The effect of food on the larval development of Palpopleura lucia lucia (Drury) (Anisoptera: Libellulidae)

The effects of diet, quantity of food, and complete starvation on larval development of P. l. lucia were investigated in the laboratory. Groups of larvae were fed on 4 diets: copepods and cladocerans, ostracods, ephemeropteran larvae, and a combination of the 3, These types of food affected the duration of larval development which was 35.4, 46.6, 42.4 and 37.3 days respectively. It did not affect the total length of larvae in each instar. In experiments on the effect of quantity of food on larval development, groups of larvae were supplied with a "standard diet”, 1/2, 1/4, and 1/8 of the standard. The resulting larval developmental periods, 40,0, 57.2, 76.4 and 118.5 days respectively, showed that quantity of food has a great effect on duration of development but not on total lengths of each larval instar. Experiments with total starvation, beginning at various instars, showed that development and moulting could occur in the early instars without feeding. However, this ability was lost at VI instar, although larvae could live for considerable periods before dying. The ecological significance of these 3 groups of experiments is discussed.