Topic
Lovebug
About: Lovebug is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 21 publications have been published within this topic receiving 279 citations. The topic is also known as: lovebug & love bug.
Papers
TL;DR: The reproductive system of lovebugs, Plecia nearctica (Diptera: Bibionidae), a species in which this appears to be the case, is described.
Abstract: Most recent treatments of sexual selection theory have focused on the mechanisms of intrasexual (male) competition and female choice (e.g., Williams, 1966, 1975; Maynard Smith, 1978; Searcy, 1982). This is largely attributable to the view that females make a greater gametic investment in the zygote than do males, even when no maternal care is involved, and should therefore be selected to choose their mates with caution (i.e., female choice should evolve) (Williams, 1966; Parker et al., 1972; Trivers, 1972; Dawkins, 1976). However, males of some species also make large pre-zygotic investments in their offspring, in terms of the costs of ejaculates (Dewsbury, 1982), spermatophores, or other materials (e.g., Sivinski, 1980). In such cases, there may be selection upon males to choose their mates with care. In the extreme case in which a male mates only once, thus investing his entire lifetime reproductive effort on a single female, the evolution of prudent allocation (i.e., male choice) may be particularly likely. Here we describe the reproductive system of lovebugs, Plecia nearctica (Diptera: Bibionidae), a species in which this appears to be the case. Lovebugs emerge in large numbers twice each year (May and September) throughout vast areas of the southeastern United States (Hetrick, 1970; Leppla et al., 1974; Thornhill, 1976, 1980). Larvae develop in leaf litter and males hover in aggregations over their emergence sites, competing for access to subsequently emerging females (Hetrick, 1970; Thornhill, 1976, 1980). Males live for only two to five days, while
44 citations
TL;DR: Prolonged copulation in lovebugs is apparently costly for males because they do little feeding while in copulation and because extended copulation reduces the number of copulations a male may secure.
Abstract: Most lovebug eclosion takes place at 6–9 pm and 8 am–12 pm EDT. Male-male competition for females is severe in lovebugs, and males most commonly wrestle for females around emergence areas. Females may fly into hovering swarms of males, or females may be grasped before they fly from emergence sites. Males may also couple with females by disrupting copulating pairs. Male size is positively correlated with copulatory success around emergence sites. Lovebugs copulate for a mean of 56 h in the laboratory. Females may copulate more than once and a 2nd copulation, which precludes oviposition after the 1st copulation, extends female longevity because females usually lay eggs and die after the 1st copulation. Maximal sperm transfer apparently requires only 12.5 hours. Prolonged copulation in lovebugs is apparently costly for males because they do little feeding while in copulation and because extended copulation reduces the number of copulations a male may secure.
43 citations
TL;DR: A comparison of honey bees and beetles drawn to traps baited with lures for Japanese beetles and those drawn to heat, as well as heat, sound, and engine exhaust as "lovebug" attractants, suggests that honey bees are more attracted to heat than beetles.
Abstract: HETRICK, L. A. 1970. Biology of the "love-bug", Plecia nearctica (Diptera: Bibionidae) Florida Entomol. 53: 23-26. LADD, T. L., AND J. E. TEW. 1983. Attraction of honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) to traps baited with lures for Japanese beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) J. Econ. Entomol. 76: 769-770. LEHMAN, R.S. 1932. Experiments to determine the attractiveness of various aromatic compounds to adults of the wireworms. J. Econ. Entomol. 25: 949-958. LEPPLA, N.c., J. L SHARP. W. K. TURNER, E. W. HAMILTON, AND D. R. BENNETT. 1974. Rhythmic activity of Plecia nearctica. Environ. Entomol. 3: 323-326. MORRISON, R. T., AND R. N. BOYD. 1973. Organic chemistry, Allyn and Bacon Inc. Boston. SAS INSTITUTE. 1996. SAS Systems for Windows. Version 6.12 SAS Institute, Cary, N.C. SHARPE, H. 1974. Love bugs are drawn to heat. Sunshine State Agric. Res. Rep. Vol. 19, No. 3-4. Pages 3-4. THORNHILL, R. 1976. Dispersal of Plecia nearctica (Diptera: Bibionidae). Florida Entomol. 59: 45-53. WHITESELL, J. J. 1974. Heat, sound, and engine exhaust as "lovebug" attractants (Diptera: Bibionidae: Plecia nearctica) Environ. Entomol. 3: 1038-1039.
