Phenology and life history of Belgica antarctica, an Antarctic midge (Diptera: Chironomidae)

ABSTRACT. An account of the life‐history with emphasis on phenology and number of instars is presented for Belgica antarctica Jacobs, the southernmost holometabolous insect. Contrary to earlier reports, Belgica has four instars, in common with most other chironomids. Mean head capsule lengths varied...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecological Entomology
Main Authors: SUGG, PATRICK, EDWARDS, JOHN S., BAUST, JOHN
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Wiley 1983
Subjects:
Antarctic
Antarc*
Antarctic midge
Antarctica
Belgica antarctica
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2311.1983.tb00487.x
https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1365-2311.1983.tb00487.x
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/wol1/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2311.1983.tb00487.x/fullpdf
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Summary:ABSTRACT. An account of the life‐history with emphasis on phenology and number of instars is presented for Belgica antarctica Jacobs, the southernmost holometabolous insect. Contrary to earlier reports, Belgica has four instars, in common with most other chironomids. Mean head capsule lengths varied between different populations but no overlap was found between discrete size classes of successive instars. Belgica overwinters in all four instars. Relative frequency of different instars from samples taken through the season indicates that a 2‐year life‐span is the commonest pattern. Emergence of adults is relatively synchronous. Belgica exhibits protandry, which may be established at the time of pupation.

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