(1) Department of Zoology, University of Pune, 411 007 Pune, India;(2) Department of Physics, University of Pune, 411 007 Pune, India
Abstract:
The ontogeny of photosensitivity has been studied in a holometabolous insect, the midgeChironomus ramosus. The life cycle of midges shifts from an aquatic environment to a non-aquatic environment. Extracellular electrical activity
of photoreceptor organs was recorded at larval and adult stages. We found an increase in photosensitivity as the larva metamorphosed
to the adult stage. This is the first report of changes in photosensitivity during the development of any insect described
in an ecological context.