Aggregation behavior of adult Cuterebra fontinella (Diptera: Cuterebridae) in Pennsylvania, USA
1983
Shiffer, C.N.
The first eastern North American aggregation site reported for Cuterebra fontinella was discovered in Bradford Co., Pennsylvania, USA. Male flies established and patrolled territories within 3 different sections of an open Spiraea-grass-sedge meadow at the headwaters of an intermittent stream. During clement weather, daily morning flight activity was initiated at or above a shade temperature of 18.5 °C, but only after 1–2 min of bright sunlight, and continued for 1.5–2.0 h. When 18.5 °C was reached early in the morning, flight began 3.7–4.0 h after sunrise. Males chased conspecific flies and other intruding insects entering their territories; 1 male mated for 3 min with a female seized in the air over 1 territory. Patrol flights lasted 2–7 min between rests of similar duration, mostly on perches within 1.6 m of the ground. This behavior is quite similar to that observed for C. grisea at aggregation sites in western North America, and along with other evidence supports the view that C. grisea and C. fontinella are not distinct species.
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