Occurrence of stoneflies (Plecoptera) in the diet of the red-spotted newt, Notophthalmus viridescens

摘要

Over a period of one year, diet samples were taken from a population of the eastern red-spotted newt, Notophthalmus viridescens, at an impoundment in Frederick Co., Maryland. Approximately 67% of all the recovered diet items were Diptera, of which most were larvae and pupae. Ten stoneflies (Plecoptera) representing the following species were recovered: Paracapnia augulata (Capniidae), Taeniopteryx maura (Taeniopterygidae), Amphinemura nigritta (Nemouridae), Leuctra sibleyii, L. tenella and Leuctra sp. (Leuctridae). All stoneflies were adults except for a mature female nymph of Paracapnia augulata. Although there have been several studies of newt diet, this is one of the first to report the species of stoneflies present.