25 citations
TL;DR: Plecia nearctica Hardy has spread eastward from Mississippi and Louisiana since 1940 and reached southern Florida and South Carolina by 1975 as discussed by the authors, reaching a range of approximately 32 km (20 miles) per year.
Abstract: Plecia nearctica Hardy has spread eastward from Mississippi and Louisiana since 1940. Its range expanded approximately 32 km (20 miles) per year reaching southern Florida and South Carolina by 1975. P. americana Hardy, a native species, occurs in spring in woodland situations, whereas P. nearctica occurs throughout the year but most frequently in May and September and is most common in grassy habitats.
17 citations
TL;DR: Seasonal periodicity of fall armyworm, (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in the Caribbean basin and northward to Canada, and predictions of larval infestation in pasture grasses by Spodoptera frugiperda from estimates of adult abundance.
Abstract: L ANDOLT , P. J., B. L ENCZEWSKI , AND R. R. H EATH . 1991. Lure and toxicant system for the cabbage looper (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 84: 1344-1347. L INDUSKA , J. J., AND F. P. H ARRISON . 1986. Adult sampling as a means of predicting damage levels of fall armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in grain corn. Florida Entomol. 69: 487-491. L UGINBILL , P. 1928. The fall armyworm. USDA Tech. Bull. 34. 92 p. M ITCHELL , E. R., H. R. A GEE , AND R. R. H EATH . 1989. Influence of pheromone trap color and design on capture of male velvetbean caterpillar and fall armyworm moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). J. Chem. Ecol. 15: 1775-1784. M ITCHELL , E. R., J. N. M CNEIL , J. K. W ESTBROOK , J. F. S ILVAIN , B. L ALANNE CASSOU , R. B. C HALFANT , S. D. P AIR , V. H. W ADDILL , A. S OTOMAYOR RIOS , AND F. I. P ROSHOLD . 1991. Seasonal periodicity of fall armyworm, (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in the Caribbean basin and northward to Canada. J. Entomol. Sci. 26: 3950. S AS I NSTITUTE . 1995. SAS/STAT guide for personal computers, version 6.11 ed. SAS Institute, Cary, NC. S ILVAIN , J. F. 1986. Use of pheromone traps as a warning system against attacks of Spodoptera frugiperda larvae in French Guiana. Florida Entomol. 69: 139-147. S ILVAIN , J. F., A ND J. T I -AHING . 1985. Prediction of larval infestation in pasture grasses by Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) from estimates of adult abundance. Florida Entomol. 68: 686-691. S MITH , C. E., N. A LLEN , AND O. A. N ELSON . 1943. Some chemotropic studies with Autographa spp. J. Econ. Entomol. 36: 619-621. T INGLE , F. C., AND E. R. M ITCHELL . 1977. Seasonal populations of armyworms and loopers at Hastings, Florida. Florida Entomol. 60: 115-122. T UMLINSON , J. H., E. R. M ITCHELL , P. E . A . T EAL , R. R. H EATH , AND L. J. M ENGELKOCH . 1986. Sex pheromone of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith): identification of components critical to attraction in the field. J. Chem. Ecol. 12: 1909-1926. W ADDILL , V. H., E. R. M ITCHELL , W. H. D ENTON , S. L. P OE , AND D. J. S CHUSTER . 1982. Seasonal abundance of the fall armyworm and velvetbean caterpillar (Lepi-
16 citations
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |