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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 6, 2026

Maintaining Laboratory Cultures of Gryllus bimaculatus, a Versatile Orthopteran Model for Insect Agriculture and Invertebrate Physiology
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Food consumption in Gerris (Hemiptera).

G S Jamieson1, G G E Scudder1

  • 1Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver 8, B.C., Canada.

Oecologia
|March 18, 2017
PubMed
Summary

This study reveals how body size, temperature, and developmental stage affect food consumption in Gerris water bugs. Smaller Gerris consume more relative to body weight, and temperature significantly impacts daily intake for most species.

Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Insect Physiology
  • Behavioral Ecology

Background:

  • Gerris species, commonly known as water skaters, are important predators in freshwater ecosystems.
  • Understanding their feeding ecology is crucial for comprehending aquatic food web dynamics.
  • Previous research has primarily focused on predatory behavior rather than detailed quantitative analysis of food consumption parameters.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the key parameters influencing food consumption in larvae and adults of five Gerris species.
  • To quantify the relationship between body size, feeding duration, digestive rate, temperature, and daily food intake.
  • To identify species-specific variations in feeding strategies and physiological responses.

Main Methods:

  • Experimental components analysis was employed to measure feeding time and gut content volume.

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  • Data were collected on satiation feeding times, post-deprivation feeding duration, and relative digestive rates.
  • Daily food consumption was analyzed in relation to body weight and ambient temperature.

    • Main Results:

    • Maximum feeding time to satiation was 2-2.5 hours for gerrids >10 mg; smaller individuals showed a logarithmic decline in feeding time.
    • Body size had minimal impact on feeding duration post-deprivation, except in early larval instars.
    • Relative digestive rates differed significantly between adults and larvae; smaller gerrids consumed larger volumes relative to body weight.
    • Daily food intake increased linearly with temperature for four species, but G. remigis consumption peaked at 19°C.
    • Food consumption in G. notabilis peaked approximately 40% through its stadium, irrespective of instar or duration.

    Conclusions:

    • Feeding parameters in Gerris are influenced by a complex interplay of body size, developmental stage, and environmental factors like temperature.
    • Larvae exhibit distinct feeding and digestive strategies compared to adults, with smaller individuals showing greater relative consumption capacity.
    • Temperature acts as a significant regulator of daily food intake, with species-specific optimal temperatures and responses observed.