Comparative food preferences of soil-, sand-, and wood-inhabiting wireworms (Coleoptera, Elateridae)

Abstract

In a study of the larval feeding preferences of eleven species of Elateridae, representing Lepturoidini, Pyrophorini and Elaterinae, from soil, sand and wood habitats, all larvae were found to feed more on animal than plant food when these were offered separately. When given a choice, the larvae of only one species, Lepturoides linearis (L.), selected animal food exclusively and only those of Limonius minutus (L.) selected plant food exclusively. No consistent relationship was found between food preferences and taxonomic group, habitat, size, or morphology of the sense organs of the species. It is suggested that under laboratory conditions differences in food preferences among species are mediated primarily by differences in the physiology of their sense organs, and these may be an expression of different nutritional requirements among certain species.