Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-rkxrd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-20T08:28:27.406Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Behaviour of Larvae of Culicoides circumscriptus Kieff. (Dipt., Ceratopogonidae) towards Light Stimuli as influenced by Feeding, with Observations on the Feeding Habits

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

P. Becker
P. Becker
Affiliation:
Zoology Department, University of Glasgow.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

The larvae of Culicoides circumscriptus Kieff. are mostly negatively phototactic when extracted from mud and placed in water. Experiments show, however, that if kept without food over a period of time a large proportion becomes positively phototactic. The provision of food causes them to revert to a photonegative taxis which may be permanent as long as suitable food is given, or temporary if the food does not satisfy their nutritional requirements. On the other hand, the provision of a completely non-nutritive medium does not bring about such a reversion. The significance of this behaviour is discussed in the light of the habits of the larvae in the field.

Most of the experiments were carried out with batches of fourth-instar larvae, but in a few, third-instar larvae and fourth-instar larvae near to pupation were used. From the results it is suggested that the processes of ecdysis and pupation may bring about a reversal from photonegative to photopositive taxis independent of the need for food.

The significance of the behaviour of the larvae towards light stimuli is discussed in relation to their habits in the field. It is assumed that its function is to maintain the larvae on the surface of the mud while feeding and to drive them below when they have fed, and that some other type of tropism must initially drive them to the surface or keep them below according to their nutritional needs.

It is shown that the behaviour towards light stimuli of the larvae of C. maritimus Kieff. differs somewhat from that of C. circumscriptus and reasons are suggested for this.

A second series of experiments designed to throw some light on the food requirements of the larvae is described. In a discussion on the results of these it is shown that the larvae feed on material both on the surface of the mud and below the surface, and it is suggested that larvae which have fed on sub-surface food become positively phototactic when they require food from the surface and, having fed there, revert to photonegative behaviour. If, however, photopositive larvae have not previously had the opportunity to feed on sub-surface material they continue to act as completely starved larvae and remain photopositive in spite of their having fed on surface material.

The detailed constituents of the larval diet have not been worked out. The larvae appear to be detritus feeders, feeding mainly on vegetable matter and bacteria obtained on or below the surface of the mud, though green algae are not an important part of their diet. They are carnivorous on occasion but are normally not so when other food is readily available. They are selective in their choice of food and at least three factors, sapidity, texture and the size of particles, appear to influence this selection.

Type
Research Paper
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 49 , Issue 4 , December 1958 , pp. 785 - 802
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1958

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Beauchamp, R. S. A. (1933). Rheotaxis in Planaria alpina.—J. exp. Biol., 10, pp. 113–129.Google Scholar
Bequaert, J. (1925). Report of an entomological trip to the Truxillo Division, Honduras, to investigate the sand-fly problem.—13th Rep. med. Dep. un. Fruit Co., pp. 193–206.Google Scholar
Brandt, H. (1937). Untersuchungen über die Änderung der photo- und geotaktischen Reaktionen der Nonnenraupe Lymantria monacha L. im Verlaufe des Raupenlebens.—Z. vergl. Physiol., 24, pp. 188–197.Google Scholar
Carter, H. F., Ingram, A. & Macfie, J. W. S. (1920). Observations on the Ceratopogonine midges of the Gold Coast with descriptions of new species. Part I.—Ann. trop. Med. Parasit., 14, pp. 187–210.Google Scholar
Fenwick, D. W. (1940). Methods for the recovery and counting of cysts of Heterodera schachtii from soil.—J. Helminth., 18, pp. 155–172.Google Scholar
Hill, M. A. (1947). The life-cycle and habits of Culicoidcs impunctatus Goetghebuer and Culicoides obsoletus Meigen, together with some observations on the life-cycle of Culicoides odibilis Austen, Culicoides pallidicornis Kieffer, Culicoides cubitalis Edwards and Culicoides chiopterus Meigen.—Ann. trop. Med. Parasit., 41, pp. 55–115.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hull, J. B., Dove, W. E. & Prince, F. M. (1934). Seasonal incidence and concentrations of sandfly larvae, Culicoidcs dovci Hall, in salt marshes (Ceratopogonidae: Diptera).—J. Parasit., 20, pp. 162–172.Google Scholar
Kettle, D. S. & Lawson, J. W. H. (1952). The early stages of British biting midges Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) and allied genera.—Bull. ent. Res., 43, pp. 421–467.Google Scholar
Ladell, W. R. S. (1936). A new apparatus for separating insects and other arthropods from the soil.—Ann. appl. Biol., 23, pp. 862–879.Google Scholar
Lang, K. (1931). Faunistisch-ökologische Untersuchungen in einigen seichten oligotrophen bzw. dystrophen Seen in Südschweden mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der Profundalfauna.—Acta Univ. lund., (X.F.) Avd. 2, 27, no. 18, 174 pp.Google Scholar
Lawson, J. W. H. (1951). The anatomy and morphology of the early stages of Culicoides nubcculosus Meigen (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae = Heleidae).— Trans. E. ent. Soc. Lond., 102, pp. 511–570.Google Scholar
Leathers, A. L. (1923). Ecological study of aquatic midges and some related insects with special reference to feeding habits.—Bull. U.S. Bur. Fish., 38, pp. 1–61.Google Scholar
Loeb, J. (1889). Der Heliotropismus der Thiere und seine Uebereinstimmung mit dem Heliotropismus der Pflanzen.—118 pp. Würzburg.Google Scholar
Lutz, A. (1912). Contribuicão para o estudo das “Ceratopogoninas” haematofagas no Brazil.—Mem. Inst. Osw. Cruz, 4, pp. 1–33.Google Scholar
Mayer, K. (1934 a). Die Nahrung der Ceratopogonidenlarven (Dipt.).—Arch. Hydrobiol., 27, pp. 564–570.Google Scholar
Mayer, K. (1934 b). Die Metamorphose der Ceratopogonidae (Dipt.).—Arch. Naturgesch., (N.F.) 3, pp. 205–288.Google Scholar
Megahed, M. M. (1956). A culture method for Culicoides nubeculosus (Meigen) (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in the laboratory, with notes on the biology.—Bull. ent. Res., 47, pp. 107–114.Google Scholar
Painter, R. H. (1927). The biology, immature stages, and control of the sandflies (biting Ceratopogoninae) at Puerto Castilla, Honduras.—15th Rep. med. Dep. un. Fruit Co., pp. 245–262.Google Scholar
Pratt, F. C. (1907). Notes on “punkies” (Ceratopogon spp.).—Bull. U.S. Bur. Ent., no. 64 pt. III, pp. 23–28.Google Scholar
Séguy, E. (1950). La biologie des Diptères.—Encycl. ent., (A) 26, 609 pp. Paris, Lechevalier.Google Scholar
Thomsen, L. C. (1937). Aquatic Diptera. Part V. Ceratopogonidae.—Mem. Cornell agric. Exp. Sta., no. 210, pp. 57–80.Google Scholar
Weerekoon, A. C. J. (1953). On the behaviour of certain Ceratopogonidae (Diptera).—Proc. R. ent. Soc. Lond., (A) 28, pp. 85–92.Google Scholar