Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Do Gravid Black Flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) Oviposit at Their Natal Site?

  • Published:
Journal of Insect Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We present information on an aniline dye marking method for black flies. In the laboratory, adults were sprayed with 2% aqueous solutions of four colors of aniline dyes; brilliant blue and methyl orange gave the best results in longevity trials. In field trials we were able to recapture 1.3% of newly emerged marked and released flies at oviposition sites. Mark–release–recapture experiments were designed to distinguish among three competing models concerning oviposition site selection by gravid female black flies: (1) larval site fidelity (“Do flies return to the site that they experienced as larvae?”), (2) adult site fidelity (“Do flies return to the site that they experienced as adults?”), and (3) no site fidelity (“Do flies oviposit at random, i.e., without regard to adult or larval experience?”). Models 1 and 2 were rejected. There is, however, no reason to reject Model 3, the no site fidelity model. Thus, we conclude that for members of the S. venustum/verecundum complex (i.e., S. rostratum, S. venustum, and S. truncatum) females find an “apparently suitable” waterway in which to oviposit; this may or may not be their natal site.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Baldwin, W. F., Allen, J. R., and Slater, N. S. (1966). A practical field method for recovery of black flies labeled with phosphorous-32. Nature 212: 959-960.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baldwin, W. F., Gomery, J., and West, A. S. (1975). Dispersal patterns of black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) tagged with 32P. Can. Entomol. 107: 113-118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett, G. F. (1963). Use of 32P in the study of a population of Simulium rugglesi (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Algonquin Park, Ontario. Can. J. Zool. 41: 831-840.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett, G. F., and Fallis, A. M. (1971). Flight range, longevity, and habitat preference of female Simulium euryadminiculum Davies (Diptera: Simuliidae). Can. J. Zool. 49: 1203-1207.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crosskey, R.W. (1990). The Natural History of Blackflies, John Wiley & Sons, British Museum.

  • Davies, D. M., Peterson, B. V., and Wood, D. M. (1962). The black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) of Ontario. Part I. Adult identification and distributions of six new species. Proc. Entomol. Soc. Ontario 92: 70-154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fallis, A. M. (1964). Feeding and related behaviour of female Simuliidae (Diptera). Exp. Parasitol. 15: 439-470.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fredeen, F. J. H., Spinks, J. W. T., Anderson, J. R., Arnason, A. P., and Rempel, J. G. (1953). Mass tagging of black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) with radiophosphorus. Can. J. Zool. 31: 1-15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Geiger, J. C., Purdy, W. C., and Tarbet, R. E. (1919). Effective malaria control in a ricefield district, with observations on experimental mosquito flights. JAMA 72: 844-847.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghent, A. W. (1972). A method of exact testing of 2 x 2, 2 x 3, 3 x 3, and other contingency tables, employing binomial coefficients. Am. Midland Nat. 88: 15-27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Golini, V. I., and Davies, D. M. (1975). Relative response to coloured substrates by ovipositing black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae). I. Oviposition by Simulium (Simulium) verecundum Stone and Jamnback. Can. J. Zool. 53: 521-535.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grenier, P. (1949). Contribution à l'étude biologique des Simuliides de France. Physiol. Comp. Oecol. 1: 165-330.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunter, F. F., Burgin, S.G., and Wood, D. M. (1994). New techniques for rearing black flies from pupae (Diptera: Simuliidae). J. Am. Mosquito Control Assoc. 10(3): 456-459.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitrokhin, V. U. (1973). Oviposition of black flies (Fam. Simuliidae) in northern Transural. Parazitologya 7: 87-88 (trans. from Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rempel, J. G., and Arnason, A. P. (1947). An account of three successive outbreaks of the black fly, Simulium arcticum, a serious livestock pest in Saskatchewan. Sci. Agr. 27: 428-445.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rothfels, K. (1981). Cytological approaches to the study of black fly systematics and evolution. In Stock, M. W. (ed.), Applications of Genetics and Cytology in Insect Systematics and Evolution, University of Idaho, Moscow, pp. 67-83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Service, M. W. (1976). Mosquito Ecology: Field Sampling Methods, Applied Science, London.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, L2S 3A1

    Fiona F. Hunter

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, L2S 3A1

    Hitesh Jain

Authors
  1. Fiona F. Hunter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hitesh Jain
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hunter, F.F., Jain, H. Do Gravid Black Flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) Oviposit at Their Natal Site?. Journal of Insect Behavior 13, 585–595 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007871820796

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007871820796

Search

Navigation