Multiple Autogeny and Burrow Oviposition by a Marine Horse Fly (Diptera: Tabanidae)

Abstract

The pangoniine horse fly Apatolestes actites , whose immatures inhabit coastal sandy beaches in California, USA, was found to be bi-autogenous and to have much-reduced mouthparts. This is the first report of multiple autogeny in a wild-caught member of a predominantly bloodsucking brachycerous family; females of nearly all other known autogenous flies normally either require a blood meal to complete their 2nd gonotrophic cycle or are incapable of producing a 2nd batch of eggs. Gravid A. actites females search for, and oviposit in, subterranean burrows of amphipods or isopods. All other tabanids whose oviposition habits have been studied lay their eggs on objects aboveground. Mulitple autogeny and subterranean oviposition, plus other physiological and behavioral adaptations, have enabled this horse fly to colonize a generally inhospitable environment.