144
G. R. POTTS AND G. P. VICKERMAN
dipterous fauna were the Lonchopteridae (19.62%) and Drosophilidae
(19.59%), although the proportions of Empididae (12.63%), Mycetophilidae (7.89%) and Cecidomyidae (7.16%) were again high. In both
years, apart from the Empididae, the Brachycera were poorly represented in the samples.
In 1970 the wheat blossom midges, C. tritici and S . mosellana, were
common amongst the Cecidomyidae and resulted in the predominance
of that family in the fauna. A large proportion of the Mycetophilidae
belonged to the Sciarinae whilst Parmcaptomyza pallida Zett., Lonchoptera lutea Pan. and Platypalpus spp. were predominant amongst the
Drosophilidae, Lonchopteridae and Empididae respectively. In both
1970 and 1971 approximately 70% of the Chloropidae were Oscinella
frit L.
TABLE X
The trophic structure of the Diptera in cerealjlelds, 1970 and 1971
Percentage composition
June 1970
June 1971
Phytophagous
65.26
26.00
Saprophagous, scatophagous,
mycetophagous and necrophagous
25.36
56.13
Haematophagous
0.03
0.03
Entomophagous predators
9.30
17.79
Entomophagous parasites
0.06
0.05
Sample size
3783
6931
Little appears to be known of the feeding habits of the larvae and
adults of many Diptera. However, in Table X an attempt has been
made to classify the Diptera present in the cereal fields according to
their primary feeding types. The classification used was a broad one
based primarily on the feeding habits of the larvae. The larval feeding
habits of those Diptera which are predators as adults are not well
known, but since most are predatory they have all been placed in that
category.
The following categories were used: (1) phytophagous, (2) saprophagous, scatophagous, mycetophagous and necrophagous, (3) haematophagous, (4) entomophagous predators and (6) entomophagous parasites. For a number of species we have records of adult and larval
feeding habits, although for many species information is lacking and
we have had to rely on published statements about the species, genera
and families represented in the lists.
G. R. POTTS AND G. P. VICKERMAN
dipterous fauna were the Lonchopteridae (19.62%) and Drosophilidae
(19.59%), although the proportions of Empididae (12.63%), Mycetophilidae (7.89%) and Cecidomyidae (7.16%) were again high. In both
years, apart from the Empididae, the Brachycera were poorly represented in the samples.
In 1970 the wheat blossom midges, C. tritici and S . mosellana, were
common amongst the Cecidomyidae and resulted in the predominance
of that family in the fauna. A large proportion of the Mycetophilidae
belonged to the Sciarinae whilst Parmcaptomyza pallida Zett., Lonchoptera lutea Pan. and Platypalpus spp. were predominant amongst the
Drosophilidae, Lonchopteridae and Empididae respectively. In both
1970 and 1971 approximately 70% of the Chloropidae were Oscinella
frit L.
TABLE X
The trophic structure of the Diptera in cerealjlelds, 1970 and 1971
Percentage composition
June 1970
June 1971
Phytophagous
65.26
26.00
Saprophagous, scatophagous,
mycetophagous and necrophagous
25.36
56.13
Haematophagous
0.03
0.03
Entomophagous predators
9.30
17.79
Entomophagous parasites
0.06
0.05
Sample size
3783
6931
Little appears to be known of the feeding habits of the larvae and
adults of many Diptera. However, in Table X an attempt has been
made to classify the Diptera present in the cereal fields according to
their primary feeding types. The classification used was a broad one
based primarily on the feeding habits of the larvae. The larval feeding
habits of those Diptera which are predators as adults are not well
known, but since most are predatory they have all been placed in that
category.
The following categories were used: (1) phytophagous, (2) saprophagous, scatophagous, mycetophagous and necrophagous, (3) haematophagous, (4) entomophagous predators and (6) entomophagous parasites. For a number of species we have records of adult and larval
feeding habits, although for many species information is lacking and
we have had to rely on published statements about the species, genera
and families represented in the lists.