Caterpillar larvae live inside a leaf, eating the inside of the leaf as they move throughout it. Which feeding type is this?

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Question restatement: The scenario describes caterpillar larvae living inside a leaf and consuming the leaf from within as they move. Which feeding type is this?

Option a: Fluid feeder. This would involve feeding on liquids, such as plant sap, nectar, or animal fluids, typically using specialized mouthparts to suck up fluids. Since caterpillars consume solid leaf tissue, not a liquid diet, this option does not fit.

Option b: Extracellular digestion. Extracellular digestion is a general term describing digestion occurring outside cells (in a digestive cavity or external to cells) before absorption. While many animals use extracellular digestion, this option describes a process rather than the specific feeding mode of the organism. The question is asking for the feeding type (how the organism feeds), not the digestion location, so this choice is mismatched.

Option c: Substrate feeder. Substrate feeders live and feed on the surface or within the medium they inhabit, extracting nutrients as they move through or on their food source. Caterpillars feeding inside a leaf by consuming leaf tissue from within fits the definition of a substrate feeder, as they inhabit and feed on the substrate (the leaf tissue) itself.

Option d: Bulk feeder. Bulk feeders ingest large chunks of food or whole prey. While caterpillars do ingest sizable leaf material, the key distinction here is that they are feeding within the leaf, not merely taking large pieces as an external bulk-chewing meal. The term bulk feeder is typically used for general classes like animals that swallow large bites or prey whole, but in this context the more precise term describing feeding inside the leaf tissue is substrate feeding.

Summary: Among the options, the feeding mode that best matches a caterpillar living inside and feeding on leaf tissue is substrate feeding, where the organism consumes the food source from within or on its surface. The other options either describe different feeding mechanisms (fluid feeding) or refer to processes or broader categories that do not capture the specific inside-leaf feeding behavior.

BIO 181 (001&002) FALL 2025 4F. Self Check - Nutrition Acquisition (LO 4F.1, 4F.2, 4F.3, 4F.4)

Caterpillar larvae live inside a leaf, eating the inside of the leaf as they move throughout it. Which feeding type is this?

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