Curtonotum quinquevittatum Curran, 1933

Pollock, J. N., 2002, Observations on the biology and anatomy of Curtonotidae (Diptera: Schizophora), Journal of Natural History 36 (14), pp. 1725-1745 : 1733-1734

Curtonotum quinquevittatum Curran biology

The usual dry season resting sites for Curtonotum quinquevittatum in the study area are burrows of large mammals, usually ones previously occupied by the warthog Phacochoerus aethiopicus (Pallas) (Suidae) , but other excavations such as those made by the aardvark Orycteropus afer (Pallas) , are also used. Small numbers of adult Curtonotum can also be found in other natural holes and arti cial ones such as culverts. The greatest number of ies are to be found in recently vacated burrows of the warthog. From such sites, ies emerge in hundreds when disturbed by a stone thrown inside, or simply by a person coming close to the hole in view of the ies within.

During the hot dry season (October, in Zimbabwe), ies are inactive during the daylight hours; about half an hour before sunset, ies begin to emerge from their resting places. Flies exit quite rapidly from those burrows that have no fallen tree leaves and spiders’ webs around the entrance. Where these obstructions exist, ies may be forced to y slowly searching for a way through the webs; if they fail to nd an exit route in a few seconds, they may rest on a convenient grass stem, or a dead leaf, before resuming the search. Once clear of the entrance to the hole and above ground level, the ies make a sudden acceleration and their ight can no longer be followed easily by eye. In the early morning, about sunrise, ies return to their resting places within the burrows. They return by ying to a point about 2–3 m directly above the burrow, thence approaching the entrance by means of a hovering, descending ight, losing height slowly to settle within the burrow, or to settle temporarily on the rim before gaining access to the burrow by a short ight. There is usually no wind in the early morning during this season in the miombo woodland. On dissection, ies were often found to have the crop full of a clear liquid, perhaps nectar (although no chemical tests have been performed), and it is possible that ies spend the night visiting owers, at least during the hot dry season. Meier et al. (1997), from a study of the behaviour of Curtonotum helvum , concluded that these ies were also crepuscular or nocturnal.

As reported for Cyrtona , the ovaries remain undeveloped for the greater part of the dry season. Some deposition of yolk was discernible by early November, but not the full development of the ovaries. It would appear, therefore, that the schedule of development is somewhat retarded in Curtonotum quinquevittatu m compared with that in Cyrtona . Ovaries are probably mature in December, but no collections could be made at this time. By January, well into the rainy season, the animal burrows and culverts were vacated, and Curtonotum adults could not be found in such sites. By May, and perhaps before this, ies presumably of the next generation, are to be found in the same refuges. Mating was not observed, and the larval substrate is unknown.