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Caterpillars Count!

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Length-Weight Regressions

"Biomass per Survey" represents the total estimated dry weight (mg) of the specified arthropod group divided by the total number of surveys. Dry weight (M) is estimated from reported lengths (L) using length-weight regressions of the form M = a Lb where a and b vary by arthropod group as shown in the table below.
Arthropod group a b Source
Araneae (spiders) 0.05 2.74 Sabo et al. 2002. Length-mass relationships for adult aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates in a California watershed. J. N. Am. Benthol. Soc 21: 336-343.
Auchenorrhyncha (leafhoppers) 0.012 3.13 Hurlbert and Lynch, unpublished data
Coleoptera (beetles) 0.039 2.492 Sample et al. 1993. Estimation of insect biomass by length and width. American Midland Naturalist 129: 234-240.
Diptera (flies) 0.041 2.213 Sample et al. 1993. Estimation of insect biomass by length and width. American Midland Naturalist 129: 234-240.
Formicidae (ants) 0.009 2.919 Sample et al. 1993. Estimation of insect biomass by length and width. American Midland Naturalist 129: 234-240.
Heteroptera (true bugs) 0.008 3.075 Sample et al. 1993. Estimation of insect biomass by length and width. American Midland Naturalist 129: 234-240.
Hymenoptera (bees, wasps) 0.014 2.696 Sample et al. 1993. Estimation of insect biomass by length and width. American Midland Naturalist 129: 234-240.
Lepidoptera adult (moths, butterflies) 0.006 3.122 Sample et al. 1993. Estimation of insect biomass by length and width. American Midland Naturalist 129: 234-240.
Lepidoptera larvae (caterpillars) 0.003 2.959 Sample et al. 1993. Estimation of insect biomass by length and width. American Midland Naturalist 129: 234-240.
Opiliones (daddy longlegs) 0.162 2.17 Hurlbert and Lynch, unpublished data
Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets) 0.023 2.27 Hurlbert and Lynch, unpublished data
Sternorrhyncha (aphids) 0.0175 2.629 Gruner 2003. Regressions of length and width to predict arthropod biomass in the Hawaiian Islands. Pacific Science 57: 325-336.
Insecta (unidentified, other) 0.027 2.494 Sample et al. 1993. Estimation of insect biomass by length and width. American Midland Naturalist 129: 234-240.