Biology, ecology and voltinism of the Australian spongillafly Sisyra pedderensis Smithers (Neuroptera: Sisyridae)

Abstract

The life stages of Sisyra pedderensis are described and statistical data from laboratory rearing experiments discussed. Novel sampling methods were used to obtain pupae from the field since adults were not attracted to black lights and the larval life cycle closed in the laboratory. The diel cycles of egg eclosion, full-fed larval emergence from aquatic habitats, and adult emergence are examined and illustrated. Morphological data are provided to identify the three larval instars. A comprehensive comparison of the biology of S. pedderensis and closely related overseas species is made. In Lake Pedder, this species of spongillafly was proved to be bivoltine, with overwintering larvae becoming imagines in early summer which was followed by a single summer generation.

Minor Insect Orders

“…Spongillafly larvae have specialized mouthparts for piercing and extracting food from sponge cells (Fig. At dusk, they emerge and crawl up to 30 m from the water to construct pupal cocoons on shore; they often spin net-like structures over these cocoons (Brown, 1952;Forteath and Osborn, 2012). They preferentially feed upon 'green' sponges that have symbiotic zoochlorellae.…”

“…41.4). Adults generally emerge from pupal chambers between dusk and midnight, live for several days or weeks, and feed on pollen, mites, and aphids (Brown, 1952;Pupedis, 1987;Forteath and Osborn, 2012). One stable isotope study found that >98% of the carbon in populations of the spongillafly Climacia areolaris (Hagen, 1861) was derived from the symbiotic algae contained within its host sponge (Skelton and Strand, 2013).…”

“…They preferentially feed upon 'green' sponges that have symbiotic zoochlorellae. A single female may lay several hundred eggs over the course of her life (Brown, 1952;Forteath and Osborn, 2012). First-instar spongillafly larvae settle on an individual sponge and often do not leave that sponge until they reach their third and final instar.…”

“…One stable isotope study found that >98% of the carbon in populations of the spongillafly Climacia areolaris (Hagen, 1861) was derived from the symbiotic algae contained within its host sponge (Skelton and Strand, 2013). For example, populations of Sisyra can be univoltine or bivoltine and often have one fast summer generation with a second generation that overwinters as mature larvae or prepupae in cocoons (Hölzel and Weissmair, 2002;Forteath and Osborn, 2012). Mature third-instar larvae abandon their host and swim to shore or to emergent structures (e.g., vegetation, boat docks).…”

First records of spongillaflies (Neuroptera: Sisyridae) in Serbia and Bosniaand Herzegovina, with notes on their occurrence in the Balkan countries

“…The life history of spongillaflies is described in a series of papers, e.g., Withycombe (1923Withycombe ( , 1925, Killington (1936), Brown (1952), Parfin and Gurney (1956), Elliott (1977Elliott ( , 1996, Weißmair and Waringer (1994), Weißmair (1999), Bowles (2006), Forteath and Osborn (2012), and Monserrat (2014). The eggs are laid singly or in clusters on objects overhanging water bodies, such as leaves, branches, wood piles, and docks.…”