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Bivoltinism, survival rates and reproductive characteristics of the Scottish biting midge, Culicoides impunctatus (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Scotland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

A. Blackwell ,
A.J. Mordue (Luntz) ,
M.R. Young  and
W. Mordue
A. Blackwell*
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Aberdeen, UK
A.J. Mordue (Luntz)
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Aberdeen, UK
M.R. Young
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Aberdeen, UK
W. Mordue
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Aberdeen, UK
*
Dr Alison Blackwell, Department of Zoology, University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen AB9 2TN, Scotland, UK.
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Abstract

Studies on Culicoides spp. biting midges in south-west Scotland in 1991 revealed that Culicoides impunctatus Goetghebuer, the dominant species throughout the season (May-September), was bivoltine, with a generation period of six weeks. Unseasonal climatic conditions during much of June resulted in a low proportion of first generation females surviving to the parous stage and a reduction in the overall, expected size of the second generation. Distinct behavioural phases of the female midges, such as resting, dispersal and host-seeking, were shown to be directly related to parity states (determined by fat body condition and ovarian development) during the gonotrophic cycle. Female flight activity increased after laying the first, autogenous egg batch, whereas males never flew far from the emergence site. The mean parous rate formula was used to calculate the survival rate of second generation nulliparous females, which was 0.57 per gonotrophic cycle.

Type
Research Article
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 82 , Issue 3 , September 1992 , pp. 299 - 306
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

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