Multiple autogeny and burrow oviposition by a marine horse fly (Diptera: Tabanidae)

Apatolestes actites Philip & Steffan, of which the immature stages are found on sandy beaches on the coast of California, were found to be autogenous, to deposit 2 egg-batches on occasion and to have reduced mouthparts. This is the 1st record of multiple autogeny in a wild-caught member of a predominantly blood-sucking brachycerous family; females of most other known autogenous Diptera either require a blood-meal to complete their 2nd gonotrophic cycle or can oviposit only once. Gravid females of A. actites were found to oviposit in underground burrows of amphipods or isopods. All other tabanids of which the oviposition habits were studied oviposited on objects above the soil surface. Multiple autogeny and subterranean oviposition, besides other physiological and behavioural adaptations, permitted this tabanid to colonise a generally inhospitable environment.