I study on an endemic species of biting midge (Forcipomyia taiwana) in Taiwan. This is a small (ca. 1.4 mm), slender biting midge that is present island-wide in urban and suburban habitats in Taiwan though biting midges are not a vector of known pathogens, their bites usually cause discomfort to tourists and residents and disrupt outdoor activities. The eggs laid by the biting midges is usually pink color initially, but they will gradually turn into black color a couple minutes later (embryo melanization). Recently, we found some eggs did not turn into black (keep pink color). I wonder what's the mechanism or what the signalling pathway involved in the embryo melanization.
There may be a difference in areas from where egg samples are collected.
Does there seem to be a genetic basis for melanization vs. not? Is failure to melanize the egg shell lethal?
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