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A spot check for animal trypanosomosis was conducted in three farms; two from Kiru and one from Bunkure Local Government Areas of Kano State, within the Sudano-Sahelian Ecological Zone in North West of Nigeria. The study was sequel to suspected outbreak of trypanosomosis and biting flies menace in the farms. Severe emaciation and low grade mortalities (often sudden) among the herds were reported. Blood samples were collected from emaciated cattle (n=70) from the study population (n=241) and examined for presence of trypanosomes using the buffy coat technique. Babesia and Anaplasma were analyzed by microscopic examination of thin blood smear fixed in absolute methanol and stained with 10% Giemsa solution. Twenty two samples (30%) were found to have different species of haemoparasites; Trypanosoma theileri (n=2), Anaplasma marginale (n=13) and Babesia bovis (n=7). The mean packed cell volume (PCV) was 25±% with a range between 16-41%; Farm-1 in Kiru and Farm-3 in Bunkure had the lowest and highest values, respectively. It was obvious that ticks infestation posed health and livestock production challenges to the study farms. The likelihood that mechanical transmission of trypanosomosis can be facilitated stemmed from migrating nomadic herds interaction with farm cattle during grazing and presence of biting fly population. The huge negative economic impact of haemoparasites; babesiosis and anaplasmosis to livestock within tsetse free area remains a big challenge. Combining vector (biting flies), haemoparasites and ectoparasites (ticks) control strategy using berenil and chlortetracycline appeared to be highly cost effective and efficient when administered to all animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver Kinase B1 (LKB1) is known as a master kinase for 14 kinases related to the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase. Two of them salt inducible kinase 3 and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase a have previously been implicated in sleep regulation. We generated loss-of-function mutants for Lkb1 in both Drosophila and mice. Sleep, but not circadian rhythms, was reduced in Lkb1-mutant flies and in flies with neuronal deletion of Lkb1. Genetic interactions between Lkb1 and threonine to alanine mutation at residue 184 of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase in Drosophila sleep or those between Lkb1 and Threonine to Glutamic Acid mutation at residue 196 of salt inducible kinase 3 in Drosophila viability have been observed. Sleep was reduced in mice after virally mediated reduction of Lkb1 in the brain. Electroencephalography analysis showed that nonrapid eye movement sleep and sleep need were both reduced in Lkb1-mutant mice. These results indicate that liver kinase B1 plays a physiological role in sleep regulation conserved from flies to mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many phoretic relationships between arthropods are understudied because of taxonomic impediments. We here illustrate for avian lice riding on hippoboscid flies how new natural history data on phoretic relationships can be acquired quickly with modern and cost‐effective barcoding techniques. Most avian lice are host‐specific, but some can arrive on new hosts by hitchhiking on hippoboscid flies that feed on bird blood. Our summary of the literature yielded 254 published records which we here show to belong to two large and 13 small interaction networks for birds, flies, and lice. In order to generate new records, we developed a protocol based on screening bird carcasses sourced with the help of citizen scientists. The inspection of 131 carcasses from Singapore led to the first record of a Guimaraesiella Eichler (Ischnocera: Philopteridae) louse species riding on Ornithoica momiyamai Kishida flies collected from a pitta carcass. Phoresy may explain why this louse species is now known from three phylogenetically disparate hosts (Pitta moluccensis (Müller), Ficedula zanthopygia (Hay); Pardaliparus elegans Lesson). A second new case of phoresy enhanced a large interaction network dominated by Ornithophila metallica (Schiner), a cosmopolitan and polyphagous hippoboscid fly species. Overall, we argue that many two‐ and three‐way phoretic relationships between arthropods (e.g., mites, pseudoscorpions, beetles, flies) can be resolved with cost‐effective large‐scale NGS barcoding, which can be used to partially overcome taxonomic impediments by pre‐sorting specimens for taxonomic revision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Forensic entomology applies the knowledge of arthropods to obtain useful information for the resolution of forensic investigations. In legal medicine, one of the methods used for the dating of death is the faunal succession, which is based on the orderly and predictable changes of the species associated with a corpse over time. The potential of insects for this purpose has been known for more than seven centuries, but mites are only currently being incorporated. Mites can provide useful information on the time and place of death because: they are a very diverse group, ubiquitous, abundant, and frequent; they contribute to the faunal succession; they are indicators of location and transfer of the corpse; they can be present in unfavorable conditions or environments for insects; they complement the information obtained from insects; and they are tracking evidence. Due to the absence of knowledge regarding the sarcosaprophagous fauna in the Mediterranean region, it is necessary to highlight the diversity of insects, together with their phoretic mites, present in decomposing animal organic matter, and their interaction network in this region, in order that the results obtained can be applied in future forensic investigations and contribute to the estimation of the time and place of death. The potential of insects for forensic investigations has been known for more than 700 years. However, arthropods such as mites could also play a role in these investigations. The information obtained from insects, together with their phoretic mites, is of special interest in terms of estimating the time and geographical location of death. This paper presents the first interaction network between phoretic mites and their host insects in Navarra. It also reports the first time that an interaction network was applied to animal remains of forensic relevance. The data reveal the degrees of specificity of the interactions established, the biological and ecological characteristics of the mites at the time of association, and factors that played important roles in the mites' dispersion. Fauna was collected using 657 traps baited with 20 g of pig carrion over a year. Only 0.6% of insects collected carried phoretic mites. The network comprised 312 insects (275 beetles, 37 flies) and 1533 mites and was analyzed using various packages of the R programming language. We contribute new host insect records for 15 mites, 3 new records of insects as hosts, 5 new mite records for the Iberian Peninsula, and 2 new mites records and 8 new insect records for Navarra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psilocybin has been shown to be a powerful, long-lasting antidepressant in human clinical trials and in rodent models. Although rodents have commonly been used to model psychiatric disorders, Drosophila have neurotransmitter systems similar to mammals and many comparable brain structures involved in similar behaviors. The forced swim test (FST), which has been used extensively to evaluate compounds for antidepressant efficacy, has recently been adapted for Drosophila. The fly FST has potential to be a cost-effective, high-throughput assay for evaluating potential antidepressants. For this study we pharmacologically validated the fly FST using methamphetamine, DL-α-methyltyrosine, and the antidepressant citalopram. While methamphetamine and DL-α-methyltyrosine altered overall locomotor activity in the Drosophila Activity Monitor System (DAMS), they had no significant impact on measures of immobility in the FST. Conversely, chronic citalopram decreased measures of immobility in the FST in both sexes without increasing DAMS activity. We used the validated FST to evaluate the antidepressant-like effects of high (3.5 mM) and low (0.03 mM) doses of psilocybin. Both doses of psilocybin significantly reduced measures of immobility in male flies, but not females. 