A Novel Food Item (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) of Spotted Gar, Lepisosteus oculatus and Bowfin, Amia calva , from Southeastern Oklahoma

Abstract

Predatory fishes such as Spotted Gar (Lepisosteus oculatus) and Bowfin (Amia calva)are top predators that feed primarily on fish. Both also occasionally take crustaceans, mollusks,and various aquatic insects. Here, we provide an instance where both species from a private lake inOklahoma fed on an unusual novel food item, larval soldier flies,Stratiomyssp. (Stratiomyidae). It isunknown how or why these fish fed on this insect but suggests these predators may also occasionallyfeed opportunistically.