Composition of bodies of cave crickets (Hadenoecus subterraneus), their eggs, and their egg predator, Neaphaenops tellkampfi

Hind femur length, live and dry mass, as well as nitrogen and mineral (Na, K, Ca, Mg and Fe) concentrations were measured in crop-empty carcasses of a wide size range of cave crickets, Hadenoecus subterraneus, their eggs and their egg predator, the troglobitic beetle Neaphaenops tellkampfi. Compared...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American midland naturalist 1996-07, Vol.136 (1), p.101-109
Main Author: Studier, E.H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation (Biology)
animal behavior
animal ecology
Animal reproduction
arthropods
Average linear density
Beetles
Camel crickets
Carabidae
Caves
Coleoptera
Crickets
Egg masses
Eggs
entomology
Female animals
Insect eggs
Insects
Minerals
Nitrogen
Orthoptera
Physiological aspects
Predation
Predation (Biology)
Rhaphidophoridae
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Summary:Hind femur length, live and dry mass, as well as nitrogen and mineral (Na, K, Ca, Mg and Fe) concentrations were measured in crop-empty carcasses of a wide size range of cave crickets, Hadenoecus subterraneus, their eggs and their egg predator, the troglobitic beetle Neaphaenops tellkampfi. Compared to other orthopterans, body concentrations of Fe, Ca and Na of cave crickets are higher, are similar for Mg, but N and K are lower. In cave crickets, body Mg, Fe and N concentrations decrease with size. Eggs have higher Ca, lower Na and N, and similar K, Fe and Mg concentrations than unfed hatchlings. Body concentrations of N. tellkampfi are higher than other beetles for Fe and Ca, similar for Na, and lower for N, Mg and K. Compared to developing eggs of H. subterraneus, bodies of N. tellkampfi contain similar concentrations of Fe and Ca, lower concentrations of Mg and K, and higher concentrations of N and Na. Estimated accretion of measured elements during growth after hatching occurs very slowly in cave crickets. Amounts (micrograms/day) of nutrients needed for egg growth greatly exceed needs for nonreproductive growth.
ISSN:0003-0031
1938-4238
DOI:10.2307/2426635