How does the predatory inclination of the scavenger beetle larva compare to its adult counterpart?
Answer
It shows a slightly more predatory inclination than the adult.
When comparing the two life stages of the scavenger beetle, the larval form exhibits a feeding profile that leans slightly more toward active predation than the adult. While the adult *Hydrophilus* centers its diet around scavenging detritus and consuming plants, the larva focuses more specifically on consuming small aquatic insects and their larvae. Although the scavenger larva is not as exclusively carnivorous as the diving beetle larva, this predatory focus means it still plays a role in controlling smaller invertebrate populations within its microhabitat during its developmental phase.
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