Successful mating, oviposition, and complete generation rearing of the multivoltine black fly Simulium decorum (Diptera: Simuliidae) in the laboratory

Abstract

Adults of the autogenous, multivoltine black fly S. decorum Walker were reared from field larvae and induced to mate and oviposit about 100 fertile eggs in the laboratory. Of 7 F1 females reared from these eggs 2 mated but neither oviposited. Vision, age and olfaction appear important for mating in both sexes. Preliminary experience suggests that colonization of this species is feasible.