Feeding Habits of Wisconsin\u27s Predominant Lotic Plecoptera, Ephemeroptera, and Trichoptera

Feeding habits of nymphs or larvae of 101 species of Plecoptera, Ephemeroptera, and Trichoptera collected from Wisconsin\u27s streams were determined by examining foregut contents. The percent by volume of animal, live vascular plant, filamentous algae, diatom, and detrital material recovered is reported. Plecoptera in the suborder Filipalpia were herbivoredetritivores, and most in the suborder Setipalpia were carnivores. Exceptions were Isoperla bilineata (Say), an omnivore, and Isoperla signata (Banks) and I. slossonae (Banks), both detritivore-herbivores. Except for omnivore Ephemerella cornuta Morgan, Ephemeroptera were detritivore-herbivores. Feeding habits of Trichoptera larvae were diverse. Species of Rhyacophilidae, Polycentropodidae, and Phyrganeidae were all carnivores, while Hydropsychidae, Leptoceridae, and Brachycentridae were generally omnivores. Species of Glossomatidae, Philopotamidae, Psychomyiidae, Hydroptilidae, Limnephilidae, Lepidostomatidae, Sericostomatidae, and Helicopsychidae were primarily detritivoreherbivores