Evidence for food as a limiting resource in the life cycle of tiger beetles ( Coleoptera: Cicindelidae).

Adult females at low feeding levels produced significantly fewer eggs and larvae than females at high feeding levels. Larvae at low feeding levels took significantly longer to pass through all 3 larval stages, and their pupae and emergent adults were significantly smaller than those individuals raised at higher feeding levels. Large adults survived longer than small adults when deprived of food. Small adult females produced fewer eggs and larvae at low feeding levels than larger conspecific females at the same feeding levels. The feeding levels of wild larvae and adults in several habitats over 5 years was lower than the level which produced maximum offspring and survival in the laboratory, except on permanent pond edges where food was abundant. Food in some habitats was more likely limiting in some years than others.-from Authors