Kaufmann, T.
Behavioral biology of a cocoa pollinator, Forcipomyia inornatipennis (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae) in Ghana - Oct 1974
++ 2 tab. 8 ref. Sum. (En)
Spindle-shaped eggs are laid in loose batches on the larval food media consisting of decayed vegetable matter. Larvae are gregarious, have a strong affinity for water, and pupate after 4 molts. Pupae, when molested, are capable of defending themselves by vigorous body movements. The mean developmental period from egg to adult is 16 days at 23 grade centigrade. Both sexes of Forcipomyia inornatipennis (Austen) swarm at dawn and at dusk. Mating occurs in air with males actively seeking females. After mating, females alight on decayed vegetable matrix as well as on dung of herbivorous animals for oviposition. The species breeds throughout the year. In capitivity, adults lived 8-16 (mean, 12) days on sugar solution, and after 7 days on this diet ovaries matured and oviposition followed. Pollination experiments have shown that F. inornatipennis is an efficient pollinator of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.). Means to attract this insect to cocoa plantations, as well as its artificial breeding, are discussed.
THEOBROMA CACAO
FORCIPOMYIA INORNATIPENNIS
CERATOPOGONIDAE
POLINIZADORES
BIOLOGIA
ECOLOGIA ANIMAL
GHANA
633.743 / K21
Behavioral biology of a cocoa pollinator, Forcipomyia inornatipennis (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae) in Ghana - Oct 1974
++ 2 tab. 8 ref. Sum. (En)
Spindle-shaped eggs are laid in loose batches on the larval food media consisting of decayed vegetable matter. Larvae are gregarious, have a strong affinity for water, and pupate after 4 molts. Pupae, when molested, are capable of defending themselves by vigorous body movements. The mean developmental period from egg to adult is 16 days at 23 grade centigrade. Both sexes of Forcipomyia inornatipennis (Austen) swarm at dawn and at dusk. Mating occurs in air with males actively seeking females. After mating, females alight on decayed vegetable matrix as well as on dung of herbivorous animals for oviposition. The species breeds throughout the year. In capitivity, adults lived 8-16 (mean, 12) days on sugar solution, and after 7 days on this diet ovaries matured and oviposition followed. Pollination experiments have shown that F. inornatipennis is an efficient pollinator of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.). Means to attract this insect to cocoa plantations, as well as its artificial breeding, are discussed.
THEOBROMA CACAO
FORCIPOMYIA INORNATIPENNIS
CERATOPOGONIDAE
POLINIZADORES
BIOLOGIA
ECOLOGIA ANIMAL
GHANA
633.743 / K21