0.03 mM had an effect size comparable to chronic citalopram, and 3.5 mM had an effect size approximately twice that of chronic citalopram. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an increasingly aged global population, achieving healthy life expectancy through natural and safe drug interventions is highly desirable. Here we show that total ginsenosides (TGGR), the main active components in the traditional Chinese medicine, ginseng, promote longevity across species. In Drosophila , an intriguing effect of TGGR on lifespan was the relatively narrow treatment window to elicit long-term benefits. TGGR administration during early adulthood, and especially during midlife, was sufficient to extend lifespan in both sexes. TGGR did not increase lifespan by reducing food intake or reproductive capacity; rather, TGGR increased the fertility of male Drosophila. TGGR augmented healthspan readouts associated with youth and with healthy aging, such as motility, intestinal barrier integrity, and biorhythm homeostasis. TGGR treatment also improved some types of stress resistance in both sexes, including increased tolerance to starvation and oxidation, and shifting "aged" gene expression patterns toward "healthy" patterns seen in the young. Gene expression, pharmacological and genetic epistatic analyses demonstrated that TGGR effects require normal expression of genes involved in insulin, TOR and MAPK signaling. The positive effects of TGGR on both healthspan and lifespan, coupled with its mechanism of action via evolutionarily conserved signaling pathways, demonstrate it to be a promising anti-aging drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leaf‐cutting ant Atta laevigata (Smith) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae, Attini) causes significant damage to agricultural crops and forest plantations. Conventional control strategies include the use of formicide bait, whose active ingredients pose environmental risks. Several flies of the family Phoridae (Diptera) have shown potential as biocontrol agents of leaf‐cutting ants. This study aimed to determine which phorid species parasitise A. laevigata in the Atlantic Forest, their parasitism rates, and host sizes. Phorids and ants were collected during 12 months from foraging trails and entrance holes of A. laevigata nests located in a natural forest of southeastern Brazil. Phorids collected in the field and those emerged from parasitised ants were identified at the species level. Parasitism rate was determined for each phorid species, the head width of parasitised ants was measured, and confidence intervals were calculated. Eibesfeldtphora erthali (Brown), Eibesfeldtphora bragancai (Brown), Eibesfeldtphora declinata (Bogmeier), Apocephalus vicosae Disney, Apocephalus attophilus Borgmeier, and Myrmosicarius grandicornis Borgmeier parasitised A. laevigata at an overall rate of (mean ± SE =) 5.9 ± 0.76%. Apocephalus spp. had the highest parasitism rate (2.8 ± 0.60%), followed by Eibesfeldtphora spp. (2.2 ± 0.77%), A. vicosae (0.23 ± 0.07%), and M. grandicornis (0.16 ± 0.12%). Large workers were mainly parasitised by E. erthali and A. attophilus, intermediate workers by A. vicosae and E. declinata, and small workers by E. bragancai and M. grandicornis. The phorid A. attophilus had the highest parasitism rate, the widest range of host sizes, and an even distribution of parasitism throughout the year. The high parasitism rates registered for some nests samples (>40%) highlights that ant parasitoid flies are important natural enemies in natural environments and that they possess a great potential to be used in biocontrol programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Of the 26 Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) sampled with the aim of characterizing insect ectoparasites, five birds were parasitized by louse flies. Two species were identified, Ornithophila metallica and Ornithomya fringillina. The first species is reported for the first time in the Red-backed Shrike, and the second represents a new host association in the Iberian Peninsula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last decade, the increasing interest in long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) has led to the discovery of these transcripts in multiple organisms. LncRNAs tend to be specifically, and often lowly, expressed in certain tissues, cell types and biological contexts. Although lncRNAs participate in the regulation of a wide variety of biological processes, including development and disease, most of their functions and mechanisms of action remain unknown. Poor conservation of the DNA sequences encoding for these transcripts makes the identification of lncRNAs orthologues among different species very challenging, especially between evolutionarily distant species such as flies and humans or mice. However, the functions of lncRNAs are unexpectedly preserved among different species supporting the idea that conservation occurs beyond DNA sequences and reinforcing the potential of characterising lncRNAs in animal models. In this review, we describe the features and roles of lncRNAs in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, focusing on genomic and functional comparisons with human and mouse lncRNAs. We also discuss the current state of advances and limitations in the study of lncRNA conservation and future perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Camellia oleifera is an important woody grain and oil plant worldwide. However, owing to a significant decline in the number of wild pollinators globally and the associated reduction in pollination services and seed production, camellia oil is in short supply. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the pollination mechanisms and efficiency of wild pollinators in C. oleifera seed production. We explored the pollination system of C. oleifera, focusing on the flower-visiting characteristics of its candidate pollinators. We found that Apis mellifera is the best candidate pollinator, but flies and hoverflies also play important roles in the pollination system. Camellia oleifera Abel. is an important woody oil plant, and its pollination success is essential for oil production. We conducted this study to select the best pollinator candidates for C. oleifera using principal component analysis and multi-attribute decision-making. Field observations of the flower-visiting characteristics of candidate pollinators were conducted at three sites. The insect species that visited flowers did not considerably differ between regions or time periods. However, the proportion of each species recorded did vary. We recorded eleven main candidates from two orders and six families at the three sites. The pollen amount carried by Apis mellifera was significantly higher than that of other insects. However, the visit frequency and body length of Apis mellifera were smaller than those of Vespa velutina. Statistical analysis showed that A. mellifera is the best candidate pollinator; Eristaliscerealis is a good candidate pollinator; Phytomia zonata, A. cerana, and V. velutina were ordinary candidate pollinators; and four fly species, Episyrphus balteatus, and Eristalinus arvorum were classified as inefficient candidate pollinators. Our study shows that flies and hoverflies play an important role in the pollination system. Given the global decline in bee populations, the role of flies should also be considered in C. oleifera seed production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foodborne pathogens have become a major concern not only due to the diseases they cause, but also because of the rise of antibiotic resistant strains in human and animals. The purposes of this study were to deter-mine the occurrence of Campylobacter jejuni and Escherichia coli and their antibiotic resistance profiles in wild birds, chickens, humans, and the environment in Malay villages in Malaysia. Three Malay villages in Kota Setar, Kedah were chosen. Three hundred nine (309) samples were collected in this study including wild birds (38), chickens (71), humans (47), and the environment (153). Subsequently, the C. jejuni and E coli isolates were tested against antibiotics using the disc diffusion method. Campylobacter jejuni was found positive in 17 (37.8%) flies and 8 (11.3%) chickens. Also, E. coli was found positive in 89.4% of human, 47.4% of bird, 44 62% of chicken and in 71.2% of the environmental