If they are left undisturbed, the larvae also show a moderate negative geotropism. After a swimming period of four to six hours, the larva attaches. About an hour after fixation, the larva begins to elongate, and in four to eight hours the body cavity is visible and the first polyp begins to form. The primary zoid is completely formed in 24 hours. From this time on, secondary individuals are produced rapidly by asexual budding, until a large colony is formed.
Sexual maturity is attained about one month after attachment.
A embriologia de Bugula flabellata. Universidade de Sao Paulo Boll a. The natural history of Bugula flabellata at Woods Hole, Massachusetts, including the behavior and attachment of the larva. Bugula flabellata and B. turrita. On a method of rearing larvae of Polyzoa.