života bohyně Flory podle vydání botanické knihy G. B. Ferrariho. Dva líní bratři - Brucas a Limax, špatně pracovali v její zahradě a proto je Flora proměnila ve slimáky. V antické mytologii však příběh není doložen, zmíněna je pouze zahrada, kterou Floře věnoval jako svatební dar její manžel Zephyrus.