samples. Ten antibiotics were used to determine the susceptibility of the isolates. Eighty four percent (84%) of C. jejuni and 100% of E. coli isolates were found to show resistance towards at least one antibiotic. The isolates showed high resistance to cefpodoxime and tetracycline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unique biology of flies and their omnipresence in the environment of people and animals makes them ideal candidates to be important vectors of antimicrobial resistance genes. Consequently, there has been increasing research on the bacteria and antimicrobial resistance genes that are carried by flies and their role in the spread of resistance. In this review, we describe the current knowledge on the transmission of bacterial pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes by flies, and the roles flies might play in the maintenance, transmission, and surveillance of antimicrobial resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Flies are insects belonging to the Diphtera order which can act as mechanical vectors of a disease. Just like insects in general, flies are sensitive to differences in wavelengths of light (color). Therefore, this study aims to determine the difference in the color of the fly grill with the density of flies. This type of research is experimental with a one shot case study design. This research was conducted at the Nanggalo Siteba market, The measurement points were carried out around the Tempat Pembuangan Sampah. The number of measurement points is five points, the center point, and four points according to the cardinal directions (west, east, north, and south from the center point). Flies density measurements were carried out at each point 10 times repetition for 30 seconds of each measurement, then the mean was sought. The data obtained were analyzed using the ANOVA test. The fly grill used is painted white, blue, yellow, red, black and is not painted. From the ANOVA test calculation, it was found that there were significant results between the color variants of the fly grill and the number of flies that landed. The average fly densities from the lowest to the highest were as follows: blue, white, black, unpainted, yellow and red fly grill. Based on this research, it can be seen that the preferred color of flies is red and those that are not preferred are blue. ABSTRAK Lalat merupakan serangga yang termasuk dalam ordo Diphtera yang dapat bertindak sebagai vektor mekanik dari suatu penyakit. Lalat sama seperti serangga pada umumnya yaitu mempunyai kepekaan terhadap perbedaan panjang gelombang cahaya (warna). Oleh karena itu, penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui perbedaan warna fly grill dengan kepadatan lalat. Jenis penelitian ini adalah eksperimental dengan desain one shot case study. Penelitian dilakukan di pasar Nanggalo Siteba Kota Padang. Titik pengukuran dilakukan sekitar Tempat pembuanganSampah. Jumlah titik pengukuran yaitu lima titik, titik pusat, dan empat titik sesuai dengan arah mata angin (barat, timur, utara, dan selatan dari titik pusat). Pengukuran kepadatan lalat dilakukan pada masing - masing titik sebanyak 10 kali pengulangan selama 30 detik masing-masing pengukuran kemudian dicari reratanya. Data yang diperoleh dianalisis dengan menggunakan uji ANOVA. Fly grill yang digunakan dicat warna putih, biru, kuning, merah, hitam dan tidak dicat. Dari perhitungan uji ANOVA, didapatkan hasil yang signifikan antara varian warna fly grill terhadap jumlah lalat yang hinggap. Rerata kepadatan lalat dari yang terendah sampai yang tertinggi adalah sebagai berikut: fly grill biru, putih, hitam, tidak dicat, kuning dan merah. Berdasarkan penelitian ini dapat diketahui warna yang disukai lalat adalah warna merah dan yang tidak disukai adalah biru.

Like many visually active animals, including humans, flies generate both smooth and rapid saccadic movements to stabilize their gaze. How rapid body saccades and smooth movement interact for simultaneous object pursuit and gaze stabilization is not understood. We directly observed these interactions in magnetically tethered Drosophila free to rotate about the yaw axis. A moving bar elicited sustained bouts of saccades following the bar, with surprisingly little smooth movement. By contrast, a moving panorama elicited robust smooth movement interspersed with occasional optomotor saccades. The amplitude, angular velocity, and torque transients of bar-fixation saccades were finely tuned to the speed of bar motion and were triggered by a threshold in the temporal integral of the bar error angle rather than its absolute retinal position error. Optomotor saccades were tuned to the dynamics of panoramic image motion and were triggered by a threshold in the integral of velocity over time. A hybrid control model based on integrated motion cues simulates saccade trigger and dynamics. We propose a novel algorithm for tuning fixation saccades in flies.

The muscid genus Drymeia Meigen, 1826 in Kyrgyzstan has been studied. One new species is described: Drymeia ziegleri sp. nov. An annotated checklist and keys for each sex of the six named species of Kyrgyzstan Drymeia are provided. Five species are newly recorded from Kyrgyzstan. An image of the new species is given.

Objectives: Flies have been implicated in the dispersal of medically important bacteria including members of the genus Klebsiella between different environmental compartments. The aim of this study was to retrieve and characterize antibiotic-resistant bacteria from flies collected near to hospitals. Methods: Flies were collected in the vicinity of medical facilities and examined for bacteria demonstrating phenotypic resistance to ceftriaxone, followed by determination of phenotypic and genotypic resistance profiles. In addition, whole genome sequencing followed by phylogenetic analysis and resistance genotyping were performed with the multidrug-resistant (MDR) strain Lemef23, identified as Klebsiella quasipneumoniae subsp. similipneumoniae. Results: The strain Lemef23, classified by multiple locus sequence typing as novel ST 3397, harboured numerous resistance genes. The blaNDM was located on a Tn3000 element, a common genetic platform for the carriage of this gene in Brazil. Inference of phylogenetic orthology of strain Lemef23 and other clinical isolates suggested an anthropogenic origin. Conclusions: The findings of this study support the role of flies as vectors of MDR bacteria of clinical importance and provide the first record of blaNDM-1 and blaCTXM-15 in a Brazilian isolate of K. quasipneumoniae subsp. similipneumoniae, demonstrating the value of surveying insects as reservoirs of antibiotic resistance.

Linezolid is an antibiotic of last resort for the treatment of infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria, including vancomycin-resistant enterococci. Enterococcus faecalis, a member of enterococci, is a significant pathogen in nosocomial infections. E. faecalis resistance to linezolid is frequently related to the presence of optrA, which is often co-carried with fex, phenicol exporter genes, and erm genes encoding macrolide resistance. Therefore, the common use of antibiotics in veterinary might promote the occurrence of optrA in livestock settings. This is a cross-sectional study aiming to investigate the prevalence of optrA positive E. faecalis (OPEfs) in 6 reservoirs in farms in Ha Nam province, Vietnam, and its associated factors and to explore genetic relationships of OPEfs isolates. Among 639 collected samples, the prevalence of OPEfs was highest in flies, 46.8% (51/109), followed by chickens 37.3% (72/193), dogs 33.3% (17/51), humans 18.7% (26/139), wastewater 16.4% (11/67) and pigs 11.3%, (14/80). The total feeding area and total livestock unit of the farm were associated with the presence of OPEfs in chickens, flies, and wastewater. Among 186 OPEfs strains, 86% were resistant to linezolid. The presence of optrA was also related to the resistant phenotype against linezolid and levofloxacin of E. faecalis isolates. Close genotypic relationships identified by Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis between OPEfs isolates recovered from flies and other reservoirs including chickens, pigs, dogs, and wastewater suggested the role of flies in the transmission of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. These results provided warnings of linezolid resistance although it is not used in livestock.

