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EMERGENCE AND CALLING RHYTHMS, AND MATING BEHAVIOUR OF THE ORANGE WHEAT BLOSSOM MIDGE, SITODIPLOSIS MOSELLANA (GÉHIN) (DIPTERA: CECIDOMYIIDAE)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Kenneth A. Pivnick
Affiliation:
Agriculture Canada Research Station, 107 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 0X2
Edith Labbé
Affiliation:
Département de biologie, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada G1K 7P4

Abstract

In laboratory and field observations, male and female orange wheat blossom midge, Sitodiplosis mosellana (Géhin), emerged in late afternoon and early evening, with males emerging 1–2 h before females on average within a given day. Under laboratory conditions, males also emerged on average 0–3 days before females in three different experiments. Within 1 h of emergence, virgin females began to extend their ovipositors much of the time. This behaviour ceased upon mating, and was presumed to be calling behaviour: behaviour associated with pheromone release. Calling behaviour exhibited a daily rhythm both under controlled and field conditions. Females gradually increased the time spent calling in the last few hours of the photophase and called more than two-thirds of the time during the scotophase. Mating was preceded by wing vibration in the male prior to and during a walking approach. Receptive females spread their wings which facilitated mating. Mean duration of mating was 171 ± 15 s (±SE).

Résumé

L’émergence des cécidomyies du blé, Sitodiplosis mosellana (Géhin), a été observé en laboratoire et au champ vers la fin de l’après-midi et tôt le soir. Les mâles émergeaient en moyenne 1–2 h avant les femelles dans une journée donnée et émergeaient aussi 0–3 jours en moyenne avant les femelles. Moins de 1 h après l’émergence, les femelles vierges ont commencé à appeler en déployant leurs ovipositeurs. Ce comportement a cessé après l’accouplement. En laboratoire et au champs, le comportement d’appel a suivi un rhythme journalier. Les femelles augmentaient graduellement le temps passé en appel pendant les dernières heures de la photophase et, pendant la scotophase, elles continuaient à appeler pendant plus des deux tières du temps. L’accouplement était précédé par les vibrations d’aile chez le mâle avant et pendant l’approche qui se faisait en marchant. Les femelles réceptives écartaient leurs ailes, facilitant ainsi l’accouplement. L’accouplement durait en moyenne 171 ± 15 s (±ES).

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1992

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