Mating behaviour of Simulium erythrocephalum (De Geer, 1776) (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Zaragoza (Spain)
Simulium erythrocephalum (De Geer, 1776) is a highly anthropophilic species that is responsible for blackfly outbreaks in Spain. Thus, field observations of the mating behaviour, including swarm formation, recognition and chasing, copulation, termination of copulation and post-copulation behavio...
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| Other Authors: | , |
| Format: | Artículo |
| Language: | spa |
| Published: |
2018
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.6018/analesbio.40.15 https://www.um.es/analesdebiologia/numeros/40/PDF/40_2018_15.pdf |
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| Summary: | Simulium erythrocephalum (De Geer, 1776) is a highly anthropophilic
species that is responsible for blackfly outbreaks in Spain.
Thus, field observations of the mating behaviour, including swarm
formation, recognition and chasing, copulation, termination of copulation
and post-copulation behaviour of S. erythrocephalum were
conducted in a natural habitat in Spain. The obtained results
demonstrated that mating activity occurs during the evening hours.
We observed the human host represents an attractive orientation
marker of male swarms, whose formation is related to the hostseeking
activity period of females. This study represents the first
report about the mating behaviour of Simuliidae species in Spain,
increasing the general knowledge about this behaviour of blackflies. |
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