Orostachys malacophylla (Pall.) Fisch (O. malacophylla) is a succulent herbaceous plant that is the Orostachys genus of Crassulaceae family. O. malacophylla has been widely used as a traditional Chinese medicine with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-febrile, antidote, anti-Toxoplasma gondii properties. However, the biological function of alleviating intestinal inflammation and key bioactive compounds were still unknown. We used a Drosophila model to study the protective effects and bioactive compounds of O. malacophylla water extract (OMWE) and butanol extract (OMBE) on intestinal inflammation. Drosophila intestinal inflammation was induced by oral invasion of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) or Erwinia carotovora carotovora 15 (Ecc15). We revealed the protective effects of two extracts by determining intestinal reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antimicrobial peptide (AMP) levels and intestinal integrity, and using network pharmacology analysis to identify bioactive compounds. We demonstrated that both OMWE and OMBE could ameliorate the detrimental effects of DSS, including a decreased survival rate, elevated ROS levels, increased cell death, excessive proliferation of ISCs, acid-base imbalance, and disruption of intestinal integrity. Moreover, the overabundance of lipid droplets (LDs) and AMPs by Ecc15 infection is mitigated by these extracts, thereby enhancing the flies' resistance to adverse stimuli. In addition, we used widely targeted metabolomics and network pharmacology analysis to identify bioactive compounds associated with IBD healing that are present in OMWE and OMBE. In summary, our research indicates that OMWE and OMBE significantly mitigate intestinal inflammation and have the potential to be effective therapeutic agents for IBD in humans. [Display omitted] • Extracts of Orostachys malacophylla inhibit excessive accumulation of ROS induced by DSS. • Extracts of Orostachys malacophylla alleviate Ecc15 -induced elevation of AMPs levels. • Extracts of Orostachys malacophylla maintain intestinal homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the role of the inner nuclear membrane protein lamin B receptor (LBR) in the circadian rhythm of fruit flies. When LBR was depleted, the circadian rhythm was disrupted, and the clock protein PERIOD (PER) did not form foci near the nuclear membrane as it normally would. The article also mentions that LBR is involved in sterol biosynthesis and that mutations in the human Lbr gene can cause various phenotypes. The author raises questions about the potential role of vertebrate LBR in regulating the circadian clock and whether its sterol reductase activity is necessary for this function. [Extracted from the article]

The activation of the immune system upon infection exerts a huge energetic demand on an individual, likely decreasing available resources for other vital processes, like reproduction. The factors that determine the trade-off between defensive and reproductive traits remain poorly understood. Here, we exploit the experimental tractability of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster to systematically assess the impact of immune system activation on pre-copulatory reproductive behaviour. Contrary to expectations, we found that male flies undergoing an immune activation continue to display high levels of courtship and mating success. Similarly, immune-challenged female flies remain highly sexually receptive. By combining behavioural paradigms, a diverse panel of pathogens and genetic strategies to induce the fly immune system, we show that pre-copulatory reproductive behaviours are preserved in infected flies, despite the significant metabolic cost of infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing concern over rapid species declines and extinctions has led to considerable interest in the role of biodiversity for maintaining ecological processes. However, the loss of particular species has more pronounced effects on ecosystem services than others, highlighting the importance of key functional species traits and their relationships to ecosystem functioning. Human‐induced disturbances, such as species invasions, land use changes, or abiotic changes, appear to disproportionally impact larger species rather than smaller ones. The loss of large‐bodied species in the community diminishes key ecosystem services like seed dispersal, pest control, pollination and decomposition.Here, we use carrion, a nutrient‐rich ephemeral resource, to test the hypotheses that ants positively affect decomposition rates and that their role in the necrophilous community—as predator or decomposer—is mediated by body size. We further investigate the relative contribution of maggots versus ants to biomass decomposition.Our results show that ants contributed positively to the decomposition process. Moreover, decomposition was shaped by an intricate interplay between competition and predation among the guild of decomposer insects. As predicted, larger ants show a double action in increasing decomposition rate and predating on maggots, while small ants are rather inefficient decomposers and did not act as predators on other decomposer species.Our study shows that differentiating key taxonomic groups in function of their body size is key to untangle the diversity and directions of the various roles they play within complex ecological processes. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the increase in global transport in recent decades, species that flourish in human-altered environments are widening their geographical distribution. Consequently, endemic species are either declining or going to extinction. Here, we report the first occurrence of the Afrotropical fly Zaprionus tuberculatus Malloch in the Americas. This species has been recognized as invasive by the Invasive Species Compendium, and we argue that it will probably impact drosophilid communities. Our study was conducted on the natural and urban environments of the Brazilian Savanna, a biodiversity hotspot where drosophilid communities have been monitored since 1999. Z. tuberculatus was first collected in January 2020, at low abundances, in urban parks located in Brasília. In December 2020, we recorded it in a preserved area approximately 200 km away from the urban parks. From January to March 2021, we found the species in seven urban parks in Brasília and three natural reserves (conservation units) located around the city. The species' relative abundance increased from 0.9% in 2020 (n = 11,244 drosophilids) to 17% in 2021 (n = 6,002 drosophilids). This is a rare opportunity to monitor a recent invasion event in a well-studied area. Based on the impact of Z. indianus Gupta, which invaded the Brazilian Savanna in 1999 and remained the dominant species during the rainy seasons, we fear that this new arrival will reduce the diversity of drosophilids in the Neotropics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stable flies are one of the most important arthropod pests of livestock that reduce cattle weight gain and milk production leading to annual economic losses in excess of $2 billion to the US cattle industry. The host‐seeking behavior is primarily mediated by associated odors from stable fly larval development environments and host animals. The present paper reports the development and evaluation of attractant‐impregnated adhesive tapes to reduce stable fly attacks on cattle. Laboratory bioassays showed that only m‐cresol impregnated adhesive tapes caught significantly more stable flies (16 ± 1) than the control tape without attractant added (7 ± 1), with a 77% fly recapture rate. Attractant‐impregnated adhesive tapes deployed in cattle feedlots showed significant impacts in reducing fly population, with a total of one million stable flies captured over a period of three weeks (mean catches from 57 596 to 102 088 stable flies per trap per week). It further relieved cattle stress with a significant reduction of biting fly avoidance behavior, (6 ± 0.4 cows observed with tail wagging in control vs. 3 ± 0.4 from the trap‐deployed). The efficacy of the developed tapes lasted up to 1‐week longevity, although 70% of m‐cresol was released starting from the second day. The m‐cresol impregnated adhesive tape provided an 80% reduction in cattle stress due to stable fly attack. This is the first report of a technology developed by integrating an attractant compound into an adhesive material on a plastic film with demonstrated effectiveness in trapping biting flies that attack livestock animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lispe (Diptera: Muscidae) is a cosmopolitan genus of predatory flies that inhabit the muddy and sandy surrounds of water bodies. There are more than 163 described species worldwide, many of which are known to exhibit cursorial courtship displays which involve complex visual and vibratory signals. Despite the widespread distribution of these flies and their remarkable courtship displays, the biology and behaviour of most species are entirely