Bionomics and Adult Behavior of a Lentic Caddisfly, Nectopsyche albida (Walker)

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
At 2 Indiana [USA] ponds, adults of the leptocerid caddis-fly N. (= Leptocella) albida (Walker) exhibited a bimodal seasonal flight pattern with the late summer peaks 0.1-15% of the spring maxima. Head capsules of the 5 larval instars are illustrated; feeding, growth and casemaking are described. Pupation took approximately 14 days. Swarming consisted of aerial figure-8 displays. These were performed in opposite directions at dusk and dawn, apparently in response to the position of the sun. Sexual dimorphic antennae may facilitate mate recognition. Mating involved a spermatophore transfer. Emergent Myriophyllum shoots in deeper areas of the pond were selected as oviposition sites and, after hatching, were used as larval food sources. Early instar larvae dispersed toward the shoreline in spring and returned to the deeper water Myriophyllum beds in autumn where they overwintered as late instars. Aturid and pionid mites and a mermithid nematode parasitized adults.

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: