The role of lipids as feeding stimulants for shredding aquatic insects |
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| Authors: | AUSTEN S. CARGILL II KENNETH W. CUMMINS BOYD J. HANSON ROBERT R. LOWRY |
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| Affiliation: | Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, U.S.A.;Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, U.S.A. |
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| Abstract: | SUMMARY. - 1 Caddisflies (Trichoptera) that shred leaf detritus preferentially ingested lipid-coated detritus during the last larval in star. This is the interval when these insects accumulate the triglyceride reserves necessary for metamorphosis and reproduction. Early in star larvae, which do not accumulate lipids, showed no preference for any lipids. This behaviour indicates food selection based on changing nutritional needs.
- 2 Pure unsaturated 18- and 20-carbon fatty acids, either as free acids or triglycerides, were most strongly preferred. Crude lipid and the neutral lipid fraction from aquatic hyphomycete fungi, an important component of aquatic leaf detritus, were also preferred.
- 3 Tipula abdominalis (Diptera: Tipulidae) did not prefer any lipids during the last instar.
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