STUDIES OF FLUCTUATIONS IN INSECT POPULATIONS XII. FURTHER EVIDENCE OF PROLONGED LARVAL LIFE IN THE WHEAT‐BLOSSOM MIDGES

Abstract

Contarinia tritici emerges the same year as the larvae are in the wheat ears and up to 3 years later. Its parasites emerge up to 2 years after the larvae are in the wheat ears, but never the same year. This indicates that the supernumerary generation of C. tritici that occurs on couch grass in August and September may be expected to be free from parasites and so constitutes a dangerous source of replenishment of the pest. Emergence of Sitodiplosis mosellana can take place after the larvae have been in the soil up to twelve winters. Most of any one year's larvae do not necessarily emerge as midges after one winter, although usually this is so. Any one year's flight is probably a composite one derived from several previous generations of this one‐generation‐a‐year gall midge.