Studies on blackflies in relation to their laboratory colonization.

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The possibility of laboratory colonization was examined with several Japanese blackfly species. As a result, only one of these species, Simulium takahasii, was proved to mate, feed on blood form man, rabbit and dog, and lay eggs in the laboratory. The biology of adult of this species was then studied in more detail, e. g., the duration needed for mating and insemination, the effect of blood-meal size on egg maturation, the effect of mating or temperature on oviposition, and multiple gonotrophic cycles, etc. The embryonic development and hatching of laid eggs were observed, with the successful subsequent development of hatched larvae to adult stage, suing a stir-bar system. In addition, field-collected gravid females of other blackfly species (Prosimulium kiotoense, S. aokii, S. arakawae, S. japonicum, S. nikkoense, S. rufibasis) were found to oviposit in the laboratory, although these species were never observed to mate in captivity. The development of all these species but P. kiotoense form the eggs to adults was accomplished using the same stir-bar system under various water temperatures. The first oocyte maturation of S. aureohirtum underwent without blood feeding, but its completion required sugar solution.