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Index of Subjects Phil may be correct or close, but a general answer is that this timing is not precisely known for most insects. Furthermore this is not considered the prime 'need to know' variable scientifically, simply because the timing varies a lot between individual eggs even in one batch -- they usually develop at different rates and don't always all hatch at once. What needs to be clear for reference is a series of recognizable developmental stages. Developmental biologists need to be able to 'stage' their eggs -> embryos -> larvae etc, referring to visible external signs (like appearance of certain cell divisions, pigmentation) in a standardized way after an egg's fertilization. Well-defined 'staging' is needed in order to be able to carefully document and repeat when other features of particular note differentiate during development, such as the expression of some gene of interest, or later, certain muscles. These appearances will proceed at different rates in different individuals, so it would be more usual to express their appearances relative to one of the pre-established stages of development, rather than to the exact time elapsed. To establish a proper staging requires a lot of work using fancy microscopes and associated methods (eggs are tiny and most useful ones are transparent), if this is to be used reliably by all workers in the field. This is why staging been studied carefully only in a few key species like the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster, which as scientifically important developmental models are deemed worth the effort. Steve, Halifax Quoting Phil Schappert <philjs@eastlink.ca>: >> What species of insect has the shortest hatching time? That is, the time >> from when an egg is fertilized until the time the insect hatches. Is >> hatching time the correct name for this? > > Check out the "Book of Insect Records" at the University of Florida, > http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/walker/ufbir/ > > It appears that the shortest life cycle (egg to egg) is a mosquito > (5 to 6 days for the entire life cycle) so it's likely that the > shortest egg to larval emergence time is for a mosquito. > > Phil > > -- > Phil Schappert, PhD
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