EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE AND PREDATOR, PREY RATIO ON FEEDING RATE IN LARVAE OF ATHERIX LANTHA WEBB (DIPTERA, ATHERICIDAE)

Predator:prey experiments were conducted in the laboratory using snipe fly (Atherix lantha Webb) larvae as predators and hydropsychid caddis flies (Cheumatopsyche spp.) as prey. The effects on feeding rate of tw o different temperature regimes (20 and 10 degrees C) and five differe nt predator:prey ratios (3:1, 2.1, 1:1, 1:2, 1:3) were tested. The num ber of caddisflies consumed per A. lantha larva per day was significan tly greater at 20 degrees C than at 10 degrees C far the 2:1, 1:1, and 1:2 ratios (2x, 7x and 2x greater, respectively). There were no signi ficant differences between the 20 and 10 degrees C treatments at eithe r the 3:1 or 1:3 ratio.