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ARS Home » Plains Area » Manhattan, Kansas » Center for Grain and Animal Health Research » ABADRU » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #274961
Title: Behavior of larval Culicoides Sonorensis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in response to an invertebrate predator, Hydra Littoralis (Anthomedusae: Hydridae)

Author
item REEVES, WILL - Former ARS Employee

Submitted to: Entomological News
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/29/2009
Publication Date: 9/28/2011
Citation: Reeves, W.K. 2011. Behavior of larval Culicoides Sonorensis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in response to an invertebrate predator, Hydra Littoralis (Anthomedusae: Hydridae). Entomological News. 121: 298-301.

Interpretive Summary: Larvae of biting midges live in the water. In their natural habitat they are exposed to numerous predators. Predator avoidance behavior has not been studied in most biting midges. Based on laboratory data the larvae of some biting midges behave differently when jellyfish like predators are present in the environment.

Technical Abstract: Larvae of Culicoides sonorensis a blood feeding ceratopogonid are aquatic. In their natural habitat they are exposed to numerous predators. Predator avoidance behavior has not been studied in most Culicoides spp. Based on laboratory data the larvae of Culicoides sonorensis behave differently when cniderians such as Hydra littoralis are present in the environment.