The results of a 4-yr study are reported. Data from Surber-samples of
3 running waters in southern France were compared with results from fi
eld enclosure experiments. Egg development lasted about one month unde
r field conditions and two weeks at 25 degrees C in the laboratory. O.
uncartus has usually but not strictly 13 larval instars and a 3-yr li
fe cycle. Each year emergence started in early June. The emergence cur
ve was typical of a summer sp. Several aspects of seasonal regulation
are discussed. The monitoring of population structure indicated a high
mortality of final instar larvae (up to 99%) during winter. This mort
ality differed between the sample sites of one of-the running waters.
These differences depend on prey availability and on larval density. A
field enclosure experiment revealed density dependence of larval size
and growth.