SREL Reprint #2090

Examination of the feeding behavior of larval Tropisternus (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae)

Gordon R. Plague

Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602

Abstract: Numerous aquatic larval hydrophilid species consume their prey with their heads above the water surface. To determine whether Tropisternus sp. exhibit the same behavior, larvae were observed under three conditions: (1) individually with an emergent twig present, (2) in a group with an emergent twig present, and (3) in a group without a twig. All beetles that ate crawled onto the twig and emerged their heads from the water to feed. Several behaviors were observed that do not support some of the hypotheses concerning the adaptive significance of this feeding behavior.

SREL Reprint #2090

Plague, G.R. 1996. Examination of the feeding behavior of larval Tropisternus (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 69:104-107.

This information was provided by the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (srel.uga.edu).