The Stream Doctor

April 7th, 2003

Email YOUR Questions directly to the Stream Doctor. This is your opportunity to get an experts professional opinion on anything stream related.

Q. After a female dun lays her eggs, how much time does she have before she dies?

A. First of all, the dun does not lay eggs; this is the subimago stage that lasts for minutes to hours before the adult reaches the imago, or egg-laying stage.

The adult egg-laying stage lasts from minutes to weeks, depending on the species. Those species that rest on the surface when depositing their eggs usually expire there. Adults of most species live from two hours to three days, although some last less than 90 minutes. Some species that hold their eggs until they are ready to hatch may live for several weeks; Callibaetis is such a species. In some species, emerging, mating, egg-laying, and death may all occur within a few hours.

~ C. E. (Bert) Cushing, aka Streamdoctor
105 W. Cherokee Dr.
Estes Park, CO 80517
Phone: 970-577-1584
Email: streamdoctor@aol.com

The 'Stream Doctor' is a retired professional stream ecologist and author, now living in the West and spending way too much time fly-fishing. You are invited to submit questions relating to anything stream related directly to him for use in this Q & A Feature at streamdoctor@aol.com.
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