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In Poland, the share of Diptera in the species composition of the harmful entomofauna occurring on vegetable crops ranges from 20 to 25%. They occur on all vegetables grown in Poland (over 80 species and botanical varieties). Since the systematic registration of pests inhabiting crops in Poland in 1919, over 70 species of flies have been listed as pests of vegetable plants. Species from three families dominate in terms of population and numbers: Anthomyiidae with 12 species (Delia radicum, on early and late cultivars of cruciferous vegetables, mainly broccoli, cauliflower, white cabbage, kohlrabi, and radishes; Delia platura occurs annually on bean and cucumber; Delia antiqua on onion and garlic; and Pegomya hyoscyami on beetroot), Cecidomyiidae with 10 species (two species dominate, Contarinia nasturtii and Dasineura napi, on cruciferous vegetables), and Agromyzidae with 23 species (Liriomyza bryoniae on cucumbers, tomatoes, and peppers, and Phytomyza gymnostoma on leeks). Short-term, gradational occurrence of some dominant species was found, including Botanophila gnava (lettuce), Chamaepsila rosae (carrot, parsley), Delia platura (asparagus, bean), Delia radicum (broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi, radishes, white cabbage), Phytomyza gymnostoma (leek), Oscinella frit (corn), and Suillia lurida (garlic). However, they did not affect the level of plant production in the following years of cultivation. Apart from phytophagous species, taxa with a different trophic structure are common. These are copro-, necro-, sapro-, and zoophagous species. The most numerous were flies from the Drosophilidae family (Drosophila busckii, Drosophila limbata, Scaptomyza pallida, Fanniidae (Fannia canicularis, Fannia scalaris), Heleomyzidae (Tephrochlamys tarsalis), and Muscidae (Muscina levida, Muscina stabulans, Phaonia trimaculata). Natural enemies of insects play an important role in vegetable agrocenoses. Species belonging to the order of Coleoptera beetles (Carabidae and Staphylinidae), Syrphidae, Tachinidae, and Muscidae, mainly Phaonia trimaculata larvae, play the most important role in reducing the number of Diptera. In addition, the number of phytophages is limited by other organisms, e.g., Diplopoda, Nematoda, Arachnida, and pathogens of viral, bacterial, and fungal origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of the genus Fannia (Diptera: Fanniidae) is described, Fannia adelaidae sp. nov. This new species was collected in the Patagonian region in the province of Neuquén, within the Lanín National Park using baited traps. Photographs of diagnostic characters are provided for both sexes. Its possible phylogenetic relationship with other species of the same region is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peculiarities associated with the site and type of death impact the interpretation of entomological evidence in forensic investigations. We investigated the diversity and time to emergence of necrophagous species associated with a hanged cadaver in a city exposed to high levels of homicide in Brazil. Six species of four families of Diptera (Calliphoridae, Fanniidae, Muscidae and Sarcophagidae) colonized the corpse, of which Chrysomya albiceps (Calliphoridae) corresponded to 97% of all emerged adults. We provide supporting evidence for the record of Fannia pusio (Fanniidae) and for Hydrotaea aenescens (Muscidae) as colonizers of human cadavers. The time elapsed from collection of larvae until emergence of adults varied from 8 days (Chrysomya megacephala) until 19 days for F. pusio. A higher density of maggots occurred on the soil immediately below the cadaver when compared with the body. The use of time of development of both C. albiceps and C. megacephala provided similar estimations of the minimum post-mortem interval and suggested that death occurred approximately 36 hours prior to the discovery of the body. This case provides a novel collaboration between entomologists and forensic police in north-eastern Brazil and reinforces the importance of Fanniidae as a forensically important group in medico-legal investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In forensic entomology practice, species identification is a prerequisite for any further analysis of collected material. Although morphology-based taxonomy may be hindered by a range of factors, these are not obstacles for a molecular identification approach, so-called DNA barcoding. The Fanniidae are a dipteran family that is attracted to and breeds in decomposing animal carrion and dead human bodies. However, morphological identification of fanniids, both at adult and immature stages, is considered to be difficult, particularly for non-experts. We investigated the usefulness of molecular taxonomy methods as an alternative/supplement for morphology-based identification in European Fanniidae of forensic interest. The material used in this study was collected from various regions in Asia, Europe and North America. We sequenced a barcode region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) in 27 species. For 13 species, including some taxa breeding in dead bodies, this study describes COI sequences for the first time. Our analysis revealed that both mini-barcode and full-length COI barcode sequences give very high specimen identification success. Despite the large