Variation between plant species in pollen digestion rates in the green lacewing <i>Chrysoperla carnea</i>

Pollen are an important food source for numerous insects and may be used as natural markers in ecological studies. However, to make inferences about the movement rates of based on their gut contents, information pollen digestion is needed. Here, we assessed how consumption ingested by Chrysoperla carnea Stephens (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) adults influenced plant species, temperature, sex. We offered two insect-pollinated plants – Acer pseudoplatanus L. (Sapindaceae) Helianthus annuus (Asteraceae) wind-pollinated Fraxinus excelsior (Oleaceae) Quercus rubra (Fagaceae) differing size protein content, adult lacewings at temperatures, 20 25 °C. After feeding, were allowed digest up 14 days, sampled 10 time intervals. At each these intervals, frozen internal obtained through acetolysis quantified under a light microscope. The number grains decreased exponentially over declined faster than other three species. half-life which 95% digested lower Lacewings consumed more from Helianthus. Male 30% fewer females, but without differences rates. Our results show that higher amounts high-protein (Acer Quercus) differed among could linked structural characteristics. variable influence study lacewing diet composition. Studies or ecology analysing contents should account species-specific