Abstract
Growth responses of Simulium vittatum and fifth instar Hydropsyche betteni were observed (at 20°C for 10 d and 14 d, respectively) while on diets restricted to sterile or conditioned fine leaf detritus, cultured bacteria (Escherichia coli), a filamentous cyanobacterium (Oscillatoria), three eukaryotic algae (Chlorella pyrenidosa, Ulothrix fibriatum, and diatoms), and Daphnia magna (H. betteni only). Early instar Simulium had significantly higher weight increases than later instars for all food types tested. Simulium weight increases were lowest on diets of C. pyrenidosa and sterile leaves (10-70%), whereas all other foods produced mean weight increases >300%. Hydropsyche betteni larvae lost weight on all diets except Ulothrix, diatoms, and D. magna; the two algal diets produced growth rates that were significantly higher than other non-animal diets but significantly lower than D. magna. The Simulium data show that detritus and its associated microbes may not be a lower quality food for all insects in comp...
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