number of COI barcode sequences referring to Fanniidae in the BOLD and GenBank databases, previous identification of forensically relevant Fanniidae was hindered by uneven taxonomic sampling. The majority of available sequences refer to species that are not of medico-legal interest, and many species of forensic interest are unrepresented or represented only by a single sequence. Because of erroneous data that are present in depository databases, DNA barcoding must be used with caution and cannot be considered to be the sole alternative to other identification methods. Wolbachia infections in the examined material did not disrupt specimen identification. The obtained results will facilitate precise identification of European Fanniidae of forensic interest, badly preserved material with degraded DNA, as well as matching of unidentified females and immature stages to already described specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 17 species of the Fannia postica-group Chillcott, 1961 from the Palearctic and Oriental regions are reviewed herein, 2 of which are described from China as new: Fannia ningxiaensis Wang & Zhang, sp. n. and Fannia subaethiops Wang & Zhu, sp. n.. Fannia labidocerca Feng & Xue, 2006, originally placed in F. serena-group Chillcott, 1961, is moved to the postica-group and re-described. An identification key to the males of known species from these regions is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on revision of large recent collections of the authors, the following five species are first recorded from the Czech Republic: F. collini d'Assis-Fonseca, 1966 (simultaneously first record in Central Europe), F. lugubrina (Zetterstedt, 1838), F. melania (Dufour, 1839), F. slovaca Gregor & Rozkošný, 2005, and F. brinae Albuquerque, 1951 (simultaneously first record from low altitudes). Another species, F. alpina Pont, 1970, is first recorded from Slovak Republic, and F. cothurnata (Loew, 1873) is first recorded from Kazakhstan. An updated key to males of European species of Fannia is presented. A list of Czech and Slovak Fanniidae is appended. One new synonym is established: F. lucida Chillcott, 1961 is considered junior synonym of F. norvegica Ringdahl, 1934. Altogether two species are first recorded from Bohemia [F. cothurnata (Loew, 1873) and F. vespertilionis Ringdahl, 1934] and three for Moravia [F. alpina Pont, 1970, F. conspecta Rudzinski, 2003, and F. limbata (Tiensuu, 1938) - this species considered in Central Europe very rare was found in numbers near waters both running and standing in early spring under unusually warm temperature conditions]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A revised checklist of the Scathophagidae, Fanniidae and Muscidae recorded from Finland is presented. Phaonia amicula Villeneuve, 1922 is noted from Finland for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe here a case of multiple colonization of a male cadaver found indoors in the municipality of Jaboatao dos Guararapes, Brazil. The body was colonized by six species of Diptera: Chrysomya albiceps, Chrysomya megacephala, Chrysomya putoria (Calliphoridae), Megaselia scalaris (Phoridae), Fannia trimaculata (Fanniidae), and Peckia (Peckia) chrysostoma (Sarcophagidae). The most abundant species were C. albiceps (65.0 % of all emerged adults) and C. megacephala (18.6 %). The case illustrates the ability of six insect species to simultaneously colonize a corpse in an indoor environment and represents the first collaboration between the forensic police and entomologists in Northeastern Brazil. We provide here the first record of two species, F. trimaculata and Peckia (P.) chrysostoma colonizing a human cadaver. We also report the first case of cadaver colonization by C. putoria and M. scalaris in Northeastern Brazil. Information on the development time of two species, C. albiceps and C. megacephala, were used to discuss the estimation of the post-mortem interval. Considering that the region harbors the highest rates of homicide in Brazil, implications of these findings for the consolidation of forensic entomology in the region are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Euryomma Stein (Diptera: Fanniidae), a mainly Neotropical genus, had not been reported from Colombia. In this contribution we describe seven new species of the genus (Euryomma aburrae sp. nov., Euryomma chitarera sp. nov., Euryomma cornuatum sp. nov., Euryomma guane sp. nov., Euryomma muisca sp. nov., Euryomma tahami sp. nov. and Euryomma uwa sp. nov.). The new species occur in the departments of Antioquia (Sistema Andino, Cordillera Central), Santander, Norte de Santander, Cundinamarca and Boyacá (Sistema Andino, Cordillera Oriental), between 750 m and 2810 m, and are associated with decomposing organic matter. The forensic potential of E. muisca sp. nov., E. chitarera sp. nov. and E. cornuatum sp. nov. is highlighted. Identification keys to the genera of Fanniidae and to the males of the new species are provided. Descriptions of the male and female and illustrations of the terminalia are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The Chinese fauna of the Fannia postica-group Chillcott (1961) is reviewed, the diagnostic features of this group are redefined, one new species, Fannia nudifemorata sp. n., is described, and a key to the males of nine known species is given. One new junior synonym, F. tigripeda