UTILIZATION OF PREY BY ANTLION LARVAE (NEUROPTERA, MYRMELEONTIDAE) INTERMS OF ENERGY AND NUTRIENTS

Prey utilisation at low prey densities was determined for third instar Cueta sp., Furgella intermedia (Markl) and Palpares annulatus (Stitz) larvae in terms of wet weight, dry weight, energy and nutrients. Prey utilisation was similar to other insects on a wet weight (42-47%), dr y weight (46-49%), energetic (40-58%) and nutritive basis (62-79%), Li pids (33-36%) provided energetically the highest contribution of the n utrients ingested, The quantities of water, proteins, nucleic acids, l ipids and carbohydrates extracted by the antlion larvae were in propor tion to their availability in their prey, the Hodotermes mossambicus l arvae, The quantities of nutrients extracted by the antlion larvae at low prey densities were not significantly influenced by the difference s in mandible size, antlion body weight or the trapping method (buildi ng a pit or not) of the antlion species, It is proposed that a low met abolic rate and the accumulation of fat reserves, and not the extent o f prey utilisation, enable P. annulatus larvae to tolerate a 123-d sta rvation period in which 22.3% of their body weight is lost. (C) 1997 E lsevier Science Ltd.