Studies on the Biology of Tipula paludosa Meigen (Diptera: Tipulidae) With Special Reference to Mortality Factors

Barbash, Nuri Milad (1988) Studies on the Biology of Tipula paludosa Meigen (Diptera: Tipulidae) With Special Reference to Mortality Factors. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

This thesis describes the results of a general study of the bionomics of the British species of cranefly, Tipula paludosa Meigen in which particular emphasis was given to the identification and evaluation of the various mortality factors affecting the immature stages. 1. General Bionomics Natural populations were observed throughout the year on a field at Lawmuir School, East Kilbride near Glasgow, Scotland, throughout the years 1984-85 and 1985-86 and estimates of the numbers of eggs, larvae and adult flies were made. Sex ratios were measured by three methods (a) from daily records of males and females obtained in emergence cages, (b) from marking and recapture observations, (c) from the examination of pupal exuviae reared from field-captured larvae. All three methods showed a preponderance of males over females. Oviposition in the field was studied by means of sunken pots containing a sand layer covering natural turf. The efficiency of this method was tested by controlled experiments on oviposition preference in an insectary where flies were given a choice of sand/no sand and long/short grass. The results were inconclusive because with long grass more eggs were laid in the no-sand treatments whereas with short grass the reverse occurred. Magnesium sulphate, used as a flotation medium for extracting eggs from the sand or soil was found to have no effect on their viability. Eggs were incubated on moist filter paper at temperatures ranging from 5 to 25

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Keywords: Zoology, Entomology
• Date of Award: 1988
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1988-77649
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 14 Jan 2020 11:53
• Last Modified: 14 Jan 2020 11:53
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/77649