The Feeding-Rate of Metacnephia tredecimatum Larvae (Diptera: Simuliidae) in a Swedish Lake Outlet

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Abstract
In a lake outlet in Swedish Lapland larvae of M. tredecimatum Edwards were fed a suspension of easily-recognizable particulates to produce a band across their guts. Larvae were removed from the river 15, 30, 45 and 60 min after the suspension had passed over them and the movement of the band along their guts indicated a retention-time for gut material of about 2 h for this species at this location. Analysis of the gut contents of 4 larvae showed over 80% of all particles ingested to have a diameter of less than 2 .mu.m. A similar percentage of particles of this dimension was found in the river water. Larval feeding-rates were affected by the presence of nematode infections and by imminent pupation.

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