Datensatz

Zusammenfassung

Prosimulium hirtipes (Fries), P. tomosvaryi (Enderlein) and P. subrufipes Knoz together oviposit in June terrestrial moist moss, ca. 20 cm above streams. Batches may remain separate, but huge terrestrial egg masses with up to 56*10⁶ eggs, 2*10⁴ eggs cm⁻² may also be formed. Eggs do not survive complete desiccation. There is continuous slow development at all temperatures, until early eye-spot formation in late summer. Thereafter falling temperatures induce, high temperatures prevent, rapid complete development. Single fully developed larvae inside eggs first occur in late September and become dominant after late October, when many larvae hatch upon wetting of the batch, e.g. by autumn rain. However, many other larvae hatch only after the winter which they spend on land. The fan-less first instar larvae feed as scrapers and live for 5 to 11 days at 10°C. However, single 3rd instar larvae were observed as early as the 8th day of life.