Growth and development of larvae and adults of Tipula sacra Alexander (Insecta: Diptera) in a series of abandoned beaver ponds

Abstract

Collections of all stages of the crane fly, Tipula sacra have been made over a period of years from a series of abandoned beaver ponds in the Kananaskis Valley, Alberta. The growth of larvae was followed by head-capsule measurements and weights. Eggs hatch within a month; first-instar larvae grow rapidly and enter the second instar after a few weeks. The second instar may last for 3 months and the third instar usually lasts for 6 months, including the first winter. Most larvae spend almost a full year in the fourth instar and overwinter for a second time. However, there was much variation in growth rate within the population. Adult emergence curves were consistent in form in 4 years. Each spanned a period of just over 2 months, although individual adults lived for only a few days. These curves snowed two peaks, the second of which contained 15–20% of the year's emergents. These two groups may represent different cohorts that have grown at different rates, suggesting that the life history may be semivoltine or univoltine. The sex ratio changes from about 1:1 in the third instar to 2:1 in favor of males in the late fourth instar, pupa, and adult.