Natural feeding behavior of adult saltmarsh greenheads, and its relation to oogenesis

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1974
Authors:E. M. Bosler, Hansens E. J.
Journal:Annals of the Entomological Society of America
Volume:67
Pagination:321-324
Date Published:1974
Keywords:New Jersey, Reproduction, Sugar Feeding, Tabanidae, Tabanus nigrovittatus, USA
Abstract:

Females of Tabanus nigrovittatus Macq. collected on a ditched tidal saltmarsh and adjacent upland at Leeds Point, New Jersey, were found to be autogenous during the first ovarian cycle. Fat-body from the larval stage was depleted with the maturation of the follicles during the first ovarian cycle. Following the initial oviposition, parous females entered ovarian diapause, and the second ovarian cycle was gonotrophically concordant. Feeding on both blood and nectar sugars by the females was noted. Blood was directed to the midgut and sugars to the crop [cf. RAE/B 58, 1554]. The females of this species feed primarily on large mammals but only parous females imbibe blood. Sugars are not directly responsible for follicular maturation.

Taxonomic name: 
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith