Observations on Oviposition in the Wheat Bulb Fly,Leptohylemyia coarctata(Fall.)

Abstract

SummaryIn laboratory cultures of Wheat Bulb Fly,Leptohylemyia coarctata(Fall.), a daily oviposition rhythm was observed in which egg-laying was virtually restricted to the afternoon and evening with maximum laying occurring in the two hours before nightfall. The time of oviposition coincided with that part of the diurnal flight rhythm, earlier observed, in which the flies actively congregated on wheat and this, it is suggested, could account for the fact, already recorded, that laying has been found to occur mostly on sites close to an infested crop.The oviposition rhythm was maintained for 24 hours in absence of light and therefore appeared to be partly inherent. However, it could be influenced by the times of exposure to light and disappeared in constant light. Darkness did not appear to affect the egg-laying rate but a temporary increase followed exposure to continuous light. Within the course of the experiments the rate was not affected by small changes in temperature.The individual fly laid up to 180 eggs in the laboratory in periodic batches of up to 42 eggs laid over periods of 1 to 6 days. This periodicity was obscured in cages containing a number of flies. Disproportionately small decreases in the mean daily laying rate occurred with increases in this laying period. Within the laying period the rate progressively increased with each successive day. The total number of eggs laid was not related to the number of ovarioles. In the laboratory, the rate of laying increased with age and most of the eggs were laid by relatively few flies.The rate of egg-laying and survival at different stages in the field is discussed and it is suggested that about two per cent. of the eggs successfully develop as matured females which lay an average of about 50 eggs each.