Food Webs & Functional Feeding Groups

Since the late 1970s, insect groups in streams have been classified into Functional Feeding Groups rather than the standard trophic levels. This food web scheme was adopted because many insects in streams eat across several trophic levels making the trophic level classification system not very useful in describing these food webs. The Functional Feeding Group […]

Food Webs & Trophic Levels

Not only do insects eat things themselves, but insects are by far the largest source of food for animals that eat meat or flesh, both on the land and in freshwater. One entomologist has estimated that the world population of insects at any one time is about 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 (one quintillion) individuals. Although insects are relatively […]

Insect Feeding & Food Webs

All insects must eat or they will eventually starve so much of insect behavior is about finding food and eating it! Many insects are very specific in their feeding preferences and they will either starve or move to another area if their food is not available. Other insects are not as specific and will switch […]