Efficiency of filter feeding of black fly larvae (Diptera: Simuliidae)

1978 ◽  
Vol 56 (7) ◽  
pp. 1608-1623 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel C. Kurtak

Larvae of nine species of black flies were exposed to synthetic particles in the laboratory. Sizes and concentrations of particles were chosen to simulate natural conditions. Smaller particles (diameter 5–10 μm) were offered at a rate of 50–100/cephalic fan area per second, and larger ones (diameter approximately 150 μm) at 0.3–1.0/cephalic fan area per second. Experiments were conducted at water velocities of 30, 50, and 70 cm/s.In all the laboratory experiments, only a small percentage of the particles passing through an area equal to that of the cephalic fans of a single larva were ingested. Particles larger than the spacing between the fan rays were ingested more efficiently than smaller ones. At 50 cm/s, the mean percentage ingested for all species was 1.6% (0.14–8.3%) of particles 150 μm in diameter and 0.094% (0.0026–0.76%) of particles 5–10 μm in diameter. The percentage of material ingested decreased at higher concentrations and water velocities. There were significant differences among the species.Experiments were done with one of the species in the field with similar results.Based on this work, an individual black fly larva in nature probably ingests 1–10% by weight of the material passing through its cephalic fans.

1981 ◽  
Vol 113 (4) ◽  
pp. 281-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Sebastien ◽  
W. L. Lockhart

AbstractTwo formulations of methoxychlor were compared with regard to toxicity and availability to aquatic organisms. A particulate formulation was less toxic than an emulsifiable formulation to chironomid larvae, stonefly nymphs, and fish. Similarly the particulate methoxychlor was less rapidly accumulated from water by those same animals than was the emulsified methoxychlor. With black fly larvae, the only filter-feeding animal used, the two formulations were about equal in toxicity, but the particulate formulation was accumulated more readily than emulsified material. Both formulations induced larvae to detach from substrate but emulsifiable methoxychlor acted more quickly. At the time of detachment, larvae exposed to the particulate formulation contained an average of 68 times more methoxychlor than larvae exposed to the emulsion.


1960 ◽  
Vol 92 (10) ◽  
pp. 745-754 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. S. West ◽  
A. W. A. Brown ◽  
D. G. Peterson

The results reported in this paper are part of a study of the biology and control of black flies in the forests of Eastern Canada conducted on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, near Baie Comeau, Quebec, during 1954, 1955, and 1956. Reference to this study is made in a review by Peterson and Wolfe (1958). The identification and biology of the black flies of this region has been reported on by Wolfe and Peterson (1959) who also describe the topography of the region. The important feature of this rugged area is an abundance of fast-flowing streams which provide highly suitable environments for the development of black-fly populations.


Author(s):  
Patricio H. Manríquez ◽  
Sergio A. Navarrete ◽  
Armando Rosson ◽  
Juan Carlos Castilla

Competent larvae of the commercially important marine gastropod Concholepas concholepas (Gastropoda: Muricidae) ‘loco’, were collected in the field and exposed in the laboratory to adult conspecific shells with and without barnacle epibionts. Settlement and metamorphosis was induced by the presence of barnacles on shells of live or dead conspecifics, but not by C. concholepas shells without barnacles. Results from laboratory experiments agreed well with field surveys showing the presence of recruits on conspecific shells overgrown with barnacles in shallow subtidal habitats (∼3–30 m deep), suggesting the potential importance of barnacles in inducing settlement and metamorphosis of locos under natural conditions. Most loco recruits were found below the C. concholepas shell apex, feeding on barnacles, inhabiting crevices among them, and inside dead barnacles. The mean size of recruits on locos' shells increased over four months from the beginning of the settlement season and no individual larger than 1·5 cm was observed, suggesting that they abandon adult loco shells at this size, roughly 5–6 months after settlement.


2000 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
R W Palmer ◽  
D A Craig

A conceptual model that uses labral-fan structure to predict the distribution of black fly species within a catchment is proposed. The model is based on water flow, seston availability, and the structure of the primary labral fans of mature black fly larvae from southern Africa. The model predicts that black fly larvae found in fast-flowing (>1.0 m/s) seston-rich (>50 mg/L) water will tend to have strong fans with a porous ray structure, whereas larvae found in slow-flowing (<0.5 m/s) seston-poor (<10 mg/L) water will tend to have weak fans with a complex structure and larvae found in water with moderate water velocities and moderate seston levels will tend to have a standard fan structure. The model was tested against black flies from other parts of the world, particularly Polynesia, and provides a useful framework for predicting the distribution of black fly species within a catchment. Exceptions to the model were found among phoretic species. The model should predict changes in black fly species in areas where anthropogenic changes to watersheds are occurring.


