A bundle of eggs is laid
in the water. Four larval stages follow, living on the lake bottom, feeding
on mud and diatoms. The pupae float to the surface and adult flies crawl out
of the pupal skin and fly to the shore where they form mating swarms.
The adults do not feed and live for a few days. The whole life cycle takes from
two months to two years, depending on species. (Drawing by Arnthor Gardarsson).
REFERENCES:
Arnthor Gardarsson & Árni Einarsson 1991. Lífið á
botni Mývatns. In: Náttúra Mývatns. Hið íslenska
náttúrufræðifélag (The Icelandic Natural History
Society), Reykjavík.