Larval and adult seed consumption affected by the degree of food specialization in Amara (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

0351161 - BC 2011 RIV DE eng J - Journal Article
Klimeš, Petr - Saska, P.
Larval and adult seed consumption affected by the degree of food specialization in Amara (Coleoptera: Carabidae).
Journal of Applied Entomology. Roč. 134, č. 8 (2010), s. 659-666. ISSN 0931-2048. E-ISSN 1439-0418
Grant - others:GA ČR(CZ) GA526/09/1436
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z50070508
Keywords : diet * feeding habits * ground beetles
Subject RIV: EH - Ecology, Behaviour
Impact factor: 1.276, year: 2010

This is the first study in which seed consumption is assessed for all larval instars and adults of ground beetles. Three species of the genus Amara were examined. Larvae of all three instars and adults were fed seeds of the three plant species Stellaria media, Capsella bursa-pastoris and Taraxacum officinale in a laboratory experiment. Generally, larvae showed greater differences in seed consumption and the daily seed consumption by the larvae was comparable or even higher than that by the adults. Results of this study suggest that also larvae may be very important consumers of seed in the field.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0190970