Laboratory rearing of Forcipomyia spp. midges (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae): 2. Determination of the reproductive and biotic potentials, preliminary tests. In: Theobroma v. 8 p. 61-71, 1978.

Abstract

Thc purpose of this work was to determine the reproductive and biotic potentials of the following species: Forcipomyia (Euprojoannisia) spatulifera Saunders, F. (E.) blantoni Soria and 8ystrak, F. (F.) genualis (Loew), F. (F.J poulaineae Macfie, F. vic. Lepidohelea sp. I and F. (MicroheleaJ fuliginoso (Meigen) in Iaboratory conditions. Saunders' method for rearing midges was adapted to the present work. The methods to measure lhe reproductive and biotic potentials were similar to those used for other insects according to literature. Results indicated high values of reproductive potential for lhe non-pollinating spccies F. genualis. F. poulaineae and F. vic. Lepidohelea sp. J. The reproductive potential values for the pollinating species F. (E.) blantoni (34.87 x 108 midges/ year) and"F. (E.) spatulifera (22.43 x 107) were considered sufficient to forecast good possibilitics of mass rearing for colonization and/or inundation purposes in field conditions. Numeric values of biolic potcntial were not yel determined because of the Iack of quantification of lhe leveis of population suppression caused by the predators parasites and pathogens in natural and Iaboratory conditions. lt was concluded Ihat mass rearing of spatulifera, blantoni and other Forcipomyia midges is a very promising lechnique due 10 the quick reproductivc capacity observed in this research.