Life cycle of an Australian glow-worm Arachnocampa flava Harrison (Diptera: Keroplatidae: Arachnocampinae)

摘要

The life cycle of the southeast Queensland glow-worm Arachnocampa flava Harrison is documented and comparisons made with the more extensively studied New Zealand glow-worm, A. luminosa (Skuse). The adult life span of A. flava is short. Females live amaximum of 2.5 days and males 6 days. Egg development time is 7-9 days andthe pupal stage lasts 6-7 days. Behaviour associated with snare construction, prey capture and snare mending is described. Pupae lie suspended horizontally by an anterior and posterior bracing cord, whereas A. luminosa pupae are suspended vertically by a single cord attached at the thorax. Only larvae and early stage female pupa of A. flava were observed to bioluminesce in the laboratory.