Gonotrophic Age Structure of Host-Seeking Leptoconops carteri (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) Populations in North-Central California

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Abstract
The gonotrophic age structure of two vertebrate-host-seeking Leptoconops carteri Hoffman (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) populations from north-central California was determined by examination of ovarian activity. In specimens from the Coast Range (n = 200), follicle development was arrested at the normal resting stage and weekly parity rates ranged from 8 to 52%. In contrast, weekly parity rates in L. carteri from the Sacramento Valley (n = 275) averaged 96 to 100% and follicle development advanced beyond the resting stage. These conditions represent significant differences in gonotrophic age structure, and are judged to reflect anautogenous and autogenous reproductive activity, respectively. Follicle development in advance of the resting stage and parity rates L. carteri from each of four additional sites in the Sacramento Valley (n = 150); this shows that autogeny, though previously unreported, is widespread in L. carteri from the region. Advanced follicle development also occurred in non-blood-fed parous Sacramento Valley females, a condition unique among hematophagous Nematocera. Vertebrate host seeking by both nulliparous and parous foothill population L. carteri establishes that anautogenous females survive in nature to seek a second blood meal.