Premium
Distribution patterns of some species of Scatopsidae (Insecta: Diptera) and the effect of microclimate on their flight activity
Author(s) -
Peng R.,
Sutton S. L.,
Fletcher C. R.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1994.tb00005.x
Subject(s) - microclimate , swarming (honey bee) , biology , spatial distribution , ecology , nocturnal , abundance (ecology) , zoology , atmospheric sciences , geography , remote sensing , geology
Temporal and spatial distribution of common species of Scatopsidae and the effect of microclimate on their flight behaviour have been studied using suction traps and computer‐linked micro‐meteorological stations in northern England. The flight patterns of spatial and temporal abundance were basically the same between two years. All species showed their active peak in the afternoons. There was a marked concentration at 5 m height and 5 m away from an emergent hedgerow tree for all common species of scatopsids. The behaviour of mating, swarming and congregating were observed. Four commonest species, Rhegmoclema cooki, R. coxendix, Anapausis soluta and Scatopse notata , all showed very similar responses to the light intensity, temperature and humidity in their daily flight performance. However, the spatial distributions of these species were not determined by these physical factors. It is suggested that the combination of their mating swarming behaviour and the wind circulation is important.