Do Neotropical adult dobsonflies (Megaloptera, Corydalidae) feed on solid material in the nature? Information from a gut content study

Abstract

Females of two species of corydalids (Megaloptera), Corydalus magnus Contreras-Ramos, 1998 and Platyneuromus soror (Hagen, 1861), are studied with the aim to determine if solid food is present in their guts, which would indicate the existence of feeding on solid food during the imaginal life in nature. Gut anatomical architecture is also studied and described for females of both species, showing no peculiarities regarding the existing information in other close related species and confirming that digestive morphology is conserved in Megaloptera, as previously reported in literature. No significant solid food was detected in any of the species, so in the nature, they may rely more on liquid sources and/or fat reserves produced in the larval stage for the energetic requirements of adult life.