1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 1120-1123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan J. H. Ciborowski ◽  
Douglas A. Craig

Laboratory experiments were conducted to study aggregative responses of larvae of Simulium vittatum Zetterstedt on a ceramic tile to activity of a predatory perlid stonefly, Claassenia sabulosa (Banks). Nearest-neighbor analysis indicated that larvae became aggregated regardless of whether a predator was present. There was no significant difference in either number of larvae remaining on the tile or degree of black fly aggregation between trials that lacked a predator and those in which a stonefly could travel over the tile. Direct contact between predator and prey caused single simuliid larvae to release from the substrate, but daytime black fly behaviour was otherwise unaffected by stonefly activity.


1960 ◽  
Vol 92 (9) ◽  
pp. 714-719 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. G. Peterson ◽  
A. S. West

A study of the biology and control of black flies in the forests of Eastern Canada was conducted on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, near Baie Comeau, Quebec, from 1954 to 1956. Reference was made to this study by Peterson and Wolfe (1958). Details on the identity of species, and studies on their life histories and habits were reported by Wolfe and Peterson (1959), while the control of black-fly larvae by aircraft spraying was described by West, Brown, and Peterson (in press). Experiments on the control of adult black flies by aircraft spraying are reported in this paper.


2018 ◽  
Vol 37 (12) ◽  
pp. 3011-3017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darya Kupryianchyk ◽  
Reiner Giesler ◽  
Terry F. Bidleman ◽  
Per Liljelind ◽  
Danny Chun Pong Lau ◽  
...  

1984 ◽  
Vol 116 (7) ◽  
pp. 975-981 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence A. Pistrang ◽  
John F. Burger

AbstractA small, undisturbed stream in central New Hampshire was treated for 1 min with a 10 ppm suspension of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (B.t.i.) to determine the effect on an outlet-breeding black fly population and associated nontarget aquatic insects. The black fly larval population was eliminated and susbsequent adult black fly biting activity reduced near the treatment site although weather conditions may also have contributed to an observed decrease in biting activity. Some Chironomidae were killed by B.t.i. but they were not abundant enough to adequately assess impact on their populations. Temporary increases in the drift of two Ephemeroptera and two Trichoptera species were observed following treatment. Increase in rate of drift was inversely related to increase in distance from the treatment point. Slight increases in observed drift of three Plecoptera species could not be attributed directly to the B.t.i. treatment. No direct mortality caused by B.t.i. was observed in any stream insects studied except black fly larvae and some Chironomidae.


1991 ◽  
Vol 123 (1) ◽  
pp. 179-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard W. Merritt ◽  
Mark S. Wipfli ◽  
R.S. Wotton

AbstractThe effects of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis de Barjac (B.t.i.) on the feeding habits of two black fly predators, Nigronia serricornis (Say) and Acroneuria lycorias (Newman), and a detritivore, Prostoia completa (Walker), were examined. We assessed whether B.t.i.-killed and hot water-killed black fly larvae were less or more desirable to these consumers than live larvae. Nigronia larvae showed no significant differences in predation on larvae within the three categories. Acroneuria nymphs consumed more live than dead prey. Experiments with the detritivore, Prostoia, showed that they preferred dead black fly larvae to live ones. Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis treatment may have little direct effect on nontarget organisms, but these studies indicate that there still may be consequences for predators and detritivores when a viable population of larval black flies is transformed into dead organic matter.


1975 ◽  
Vol 107 (11) ◽  
pp. 1211-1213 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. F. Dove ◽  
A. B. McKague

AbstractAdult emergence of Simulium verecundum was reduced 75 to 100% by 0 001 to 0.1 ppm Altosid SR–10 at 25 ± 3 °C and 10 °C. No reduction in adult emergence was observed with 0.0001 ppm Altosid SR–10. 0.1 ppm of the granular R–20458 4–G reduced adult emergence 56 to 98% whereas 0.02 ppm was not effective. Exposure of black fly larvae to 0.1 ppm R–20458 4–G for 24 h gave a maximum of 50% reduction in adult emergence of those flies which had not pupated during the 24-h period.


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