Drift of lepidostomatid larvae (
Goerodes complicatus,
G. satoi and
G. nukabiraensis) was studied in Creek Masunosawa, Sapporo, northern Japan, 1977-1978. Additionally, larval behavior in the drift was preliminarily observed in the laboratory and field.
In the creek, benthic and drifting larvae of
G. nukabiraensis were few. Drift of two other species increased at night, and the nocturnal drift was more marked in summer. Drift of lepidostomatid larvae was little in June and winter, and significantly related to water temperature as well as to creek discharge. Higher drift was observed at times of rapid growth and increased activity.
In the water-circulated aquarium, larvae of
G. complicates and
G. satoi came up to water surface, where they floated with extended legs, grasping the substrata. The floating larvae always has a silken thread the other end of which was fixed onto the wall of the aquarium. The climbing larvae increased at night and due to lack of food, decreased after the fallen leaves of terrestrial plants were supplied. Also at the slow-flowing creek sites, larvae of the three species drifted with extended legs, in the upper stream, holding onto the silken thread secured to stones located upstream. By means of this silken thread, larvae probably keep themselves float for long periods and can drift even farther at slow-flowing sites.
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