SUGAR FEEDING AND LONGEVITY IN CULICOIDES BREVITARSIS KIEFFER (DIPTERA: CERATOPOGONIDAE) IN THE LABORATORY

Abstract

Longevity of adult Culicoides brevitarsis was determined by keeping laboratory reared adults in cages at 25°C and 75–85% R.H. When allowed access to no food, to water, or to 10% sucrose mean survival times in days were respectively males 1.4, females 1.1; males 1.6, females 3.1; and males 9.0, females 8.6. Flies orientated to water and to 10% sucrose from a maximum distance of 10mm. Most flies did not stop when they reached the water (mean time stationary = 0.3 s) but all stopped, for a mean of 118.8 s, at the 10% sucrose. Copyright © 1976, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved