The life cycle of Anguina agrostis: Post-embryonic growth of the second stage larva

The growth and development of the freshly hatched second stage larva (FHL₂) into the infective second stage “dauer” larva (DL₂) has been followed under field conditions and in callus tissue culture. A comparison of this development has been made between specimens originating from widely separated geographic regions. The FHL₂'s from Narrogin (Western Australia) are slightly shorter than those from Murray Bridge (South Australia) and have a mean length of 543 ± 55 μm compared with 580±51 μm. However, the lengths of the DL₂s from these areas are similar, having mean lengths of 841 ± 35 μm and 849 ±26 μm respectively. Furthermore stylet lengths in all these larvae are similar and are approx. 10 μm. Morphological changes associated with the transition from FHL₂ to DL₂ include thickening of the cuticle, a change in shape of the lateral alae associated with stretching and the synthesis of numerous lipid storage granules. Physiological changes include a marked increase in swimming activity and the ability to enter into an anhydrobiotic state. Growth from FHL₂ to DL₂ in Lolium multiflorum callus tissue culture took place within 9 days at 20°C. No moulting was observed and growth did not take place beyond the DL₂ stage under these conditions.