[Syrphidae] Question about mating E. balteatus

[Matthew SULLIVAN]

Hi Chris,
Yes, it is pretty reliable, but early season individuals are a little more reliable to
breed from than later ones.  In the past I have maintained a culture using dwarf broad
bean plants and pea aphids, but it is quite labour intensive. They also tend to behave
better in larger groups in flight cages. Another way of establishing a culture is to buy
puparia from a biological control supplier. I tend to do this now to obtain adults for
student projects, but the genetic diversity is less clear.

All best,
Matthew

Dr Matthew Sullivan DPhil.
Behavioural and Environmental Biology
School of Biology, Chemistry and Health Science
Manchester Metropolitan University
Manchester M1 5GD, UK
Tel +44 (0)161 247 1164
Fax +44 (0)161 247 6325
m.sullivan at mmu.ac.uk

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>>> "Bergh, Chris" <cbergh at vt.edu> 18 March 2010 19:50 >>>
Greetings,

I understand that E. balteatus is relatively easily reared in captivity. If individuals
are captured in the field and then placed in captivity will they mate and oviposit readily
or does it require a number of generations in captivity for this to occur regularly and
predicatably?

Any feedback gratefully received.

Cheers - Chris Bergh
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