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LIFE HISTORY OF CRICOTOPUS MYRIOPHYLLI OLIVER (DIPTERA: CHIRONOMIDAE) IN THE OKANAGAN VALLEY, BRITISH COLUMBIA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Ian V. MacRae
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, Oregon State University, Cordley Hall 2046, Corvallis, Oregon, USA 97331-2097
Richard A. Ring
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Victoria, PO Box 1700, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8W 2Y2

Abstract

The life history of Cricotopus myriophylli Oliver is described from both field observations and laboratory rearing of field-collected larvae. The species appears to be univoltine with four larval instars and has a sex ratio of ca. 2:1, males to females. Emergence begins in late May in British Columbia and continues until mid-September, with first-instar larvae present in the field from mid-June to mid-August. Water temperature does not appear to influence the rate of emergence. In the laboratory at 21 °C, larvae complete each of the third and fourth instars in 10–14 days. Cricotopus myriophylli overwinters primarily in the third larval instar, although second and fourth instars were also recovered in field-collected samples. First-instar larvae and eggs were not recovered from winter samples. This species does not appear to undergo a true diapause.

Résumé

Des observations en nature et des élevages en laboratoire de larves récoltées en nature nous ont permis d’étudier le cycle biologique de Cricotopus myriophylli Oliver. L’espèce semble univoltine et possède quatre stades larvaires; le rapport mâles : femelles est d’environ 2 : 1. L’émergence commence à la fin de mai en Colombie-Britannique et se poursuit jusqu’à la mi-septembre; les larves de premier stade peuvent être trouvées en nature entre le milieu de juin et le milieu d’août. La température de l’eau ne semble pas influencer l’intensité de l’émergence. En laboratoire, à 21 °C, les larves mettent de 10 à 14 jours à traverser chacun des stades trois et quatre. Cricotopus myriophylli passe l’hiver surtout au troisième stade larvaire, mais des larves de deuxième et de quatrième stades ont également été trouvées dans les échantillons recueillis en hiver; ces échantillons ne contenaient pas d’oeufs ou de larves de permier stade. L’espèce ne semble pas subir de véritable diapause.

[Traduit par la rédaction]

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1993

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