OVIPOSITION, HATCHING, AND AGE COMPOSITION OF A PESTIFEROUS MIDGE, GLYPTOTENDIPES-PARIPES (DIPTERA, CHIRONOMIDAE)

Field-caught gravid female Glyptotendipes paripes in central Florida laid a single egg mass each during onset of photophase in laboratory cages. Egg masses averaged 626 and 942 eggs/mass during summer and spring, respectively. Oviposition preference in water was not detected when provided from different sources (i.e., distilled, tap, ponds and a lake). However, the percentage of egg hatch/mass was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the lake water than in water from the other 3 sources. Observations on follicular development in the ovaries indicated presence of 1/2-3/4 yolk within 2 days, full yolk at greater-than-or-equal-to 2 days, and parity at greater-than-or-equal-to 4 days postemergence. Age composition of field-collected G. paripes populations from June to December 1992 was 29% at <2, 48% at greater-than-or-equal-to 2, and 23% at greater-than-or-equal-to 4 days old, and parity 23%. Adult abundance was correlated with prevailing air temperatures in the study area.