Xue, Wang & Li, syn. n. for F. stigi Rognes is established. To facilitate comparisons of the species, Fannia aethiops Malloch, F. ardua Nishida, F. discoculea Xue, F. ringdahlana Collin, F. postica (Stein), F. spathiophora Malloch, and F. stigi Rognes are redescribed and illustrated. The geographic distribution of the known Chinese species is updated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining the season of death by means of the composition of the families of insects infesting carrion is rarely attempted in forensic studies and has never been statistically modelled. For this reason, a baseline-category logit model is proposed for predicting the season of death as a function of whether the area where the carcass was exposed is sunlit or shaded and of the relative abundance of particular families of carrion insects (Calliphoridae, Fanniidae, Sarcophagidae, and Formicidae). The field study was conducted using rodent carcasses (20-252 g) in an urban forest in southeastern Brazil. Four carcasses (2 in a sunlit and 2 in a shaded area) were placed simultaneously at the study site, twice during each season from August 2003 through June 2004. The feasibility of the model, measured in terms of overall accuracy, is 64 ± 14%. It is likely the proposed model will assist forensic teams in predicting the season of death in tropical ecosystems, without the need of identifying the species of specimens or the remains of carrion insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A revision of the species and families of sarcosaprophagous flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, Muscidae, Fanniidae, Drosophilidae, Phoridae, Piophilidae and Stratiomyidae) suitable for forensic purposes in the Iberian Peninsula is presented. Morphological characteristics that allow the accurate identification of third instars of the species present in the Iberian Peninsula are described and presented in the form of a diagnostic key. For larval Calliphoridae, characteristics such as the spines of the body segments were useful for the genus Calliphora whereas features of the anal segment and the cephalopharyngeal skeleton were useful for larvae of Lucilia. Identification of three Chrysominae species present in the Iberian Peninsula is included. For larval Sarcophagidae, characters such as the arrangement and shape of spiracular openings, structures of the anal segment and the cephalopharyngeal skeleton were used for the first time. A new record of Sarcophaga cultellata Pandellé, from a human corpse, is also included as well as recent incursions into the European cadaveric entomofauna such as Synthesiomyia nudiseta (van der Wulp) and Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus). This work provides useful new information that could be applied to forensic investigations in the Iberian Peninsula and in southern Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes the male, female and third instar larva of Fannia yunguensis sp. nov., a new species of Fanniidae that was reared from larvae captured on pig carcasses in the Yungas of the province of Jujuy, Argentina. modifications to the keys for males and females are also provided. The presence of an epiphallus suggests including the new species into the pusio subgroup of the canicularis species group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Some medically important species of Muscidae and Fanniidae families are among synanthropic flies and can be seen in human habitats; therefore they can be mechanical vectors of different pathogenic microorganisms. Identification and determination of species of these flies is essential for any control program planning. This study was conducted to determine the faunal diversity of Muscidae and Fanniidae flies in Tehran, Iran. Methods and Materials: This was a cross-sectional descriptive and taxonomic study, conducted in 2 phases, during 1996-97 (pilot study) and 2000-2002 (complementary study) in Tehran and suburbs. Medically important flies were captured and identified. A net-hashing was used to capture adult flies by the direct observing method. To determine the fauna of flies in different habitats, 4 biotopes, including corpse (human, birds, livestock), garbage and decaying organic matter, animal carcasses, and human indoor habitat, were selected. Big hashing nets (95 cm in diameter) were used for capturing adult flies. Results: A total of 2418 adult flies belonging to 8 families of Muscidae, Fanniidae, Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, Tachinidae, Syrphidae, Conopidae, and Anthomyiidae were captured. Among these, 1279 belonged to the Muscidae and Fanniidae families. Four genera and 5 medically important species were identified from two families. Conclusion: Based on the existing scientific documentation, 2 species of M. stabulans and F. scalaris are reported for the first time from Iran. However, M. stabulans is a common species, the presence of which in Iran seemed probable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study proposed a phylogenetic hypothesis of the family Fanniidae based on a cladistic analysis using characters from adult external morphology and female and male terminalia. The main purpose of this study was to clarify the phylogenetic position of newly described or poorly known species, mostly from southern South America, the Neotropics, Africa, Australia and New Zealand. In