unknown. Here, for the first time, we describe the precopulatory mating behaviours of three widespread and common Australian species: Lispe sydneyensis, Lispe albimaculata and Lispe xenochaeta. We demonstrate that all three species exhibit entirely unique courtship displays, consisting of complex behavioural repertoires. Importantly, we highlight intra‐sexual competition in L. sydneyensis, where males engage in competitive dances and combat. We also report female–male aggression in L. albimaculata and L. xenochaeta where females charge and display towards males. These novel mating systems provide unique opportunities to test ecological and evolutionary hypotheses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is wel known that the homeland of the Melon (Cucumis melo), which is a one-year reptile body, belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family, is Asia. Iran, Caucasus, Turkey, Afghanistan and melon species that are encountered in the wild in Turkistan form and is believed that it was spread to the world from the regions concerned. Melon fly, Myiopardalis pardalina (Bigot, 1891) (Diptera:Tephrtidae) is one of the most important pests in melon grown areas in the Southeastern Anatolia Region. When the melon approximately reaches the size of a hazelnut, the larvae hatched from the eggs that have been left by the female in the fruit shell feed on the flesh and move towards the house of fruit seed with the tunnels they open, leading to various damages. Such damaged melons are not preferred by consumers. Moreover, invincible losses decrease the commercial market value of melon. In this research, data related to different methods of struggle of melon fly which has caused significant economic losses in Southeastern Anatolia region were obtained in the nature conditions. This study was carried out in Diyarbakır Province Çınar District Şükürlü Village (Diyarbakır city, Turkey) in 2018-2019 under field conditions. Four melon varieties (Balhan, Balözü, VT21B and the local variety Winter melon "sliced" local genotype "VN2136") were taken into the experiment and designed with 3 replications. In order to determine the damage rate of the melon fly, 100 fruits were checked in each melon variety parcel. Control procedures were carried out weekly, counts were made and continued until the end of the season. Fruits with dishes were removed from the application plots. In the experiment studies carried out to identify the number of holes in the melon fruits, it was detected that there was no difference when considering the hole number between Balözü, Balhan, Local (winter melon "sliced" local genotype "VN2136") and VT21 melon varieties. when the data collected from this study were under analysis it was revealed that, the lowest number of holes was found in Domestic (Winter melon "sliced" local genotype "VN2136") melon varieties, and the highest hole number was found in Balözü melon variety. In this study, the damage rates of melon fly on some melon varieties were determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engaging school‐age children in activities involving 'real‐world' science and interacting with scientific researchers can promote an interest in appreciating and understanding the natural world and the scientific method. Here, we describe a project involving five female early‐career and PhD researchers who facilitated a citizen science project with school‐age children. Under the guidance of the researchers, across five schools, children created artificial flowers and installed them on school ovals. Over repeated 10‐min observations, students recorded how colour (yellow vs. blue) and configuration (isolated, clumped adjacent, clumped mixed colour and clumped single colour) influenced how many and what taxa of insects visited. Here, we reflect on what we were able to achieve including creating a simple, fun, cost‐effective project; anecdotal student interest in insects, and positive female STEM role models. We also acknowledge constraints and shortcomings, including set curricula resulting in suboptimal season for pollinator studies; confounding of results due to children's observations; and being unable to verify the data. We offer recommendations for more robust projects in future, which include collecting specimens to verify results, and measuring learning outcomes. If these recommendations are met, researcher–student projects can engage children in conducting scientific experiments with applications for home and school garden management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic yard waste from western Washington, U.S. that may contain puparia of apple maggot fly, Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) (Diptera: Tephritidae), had been moved to central Washington for composting, threatening the $3 billion apple industry concentrated in that region. Heating waste to kill fly puparia before it is transported could be a solution to this problem. Here, we report results of studies in 2016–2021 that sought to identify a minimum heat treatment simulating that obtained using a low-pressure steam generator for maximizing kill of R. pomonella puparia. In two experiments, puparia were exposed to temperatures ramped linearly over 6 h from 21°C to 47.8, 51.1, 55.0, or 60.0°C in an oven. The 47.8, 51.1, and 55°C treatments did not achieve 100% mortality, although only one adult fly from 4,000 puparia was found in the 55°C treatment, while no puparia survived the 60°C treatment. In a third, similar experiment, no puparia out of 2,400 exposed to 55°C survived. In a fourth and final experiment conducted over 3 years, no puparia out of 61,223 exposed to a 6-h ramp from 21°C to 55°C followed by a 1-h hold time at 55°C produced flies. In addition, all puparia in this treatment died. Based on 42.3 to 69.8% control survival, 31,217 puparia were killed by this treatment with no survivors, for a probit 8.7190 level of security. Results suggest that the 55°C and 1-h hold time treatment here is close to the minimum heat regime needed for disinfesting organic waste of R. pomonella puparia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria in the livestock is a growing problem, partly due to inappropriate use of antimicrobial drugs. Antimicrobial use (AMU) occurs in Swedish dairy farming but is restricted to the treatment of sick animals based on prescription by a veterinary practitioner. Despite these strict rules, calves shedding antimicrobial resistant Enterobacteriaceae have been recorded both in dairy farms and in slaughterhouses. Yet, not much is known how these bacteria disseminate into the local environment around dairy farms. In this study, we collected samples from four animal sources (fecal samples from calves, birds and rodents, and whole flies) and two environmental sources (cow manure drains and manure pits). From the samples, Escherichia coli was isolated and antimicrobial susceptibility testing performed. A subset of isolates was whole genome sequenced to evaluate relatedness between sources and genomic determinants such as antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) and the presence of plasmids were assessed. We detected both ARGs, mobile genetic elements and low rates of AMR. In particular, we observed four potential instances of bacterial clonal sharing in two different animal sources. This demonstrates resistant E. coli dissemination potential within the dairy farm, between calves and scavenger animals (rodents and flies). AMR dissemination and the zoonotic AMR risk is generally low in countries with low and restricted AMU. However, we show that interspecies dissemination does occur, and in countries that have little to no AMU restrictions this risk could be under-estimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative behavioral analysis of Drosophila courtship reveals that visual cues of a female's body influence which actions a male performs during courtship. These actions in turn influence female actions, producing a mutual synchronization of courtship between male and female flies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Nemestrinidae are a widespread group of moderate to large-sized rather stout flies. All known larvae of these flies are internal parasitoids of nymphs and adults of grasshoppers and larvae of scarabaeid beetles and have the potential to be used as biocontrol agents. Results: All known Egyptian and Saudi Arabian nemestrinid taxa are systematically catalogued in the present study. A total number of 13 species classified in only 2 genera, Nemestrinus (subfamily Nemestrininae) and Trichopsidea (subfamily Falleniinae), were investigated. Twelve of these species are represented in Egypt, out of which 5 species are represented in Saudi Arabia as well. Two of the treated species, Nemestrinus ater (Olivier) and N. rufipes (Olivier), are newly recorded herein from Saudi Arabia. Only one species, Trichopsidea costata (Loew), was recorded exclusively from Saudi Arabia. An updated classification, taxonomic data, world and local distributions with collection dates and coloured photographs of some