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Comparative studies on the seasonal occurrence, nymphal development and food menu in two giant water bugs, Diplonychus japonicus vuillefroy and Diplonychus major esaki (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae)
Author(s) -
Okada Hiroaki,
Nakasuji Fusao
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
population ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1438-390X
pISSN - 1438-3896
DOI - 10.1007/bf02515641
Subject(s) - biology , nymph , hemiptera , dragonfly , ecology , population density , population , zoology , odonata , demography , sociology
Summary We compared the seasonal changes in population density and nymphal development at different water temperatures and under different food conditions between two giant water bugs, Diplonychus japonicus and D. major , in Okayama, Japan. D. japonicus produced 1–2 generations a year, while D. major was strictly inivoltine. The developmental velocity was higher in D. japonicus than in D. major . The thermal constant of D. japonicus was less than that of D. major . These results suggest that D. japonicus is adapted, to higher water temperature than D. major . In the field, D. japonicus preyed predominately on Lymnaeidae and Physidae snails, while D. major preyed on aquatic insects such as dragonfly nymphs.