Abstract
The timing of egg laying (oviposition) in the hemipteran Rhodnius prolixus (Stal) was explored using time lapse photography. Insects reared in light-dark cycles laid eggs only within a limited portion or gate within the daily cycle. Gates for egg laying occurred at the same time on successive days to produce a rhythm which could be analysed for either individual animals or for the population. The time of median egg laying for individuals was very close to that observed in populations, but the gate width for individuals was much narrower than that observed in the population. Gated egg laying persisted in animals transferred from light-dark cycles to constant dark. The period of the free-running rhythm was close to 24 h in animals reared at either 23 or 28°C. Therefore egg laying in Rhodnius is timed in a circadian fashion, a conclusion which has implications for the hormonal and neural control of ovulation and oviposition.
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