Chlorinated hydrocarbons in marine insects

Abstract

Total DDT concentrations in the oceanic Halobates were found to be 5–10 times higher (180–400 ng/g dry wt) than those of the related nearshore Rheumatobates (<50 ng/g) or of the common beach fly Fucellia (18 ng/g). This difference could perhaps be explained by the different diets of these three marine insects; Halobates being a predator of zooplankton, while Rheumatobates feeds on phytophagous insects and Fucellia feeds on more or less decomposing seaweeds. The PCB concentrations (110–300 ng/g) were about the same in the two sea-skaters, but slightly lower in the beach fly (62 ng/g).