A re-description of the cocoon-spinning behaviour ofSimulium vittatum(Diptera Simuliidae)

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Abstract
The cocoon-spinning behaviour of black flies (Diptera Simuliidae) is a complicated innate behaviour. Despite this complexity, intraspecific variation in cocoon-spinning behaviour is low. To analyze the cocoon-spinning behaviour of black flies in a phylogenetic context the behaviour must be described, broken down into its constituent behavioural units and each of these units then used as a character for the phylogenetic analysis. This paper describes the cocoon-spinning behaviour of Simulium vittatum. Pre-spinning, spinning and post-spinning behaviour are analyzed. The pre-spinning behaviour involves the selection and cleaning of the pupation site. When spinning the cocoon, the pharate pupa (which outwardly resembles a larva) goes through six distinct stages (Front, S, Dorsal, Pull Front, Pull and Flip), all of which are described herein. The post-cocoon-spinning behaviour involves the pharate pupa breaking out of its larval skin and settling into the cocoon. The goals of this paper are to describe the cocoon-spinning behaviour for one species and establish terminology so that analyses of other black fly species in the future can focus on the character states to be used for phylogeny reconstruction.