Do Neotropical adult dobsonflies (Megaloptera: Corydalidae) feed on solid material in nature? Information from a gut content study

Females of two species of dobsonflies (Megaloptera: Corydalidae), Corydalus magnus Contreras-Ramos, 1998 , and Platyneuromus soror (Hagen, 1861 ), are studied with the aim to determine if solid food is present in their guts, which would indicate the existence of actively feeding on solid food during...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Aquatic insects 2023-07, Vol.44 (3), p.205-212
Main Authors: Álvarez, Hugo Alejandro, Tierno de Figueroa, José Manuel, Cebada-Ruiz, Jorge Alejandro
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aquatic insects
Corydalidae
Digestive system
feeding habits
Females
Food
Food sources
Foods
Gastrointestinal tract
gut content
gut morphology
Larval stage
Megaloptera
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Summary:Females of two species of dobsonflies (Megaloptera: Corydalidae), Corydalus magnus Contreras-Ramos, 1998 , and Platyneuromus soror (Hagen, 1861 ), are studied with the aim to determine if solid food is present in their guts, which would indicate the existence of actively feeding on solid food during the imaginal life in nature. Gut anatomical architecture is also studied and described for females of both species, showing no peculiarities regarding the existing information in other closely related species and confirming that digestive morphology is conserved in Megaloptera, as previously reported in literature. No significant amounts of solid food were detected in either species, thus indicating that, under natural conditions they may rely more on liquid food sources and/or fat reserves produced in the larval stage to meet the energetic requirements of adult life.
ISSN:0165-0424
1744-4152
DOI:10.1080/01650424.2022.2107677