The growth of Tipula larvae with particular reference to the head capsule (Diptera: Tipulidae)

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Abstract
Larvae of T. paludosa, under favorable conditions of temperature, food and photoperiod, grow continuously throughout the 1st 3 larval stages and into the 4th. At 21.degree. C and 16 h light:8 h dark regime, larval growth slowed markedly after about 20 days into the 4th stage, but imaginal leg and wing bud development continued for more than another 50 days. The invaginated portions of the larval head capsule show the same pattern of growth as the rest of the body. Hemicephaly and restricted sclerotization allow tipulid larvae to grow to large size with relatively few molts, but that molting is necessary to increase the size of the feeding apparatus.

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