Hostname: page-component-65f69f4695-vv84r Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-07-01T03:27:17.067Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Ecology and behaviour of immature Culicoides melleus (Coq.) (Dipt., Ceratopogonidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

J. R. Linley  and
G. M. Adams
J. R. Linley
Affiliation:
Florida State Division of Health, Entomological Research Center, P.O. Box 520, Vero Beach,Florida 32960, U.S.A.
G. M. Adams
Affiliation:
Florida State Division of Health, Entomological Research Center, P.O. Box 520, Vero Beach,Florida 32960, U.S.A.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

The distribution of the larvae and pupae of Culicoides melleus (Coq.) in a natural beach habitat in an inlet on the Florida coast was studied in relation to tidal level and time of day. Larvae and pupae were confined to the intertidal zone and these distributions were unaffected by time of day or tidal level. Distributions of younger larval instars were displaced towards the inferred area of oviposition at higher elevations on the beach. Pupae were associated with the zone at and somewhat below high tide level. Differences in the vertical distribution of larvae between 0 and 2 in. deep between dark (pre-dawn)/low tide, morning/low tide and afternoon/low tide conditions were probably associated with larval response to light and heat.

In laboratory experiments with a temperature gradient, second- to fourth-instar larvae preferred the 18–25°C range, but the fourth instars were the least discriminating. Laboratory experiments with a simulated beach showed that pupae flooded on an incoming tide remained in their burrows and immediately buried themselves more deeply when waves were generated in the water; they were able to return to the surface if buried, and survived drowning for four days. Inundated areas were avoided as pupation sites. The orientation of pupae at the sand surface and their formation in burrows was related to negative phototactic responses of the pupating larvae.

Information

Type
Original Articles
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 62 , Issue 1 , July 1972 , pp. 113 - 127
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1972

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.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Bidlingmayer, W. L. (1957). Studies on Culicoides furens (Poey) at Vero Beach.—Mosquito News 17, 292–294.Google Scholar
Dyce, A. L. & Murray, M. D. (1966). Notes on the pupal behaviour and collection of larvae and pupae of some Australian Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).—J. ent. Soc. Qd 5, 37–39.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goulding, R. L., Curran, R. F. & LaBrecque, G. C. (1953). Insecticides for the control of salt-marsh sand flies in Florida.—J. econ. Ent. 46, 37–43.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jamnback, H. & Wall, W. J. (1958). A sampling procedure for Culicoides melleus (Coq.) (Diptera: Heleidae) with observations on the life histories of two coastal Culicoides.—Mosquito News 18, 85–88.Google Scholar
Jamnback, H., Wall, W. J. & Collins, D. L. (1958). Control of Culicoides melleus (Coq.) (Diptera: Heleidae) in small plots, with brief descriptions of the larvae and pupae of two coastal Culicoides.—Mosquito News 18, 64–70.Google Scholar
Linley, J. R. (1966). Field and laboratory observations on the behavior of the immature stages of Culicoides furens Poey (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).—J. med. Ent. 2, 385–391.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Linley, J. R. (1969). Studies on larval development in Culicoides furens (Poey) (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). I. Establishment of a standard rearing technique.—Ann. ent. Soc. Am. 62, 702–711.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Linley, J. R. & Evans, D. G. (1971). Behavior of Aedes taeniorhynchus larvae and pupae in a temperature gradient.—Entomologia exp. appl. 14, 319–332.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wall, J. J. jr, (1960). Control of Culicoides (Diptera: Heleidae) in small plots on Cape Cod, Massachusetts.—Mosquito News 20, 371–375.Google Scholar
Wall, W. J. jr & Doane, O. W. jr (1960). Apreliminary study of the bloodsucking Diptera on Cape Cod, Massachusetts.—Mosquito News 20, 39–44.Google Scholar
Wall, W. J. jr & Doane, O. W. jr (1965). Control of Culicoides melleus (Coq.) (Diptera: Heleidae) with granular insecticides and the effect on other fauna.—Mosquito News 25, 191–196.Google Scholar
Wall, W. J. jr & Marganian, V. M. (1971). Control of Culicoides melleus (Coq.) (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) with granular organophosphorus pesticides, and the direct effect on other fauna.—Mosquito News 31, 209–214.Google Scholar