total, 151 characters from adult male and female external morphology and terminalia were scored for 78 species of Fanniidae. Ten continuous characters were included and analysed as such. Three genera of Fanniidae and all the species-groups and subgroups proposed for the genus Fannia, except for the admirabilis-group and the setifer-subgroup were included as terminal taxa. An heuristic parsimony analysis under implied weights was performed. The analysis recovered the monophyly of the Fanniidae and the genus Fannia, as well as the monophyly of several species-groups within Fannia. Male and female external morphological characters were, in general, highly homoplasious, whereas characters from male terminalia showed low level of homoplasy and provided resolution at suprageneric nodes and species-groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Insects are frequently attracted to animal and human cadavers, usually in large numbers. The practice of forensic entomology can utilize information regarding the identity and characteristics of insect assemblages on dead organisms to determine the time elapsed since death occurred. However, for insects to be used for forensic applications it is essential that species are identified correctly. Imprecise identification not only affects the forensic utility of insects but also results in an incomplete image of necrophagous entomofauna in general. The present state of knowledge on morphological diversity and taxonomy of necrophagous insects is still incomplete and identification of immature and female forms can be extremely difficult. In this study, we utilized molecular identification methods to link conspecific sexes and developmental stages of forensically important flies. We identified larvae and females of flies collected from animal and human cadavers which otherwise were morphologically unidentifiable. The present study fills a gap in taxonomy of flies and provides data facilitating application of new species as forensic indicators. Application of available keys to European Fanniidae did not facilitate unequivocal species identification for third instar larvae and females of Fannia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 collected during a study of arthropod succession on pig carrion. To link these samples to known species, we took the advantage of molecular identification methods and compared newly obtained cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) barcode sequences against sequences deposited in reference databases. As an outcome of the results obtained, we describe for the first time a third instar larva of Fannia nigra Malloch, 1910 and Fannia pallitibia (Rondani, 1866) and a female of Fannia collini d'Assis-Fonseca, 1966. We provide combinations of characters allowing for discrimination of described insects from other Fanniidae. We provide an update for the key by Rozkošný et al. 1997, which allows differentiation between females of F. collini and other species of Fanniidae. Additionally, we provide a case of a human cadaver discovered in Southern Poland and insect fauna associated with it as the first report of F. nigra larvae developing on a human body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A case where Fannia leucosticta (Meigen, 1838) was breeding in human corpses is reported for the first time. One larva and one unemerged puparium were recovered from two corpses in an advanced stage of decomposition, found in autumn in Alicante province, Spain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Besides the dominant necrophagous dipteran of the families Sarcophagidae and Calliphoridae usually used for post mortem interval (PMI) estimations, species of other families such as Fanniidae have frequently been reported in forensic studies. Though less abundant, these species are prevalent in decomposing carcasses with most reports being anecdotal. In this study we identified adults of the fly family Fanniidae associated to pig carcasses located under different local environmental conditions (sun and shade) in a semiarid area at Mendoza, Argentina during the winter season. We examined the potential of species of this family as indicators of PMI by measuring abundance, time of occurrence and residency time at the carcasses. We identified six species of Fanniidae: Euryomma peregrinum Meigen, Fannia albitarsis Stein, Fannia femoralis Stein, Fannia fusconotata Rondani, Fannia heydenii Wiedemann and Fannia sanihue Domínguez and Aballay. Overall, fly abundance was higher at the sunlit than at the shaded carcass. The most abundant species at the sun was F. fusconotata while at the shaded carcass F. femoralis was the most abundant species. Based on their residency time, however, species with higher potential as PMI indicators seem to be F. heydenii and F. sanihue as their residency time at the carcass was restricted to a short period of the decomposition process. Other species were present throughout most of the decomposition process or in such a low abundance (E. peregrinum) that they were not useful as indicators. These preliminary results indicate that adults of some species of Fanniidae could act as a good complementary indicator species during the winter season. In particular, F. heydenii and F. sanihue should be the focus of further studies which should also expand to other seasons. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]