species were provided. Hope that the results of this study will provide the basis for systematic studies and fauna analyses of future works on Nemestrinidae. It seems likely that further species will be discovered with more research involving a variety of collecting methods. Conclusion: Thirteen nemestrinid species belonging to 2 genera and 2 subfamilies were represented in both Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Two of these species are newly recorded herein from Saudi Arabia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing demands on protein producers and the dwindling available resources have made Hermetia illucens (the black soldier fly, BSF) an economically important species. Insights into the genome of this insect will better allow for robust breeding protocols, and more efficient production to be used as a replacement of animal feed protein. The use of microRNA as a method to understand how gene regulation allows insect species to adapt to changes in their environment, has been established in multiple species. The baseline and life stage expression levels established in this study, allow for insight into the development and sex-linked microRNA regulation in BSF. To accomplish this, microRNA was extracted and sequenced from 15 different libraries with each life stage in triplicate. Of the total 192 microRNAs found, 168 were orthologous to known arthropod microRNAs and 24 microRNAs were unique to BSF. Twenty-six of the 168 microRNAs conserved across arthropods had a statistically significant (p < 0.05) differential expression between Egg to Larval stages. The development from larva to pupa was characterized by 16 statistically significant differentially expressed microRNA. Seven and 9 microRNA were detected as statistically significant between pupa to adult female and pupa to adult male, respectively. All life stages had a nearly equal split between up and down regulated microRNAs. Ten of the unique 24 miRNA were detected exclusively in one life stage. The egg life stage expressed five microRNA (hil-miR-m, hil-miR-p, hil-miR-r, hil-miR-s, and hil-miR-u) not seen in any other life stages. The female adult and pupa life stages expressed one miRNA each hil-miR-h and hil-miR-ac respectively. Both male and female adult life stages expressed hil-miR-a, hil-miR-b, and hil-miR-y. There were no unique microRNAs found only in the larva stage. Twenty-two microRNAs with 56 experimentally validated target genes in the closely related Drosophila melanogaster were identified. Thus, the microRNA found display the unique evolution of BSF, along with the life stages and potential genes to target for robust mass rearing. Understanding of the microRNA expression in BSF will further their use in the crucial search for alternative and sustainable protein sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to investigate the ecological aspects of sand flies in southwestern North Khorasan, in which cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania major has been reported with the highest annual incidence in Iran. Sampling was carried out in four localities including: Khorasha (natural), Ghamiteh (natural), Jorbat (semi urban) and Brick kilns (urban), twice a month using 105 sticky paper traps from indoors and outdoors dwellings during May-December 2017. Specimens were removed from sticky papers, washed in acetone, preserved in 80% ethanol, mounted on microscopic slides by Puri's medium, and identified using valid morphological keys. Simpson (D), richness (S), Menhinick (DMg), Margalef (DMn), Shannon-Weiner (H′), evenness (J') were calculated for species diversity. The synanthropic index was determined for the first time in the area. Totally 517 specimens were collected, 47% in outdoors and 30.4% in human indoor dwellings and 22.6% in animal. Eight species of sand flies including 5 species of the genus Phlebotomus and 3 species of the genus Sergentomyia were identified. Phlebotomus papatasi and Sergentomyia sintoni were the most common and Eudominant species, active in all months, collected in the maximum number and percentage in September and August, respectively, and showed the highest abundance in outdoors. The synanthropic index ranged from 6.25 to 38.9 in the study area. The Shannon-Wiener index was estimated to be up to 1.4 and 1.37 in Khorasha and November, respectively, which showed the highest diversity due to maximal richness and evenness compared to other areas. High abundance of Ph. papatasi, as the main vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis, can enhance the potential risk of emerging CL in new areas, the data can be equally important when vector control measures are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammaging refers to low-grade, chronically activated innate immunity that has deleterious effects on healthy lifespan. However, little is known about the intrinsic signaling pathway that elicits innate immune genes during aging. Here, using Drosophila melanogaster, we profile the microRNA targetomes in young and aged animals, and reveal Dawdle, an activin-like ligand of the TGF-β pathway, as a physiological target of microRNA-252. We show that microRNA-252 cooperates with Forkhead box O, a conserved transcriptional factor implicated in aging, to repress Dawdle. Unopposed Dawdle triggers hyperactivation of innate immune genes coupled with a decline in organismal survival. Using adult muscle tissues, single-cell sequencing analysis describes that Dawdle and its downstream innate immune genes are expressed in distinct cell types, suggesting a cell nonautonomous mode of regulation. We further determine the genetic cascade by which Dawdle signaling leads to increased Kenny/IKKc protein, which in turn activates Relish/NF-jB protein and consequentially innate immune genes. Finally, transgenic increase of microRNA-252 and Forkhead box O pathway factors in wild-type Drosophila extends lifespan and mitigates the induction of innate immune genes in aging. Together, we propose that microRNA-252 and Forkhead box O promote healthy longevity by cooperative inhibition on Dawdle-mediated inflammaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past 10 years, coffee production in Guatemala has been affected by the Mediterranean fruit fly that accelerates the fruit ripening process, resulting in early bean drop and less commercial quality. Reports have offered a new alternative for monitoring flies. In a trial in the municipality of Acatenango, Chimaltenango, Guatemala, the biological effectiveness of Pet bottles baited with CeraTrap® attractant, compared with ground sprays of GF-120 (Spinosad), were evaluated for massive control of C. capitata in this crop. The data show that when pet bottle bait stations with 200 ml of CeraTrap at 25 bait stations per hectare, it was possible to reduce the incidence of three peak populations of female and male flies from March to April to 1,767 and 0.69 flies/trap/days, respectively. Seven sprays of GF-120 only reduced to 4,802 and 2,26 flies/trap/days, respectively. The calculated biological effectiveness (BE) indicated that Pet bottles bait CeraTrap produced control in the field of 74.1%, compared with 39.4% of GF-120. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wohlfahrtia magnifica (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) is an obligate myiasis‐causing fly of livestock that is widely distributed throughout the Mediterranean basin. A total of 73 683 sheep from 122 flocks in Albacete Province (southeastern [SE] Spain) were examined to detect active traumatic myiasis. The influence of several individual and flock factors on the prevalence was also assessed. The overall flock prevalence of traumatic myiasis was 95.9%, with an individual prevalence of 7.1%. Wohlfahrtia magnifica was identified in all of the positive animals except one that was infested by Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Adults of both genders showed a higher risk of infestation than juveniles, whereas males of all ages displayed an increased risk of infestation than females of all ages; the existence of a lambing building on the farm, poor husbandry facilities and the location area were also identified as risk factors. Prevalence was highest in the summer, and the fly season lasted from March to November. Genitalia were the main location of infestation in males (94.4%) and females (76.3%). Our results reveal that traumatic myiasis by W. magnifica is widespread in southeastern Spain, hence preventive measures minimizing the attractiveness of sheep to gravid flies are necessary to avoid health and welfare problems and significant production losses in sheep flocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dogs are reservoir hosts for Leishmania infantum, a protozoan parasite transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies. The anti‐feeding and fast‐killing efficacy of Scalibor® deltamethrin collars against experimental Phlebotomus perniciosus challenges on dogs was determined over 1 year. Two groups of 8 dogs each were fitted with placebo (control) or deltamethrin