Authors: STRINGER, IAN A. N.; MEYER-ROCHOW, V. BENNO

Source: Annals of the Entomological Society of America, Volume 89, Number 6, November 1996 , pp. 849-857(9)

Publisher: Entomological Society of America

Abstract:

Larvae of predacious Neoditomyia farri Coher (Mycetophilidae: Keroplatinae) in Dromilly Cave in Trelawny, Jamaica, were restricted to the chamber where flying insects were most abundant. Here they occupied overhangs within 2 m of the floor. The distribution of flying insects was determined using adhesive traps. Total mean numbers throughout the cave varied between 953.0 and 10.5 insects per square meter of trap surface per hour. Scatopsidae predominated (up to 96%) where there were deep deposits of fresh bat guano and numerous roosting bats. Pholeomyia (Milichiidae) (0-2.4%) were similarly distributed but Phoridae (4-63%) were more evenly distributed throughout the cave. Minor components comprised Sciaridae (1%) followed by Scelionidae, Staphylinidae, Streblidae, Tineidae, Formicidae, and Mycetophilidae (all <0.2%). Numbers of flying insects decreased logarithmically with increasing height. In areas of high insect abundance, fewer insects flew near the walls than in the center of the chamber. Estimates of numbers of insects caught in N. farri webs indicated that food availability more than any other factor determines the distribution of these larvae.

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 1996-11-01

More about this publication?

• Annals of the Entomological Society of America is published in January, March, May, July, September, and November. Annals especially invites submission of manuscripts that integrate different areas of insect biology, and address issues that are likely to be of broad relevance to entomologists. Articles also report on basic aspects of the biology of arthropods, divided into categories by subject matter: systematics; ecology and population biology; arthropod biology; arthropods in relation to plant diseases; conservation biology and biodiversity; physiology, biochemistry, and toxicology; morphology, histology, and fine structure; genetics; and behavior.
• Editorial Board
• Submit a Paper
• Subscribe to this Title
• Information for Advertisers
• Visit this journal's homepage
• ingentaconnect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Entomology
• By this author: STRINGER, IAN A. N. ;  MEYER-ROCHOW, V. BENNO

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers