title: Relations between environment, migration and reproduction in a seed bug, Neacoryphus bicrucis (Say) (Heteroptera: Lygaeidae).
abstract: The seed feeding bug Neacoryphus bicrucis migrates by flight, often at great altitudes, and evidently is able to disperse over long distances. Non-diapausing females provided with ample food and mates histolyze their flight muscles soon after adult eclosion, and thus undertake very little flight. If food density is below a certain threshold flight ability is retained at a constant high level through most of adult life, while egg production becomes a linear function of the logarithm of food density. Bugs totally starved from adult eclosion onwards survive for a month or more with only a minor decrease in flight ability. Females also retain their flight potential when subjected to lack of mates or diapause-inducing photoperiodic conditions. Most males are able to fly throughout their adult lives under all conditions studied, but the tendency to fly is enhanced by lack of food or mates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Stockholm, Box 6801, S-11386, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Christer
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Solbreck
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Stockholm, Box 6801, S-11386, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ingela
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pehrson