A Method for Comparing Individual Growth Rates of Aquatic Insects with Special Reference to the Odonata

A method for representing individual growth rates of aquatic insects from field sampling is presented using the mean instar number as the age criterion. Various examples are used to show how the method is useful in making both intra— and interspecific comparisons. Significantly different growth rates are shown between populations of the same species in different habitats. Also, an example is presented which shows the possible role of temporal separation in niche differentiation between two similar species.