| Title: | Aggregated oviposition in the Simulium damnosum complex is mediated by eggs in a laboratory bioassay |
| Author(s): | McCall PJ; Trees AJ; Walsh JF; Molyneux DH; |
| Address: | "Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, University of Liverpool, U.K" |
| DOI: | 10.1111/j.1365-2915.1994.tb00390.x |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 0269-283X (Print) 0269-283X (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "The phenomenon of aggregated oviposition in blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) was investigated under controlled laboratory conditions, using wild-caught females of the Simulium damnosum complex in Sierra Leone. A method was developed for inducing Simulium females to lay eggs, and used as a bioassay to measure the responses of gravid S. damnosum s.l. to freshly laid eggs of the same species complex. In a series of two-choice tests, significantly more ovipositing flies chose substrates already containing eggs over control substrates (P = 0.004). The time from introduction of flies into the oviposition system to the onset of egg-laying was significantly less when eggs were already present (P = 0.049). Flies responded more quickly when more eggs were present and the relationship between egg-batch number and the time of this response was curvilinear (P = 0.012). Ecological advantages and disadvantages of such aggregation behaviour and the possible role of semiochemicals in its mediation are discussed" |
| Keywords: | Animals Female Light *Oviposition Ovum/*physiology Simuliidae/anatomy & histology/*physiology; |
| Notes: | "MedlineMcCall, P J Trees, A J Walsh, J F Molyneux, D H eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 1994/01/01 Med Vet Entomol. 1994 Jan; 8(1):76-80. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2915.1994.tb00390.x" |
