Abstract
The study of nymphal and adult (both male and female) feeding of two Gripopterygidae species from Central Chile [Antarctoperla michaelseni (Klapalek 1904) and Limmperla jaffueli (Navas 1928)] shows that: (a) A michaelseni nymphs feed mainly on detritus, followed by vegetable remains and fungi hyphae, while L jaffueli nymphs feed mainly on diatoms and detritus; (b) A michaelseni nymphs are shredders while L jaffueli nymphs are scrapers; (c) the main component of the studied species adult diet is Pinaceae pollen, contrasting with the widely pointed for the adult Gripopterygidae; (d) this last result shows the existence of an adaptation to a completely new food resource; (e) no sexual differences in diet are found for both species; and (f) the standardized Levins' index value is very similar for the two taxa (both nymphs and adults) and show that they present a reduced niche breadth.
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