Polarotaxis in non-biting midges: female chironomids are attracted to horizontally polarized light |
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Authors: | Horváth Gábor Móra Arnold Bernáth Balázs Kriska György |
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Institution: | a Environmental Optics Laboratory, Department of Biological Physics, Physical Institute, Eötvös University, H-1117 Budapest, Pázmány sétány 1, Hungaryb Department of Hydrozoology, Balaton Limnological Research Institute, H-8237 Tihany, Klebelsberg Kuno utca 3, Hungaryc Faculty of Engineering and Sciences, Jacobs University Bremen, Campus Ring 6, D-28759 Bremen, Germanyd Group for Methodology in Biology Teaching, Biological Institute, Eötvös University, H-1117 Budapest, Pázmány sétány 1, Hungary |
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Abstract: | Non-biting midges (Chironomidae, Diptera) are widely distributed aquatic insects. The short-living chironomid adults swarm in large numbers above water surfaces, and are sometimes considered a nuisance. They are vectors of certain bacteria, and have a key-role in benthic ecosystems. Optical cues, involving reflection-polarization from water, were found to be important in the habitat selection by three Mediterranean freshwater chironomid species. In this work we report on our multiple-choice experiments performed in the field with several other European freshwater chironomid species. We show that the investigated non-biting midges are positively polarotactic and like many other aquatic insects their females are attracted to horizontally polarized light. Our finding is important in the visual ecology of chironomids and useful in the design of traps for these insects. |
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Keywords: | Chironomids Non-biting midges Oviposition site selection Positive polarotaxis Polarization vision Visual ecology |
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