collars (treated) on Day 0 and exposed to sand flies approximately every 28 days up to Day 364. After each exposure, anti‐feeding and fast‐killing efficacy rates were determined by comparing blood‐fed or live insects, respectively, in the treated vs. the control group. Blood‐fed and live sand flies were significantly less in treated dogs as compared to control dogs at each assessment. The anti‐feeding efficacy rate exceeded 90% except on Day 337 (89%) but increased again (96%) on Day 364. Fast killing efficacy was <74% over the study when considering all flies. However, this value increased cumulatively to 98% when only blood‐fed flies were compared between groups. Scalibor® collars are highly effective at preventing P. perniciosus blood‐feeding and in fast‐killing flies taking a blood meal for up to 1 year after application. These strong and long‐lasting effects are an important strategic component for L. infantum transmission control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In insects, host searching usually involves different kinds of stimuli, both visual and chemical, that may act in combination. External cues are perceived through specific sensory organs (sensilla), mainly present on the antennae. Understanding how ectoparasites belonging to the Hippoboscidae locate their hosts is crucial, since these flies infest animals and can attack humans, with veterinary and medical implications. The aim of this research was to study the antennae of four hippoboscid species, Lipoptena cervi (Linnaeus, 1758), Lipoptena fortisetosa Maa, 1965, Hippobosca equina Linnaeus, 1758, and Pseudolynchia canariensis (Macquart, 1840), investigating the morphology and the sensory structures present on these appendages. A typical conformation of the antennae with the envelopment of the third segment (flagellum) inside the first two have been observed. Moreover, two types of sensilla have been detected and their role in the perception of host odours and CO2 have been hypothesized. Other antennal structures seem to be involved in the detection of temperature and humidity variations. Our findings confirm that these hippoboscids use chemoreception for host location, giving insights into this complex process in this poorly investigated group. Lipoptena cervi (Linnaeus), Lipoptena fortisetosa Maa, Hippobosca equina Linnaeus, and Pseudolynchia canariensis (Macquart) are hematophagous ectoparasites that infest different animal species and occasionally bite humans. Hosts are located by a complex process involving different kinds of stimuli perceived mainly by specific sensory structures on the antennae, which are the essential olfactory organs. General antennal morphology, together with distribution and ultrastructure of sensilla, have been studied in detail with scanning and transmission electron microscopy approaches. Observations have revealed some common features among the four studied hippoboscids: (a) typical concealment of the flagellum inside the other two segments; (b) characteristic trabecular surface of the flagellum; (c) peculiar external microtrichia; (d) presence on the flagellum of basiconic sensilla and grooved peg coeloconic sensilla; (e) unarticulated arista. The ultrastructure of L. fortisetosa revealed that microtrichia and the flagellar reticulated cuticle are not innervated. Different roles have been hypothesized for the described antennal structures. Microtrichia and the reticulated cuticle could convey volatile compounds towards the flagellar sensory area. Peculiar sensory neurons characterize the unarticulated arista which could be able to detect temperature variations. Coeloconic sensilla could be involved in thermoreception, hygroreception, and carbon dioxide reception at long distances, while the poorly porous basiconic sensilla could play a role in the host odour perception at medium–short distances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cluster flies are represented by the genus Pollenia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 of the family Polleniidae Brauer and Bergenstamm, 1889. Their larvae are known to be internal parasites or predators of earthworms. Herein, we report for the first time the occurrence of the cluster flies Pollenia rudis Fabricius, 1794 and Pollenia vagabunda (Meigen, 1826) (Diptera: Polleniidae) on carcasses in Algeria and identify them through DNA barcoding. A region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I gene (COI) was amplified and sequenced. Genetic distances were determined. A phylogenetic tree was constructed with the maximum parsimony method using 10 000 bootstrap replicates. A total number of 157 adults of P. rudis were collected together with 325 adults of Pollenia vagabunda. The occurrence of Pollenia on animal carcasses does not seem to be correlated with a particular stage of decomposition. All the sequences were correctly identified using the BLASTn tool from the GenBank database and the BOLD identification engine. Intra- and interspecific sequence divergence values were less than 1% and greater than 3%, respectively. COI barcodes obtained from this study were robust enough to identify and distinguish unambiguously between P. rudis and P. vagabunda. In the tree-based analysis, the cluster flies were all assigned to their respective species separately from each other confirming the morphological identification. These results provide DNA barcodes that contribute to the growth of reference databases and allow fast and accurate identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Louse flies (Hippoboscidae) are permanent ectoparasites of birds and mammals. They have a cosmopolitan distribution with more than 200 described species. The aim of this study was to reveal host–vector–parasite associations between louse flies, birds, and trypanosomes. A total of 567 louse fly specimens belonging to 7 species were collected from birds at several localities in Czechia, including the rare species Ornithophila metallica and Ornithoica turdi. There was a significant difference in the occurrence of Ornithomya avicularia and Ornithomya fringillina on bird hosts according to their migratory status, O. fringillina being found more frequently on long-distance migrants. Trypanosomes were found in four species, namely, Ornithomya avicularia, O. fringillina, O. biloba, and Ornithoica turdi; the later three species are identified in this paper as natural trypanosome vectors for the first time. The prevalence of trypanosomes ranged between 5 and 19%, the highest being in O. biloba and the lowest being in O. fringillina. Phylogenetic analysis of the SSU rRNA gene revealed that a vast majority of trypanosomes from hippoboscids belong to the avian T. corvi/culicavium group B. Four new lineages were revealed in group B, with louse flies being probable vectors for some of these trypanosome lineages. We also confirmed the transcontinental distribution of several trypanosome lineages. Our results show that hippoboscids of several genera are probable vectors of avian trypanosomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract Urbanization is increasing worldwide and is regarded a major threat to biodiversity in forests. As consequences of intensive human use, the vegetation structure of naturally growing urban forests and their amount of deadwood can be reduced. Deadwood is an essential resource for various saproxylic insects and fungi. We assessed the effects of urbanization and forest characteristics on saproxylic insects and fungi. We exposed standardized bundles consisting of each three freshly cut beech and oak branches in 25 forests along a rural–urban gradient in Basel (Switzerland). After an exposure of 8 months, we extracted the saproxylic insects for 10 months using an emergence trap for each bundle. We used drilling chips from each branch to determine fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs). In all, 193,534 insect individuals emerged from the experimental bundles. Our study showed that the abundance of total saproxylic insects, bark beetles, longhorn beetles, total flies, moths, and ichneumonid wasps decreased with increasing degree of urbanization, but not their species richness. However, the taxonomic composition of all insect groups combined was altered by wood moisture of branches and that of saproxylic beetles was influenced by the degree of urbanization. Unexpectedly, forest size and local forest characteristics had a minor effect on saproxylic insects. ITS (internal transcribed spacer of rDNA) analysis with fungal specific primers revealed a total of 97 fungal OTUs on the bundles. The number of total fungal OTUs decreased with increasing degree of urbanization and was affected by the volume of naturally occurring fine woody debris. The composition of fungal OTUs was altered by the degree of urbanization and pH of the branch wood. As a consequence of the altered compositions of saproxylics, the association between total saproxylic insects and fungi changed along the rural–urban gradient. Our study shows that urbanization can negatively impact saproxylic insects and fungi.

