A new window trap used in the assessment of the flight periods of Chironomidae and Simuliidae (Diptera)

Abstract

SUMMARY. 1. A window trap is described which has been found useful in the study of the fight periodicity of chironomids and simuliids. the trap is simple to construct and can be operated in high winds.2. Window traps were operated in 1977 and 1478 at Lake Myvatn. Iceland, when thirty‐nine chironomid species and two simuliid species were caught. Most of the chironomids had two peaks in flight activity per year. e.g. Eukiefferietla minor, Cricotftpus tibialis. Pogonocladius consohrinus, Tanytaraus gracilentus and Micropsectra airofasciata. Chironomus islandicus and Heterotrissocladius grimshawi had one peak in activity in all traps. The flight activity of Prodadius istandicus, Orthocladius oblidens and Micropsectra Undrothi varied greatly between traps and years. Simulium vittatum had two peaks in flight activity, corresponding to the two generations developing per year. Variation in trap catches of .S. vittatum reflected populalion changes measured independently in a study of larval population dynamic