The pattern of feeding of first instar nymphs of Schistocerca americana

Abstract

ABSTRACT The feeding behaviour of nymphs Schistocerca americana (Drury) was recorded throughout the light phases of the first stadium using a behavioural event recording program on a microcomputer. Most food was ingested on day 4 of the stadium, very little on day 1 and none on day 6, the final day of the stadium. Only 26–45% of the total food intake over the stadium occurred during the dark periods and more food was eaten in the last 4 h of each light period than earlier. Feeding occupied only about 5% of the total time. Variation in food intake was a consequence primarily of changes in the numbers of meals. After day 1, the average meal size did not change significantly. Meal length increased relatively slightly compared with meal size as a consequence of an increase in the proportion of time spent feeding in each meal as meal size increased. Meal size was correlated with the length of the previous interfeed suggesting a volumetric regulation. The distribution of pauses within meals was also consistent with the thesis that meal size is governed by the level of excitation in the central nervous system at the start of the meal.