The correct identification of fly species has a crucial role in accurately performed forensic investigations. Species identification of fly larvae by observing only morphological characteristics is difficult and less accurate. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop an alternative tool for identifying fly larvae by integrating morphological characteristics and protein expression profiles. Excretory-secretory (ES) protein profiles from third stage larvae of five fly species were evaluated to differentiate these species, including Chrysomya megacephala, Achoetandrus rufifacies, Lucilia cuprina, Musca domestica, and Boettcherisca nathani, based on the SDS-PAGE technique. They were also assessed for morphological characteristics. The results showed that different protein patterns in ES products and morphological characteristics were observed among these fly species. A novel dichotomous key for identification of fly larvae was developed by combining unique patterns of ES protein profiles with morphological characteristics. However, studies including other fly species should be pursued.

Abstract Roraima is a Brazilian state located in the northern portion of the Amazon basin, with few studies regarding its biodiversity. The Ecological Station of Maracá (Brazil, state of Roraima) harbors the third largest Brazilian pluvial island and is composed of a transitional landscape of savanna and Amazon rainforest components. Despite its ecological importance and strategic localization, few studies covered the dipterofauna of this locality. An updated checklist addressing 41 families of true flies (Diptera) occurring in Roraima is presented based on the literature and the specimens collected during a field expedition that occurred in 2015. This checklist brings several improvements such as new records of 165 taxa to the state of Roraima, 29 taxa to Brazil, and 259 morphotypes, mostly likely representing undescribed species.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria in the livestock is a growing problem, partly due to inappropriate use of antimicrobial drugs. Antimicrobial use (AMU) occurs in Swedish dairy farming but is restricted to the treatment of sick animals based on prescription by a veterinary practitioner. Despite these strict rules, calves shedding antimicrobial resistant Enterobacteriaceae have been recorded both in dairy farms and in slaughterhouses. Yet, not much is known how these bacteria disseminate into the local environment around dairy farms. In this study, we collected samples from four animal sources (fecal samples from calves, birds and rodents, and whole flies) and two environmental sources (cow manure drains and manure pits). From the samples, Escherichia coli was isolated and antimicrobial susceptibility testing performed. A subset of isolates was whole genome sequenced to evaluate relatedness between sources and genomic determinants such as antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) and the presence of plasmids were assessed. We detected both ARGs, mobile genetic elements and low rates of AMR. In particular, we observed four potential instances of bacterial clonal sharing in two different animal sources. This demonstrates resistant E. coli dissemination potential within the dairy farm, between calves and scavenger animals (rodents and flies). AMR dissemination and the zoonotic AMR risk is generally low in countries with low and restricted AMU. However, we show that interspecies dissemination does occur, and in countries that have little to no AMU restrictions this risk could be under-estimated.

The activity of animals and insects at the crime scene can provide useful elements to reconstruct the dynamics of the event. Any insect that interacts with wet body fluids can produce artifacts which can be confused with human bloodstains. Considering that flies are the early colonizers of the crime scene and first players of the process of contamination, the problem is to distinguish stains produced by fly regurgitation or fecal elimination on a crime scene. Actually, fly artifacts are morphologically very similar to impact, projected, sneezed, and expirated bloodstains and cannot be reliably distinguished using presumptive or confirmatory tests for identification of human blood. Several techniques have been proposed to differentiate insect-derived artifacts based on morphological approaches and immunological assay. Recently, a DNA-based method by the analysis of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene has been designed for the distinction of fly artifacts from human bloodstains on spots characterized by different morphological features and deposited by fly on a glass surface. Here, we present a study to assess the feasibility of the molecular analysis of fly artifacts deposited on different substrates as glass, paper, plexiglass and cotton and to evaluate the COI amplification success at different time intervals up to two years after fly artifacts deposition. Our results showed that the deposition time seems do not affect the detection of fly artifacts DNA, while a substrate interference was demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphological characteristics of eggshells are important in sand fly ootaxonomy. In this study, eggshells from Phlebotomus stantoni Newstead, Sergentomyia khawi (Raynal), and Grassomyia indica (Theodor) sand flies collected in Chiang Mai province, Thailand were examined and characterized using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Then, eggshell morphology of these three species was described for the first time. Each gravid female was forced to lay eggs by decapitation and the eggs were collected for SEM analysis. Egg laying females were identified by morphological examination and molecular typing using cytochrome b (Cytb) as a molecular marker. The chorionic sculpturing of Ph. stantoni eggs combines two patterns on the same egg: unconnected parallel ridges and reticular patterns. Sergentomyia khawi and Gr. indica have similar chorionic polygonal patterns, but their exochorionic morphology and aeropylar area are different. Results indicate that eggshell morphological characteristics such as chorionic pattern, exochorionic morphology, inter-ridge/boundary area, aeropylar area (including the number of aeropyles) and basal layer, can be useful to develop morphological identification keys of eggs. These can serve as an additional tool to distinguish species of sand flies. In addition, the chorionic sculpturing of the eggs of the three species of sand flies observed by LM is useful for species identification in gravid females with spermathecae obscured by eggs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]