detritus; moss; excretion; faeces; Tetrigoidea

Detrito-bryophagy represents a specific feeding strategy in orthopterans. We evaluated the consumption rate and digestibility of two main food components (detritus and moss) in a typical detrito-bryophagous groundhopper, Tetrix subulata (L., 1758), under laboratory conditions. By analysing gravimetric consumption, we confirmed that detritus is consumed more intensively and with higher efficiency (digestibility 91%) than moss tissues represented by the offered tissues of Calliergonella cuspidata (Hedw.) Loeske (digestibility approximately 60%). Detritus seems to contain easily digestible compounds (a dominant source of nutrition); moss is also consumed obviously because of important additional functions in the diet.