LABORATORY BIOLOGY OF THE RICE MIDGE, CHIRONOMUS TEPPERI SKUSE (DIPTERA: NEMATOCERA): MATING BEHAVIOUR, PRODUCTIVITY AND ATTEMPTS AT HYBRIDIZATION

Abstract Single pair matings of Chironomus tepperï were carried out with the female active or anaesthetized. Males mated readily in both situations, with little evidence of courtship behaviour. Mated females resist further matings, passively at first but later adopting the “avoidance posture”. Females deposited eggs in gelatinous masses; unfed females laid only one or two egg masses for an average of 351 eggs while fed females laid up to six egg masses of progressively reduced size for an average of 531 eggs. Ch. tepperi males were also mated to anaesthetized females of other species. Although successful copulation occurred, no fertile egg masses were obtained.