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Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are known vectors of multiple arboviruses of veterinary and medical importance, as well as avian haemosporidian parasites. Despite their significant role as vectors, the distribution of Culicoides species in non‐farmland habitats remains largely unknown. We conducted a study to assess the species community composition, abundance, and host feeding patterns of Culicoides biting midges in urban ecosystems in northern Spain. Light‐baited suction traps were operated biweekly for 6 months across six urban landscapes (three cemeteries and three green areas). In total, 181 Culicoides specimens of 18 species were morphologically identified, with the Obsoletus complex being predominant (43.% of the total catches), followed by Culicoides kibunensis (21.5%). Culicoides midges peaked in early June in green areas and in May in cemeteries. Host feeding patterns revealed avian preferences (mainly Turdus spp.) in four Culicoides species. Despite the low overall number of specimens collected, a high diversity of biting midge species was recorded. These findings offer critical insights into Culicoides ecology and their interactions with hosts in urban settings, which are vital for disease surveillance and management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the flower visitors and floral traits of two dioecious shrub species Eurya japonica Thunb. (Pentaphylacaceae) and Eurya emarginata (Thunb.) Makino in temperate Kochi and subtropical Okinawa in Japan during the cool seasons. We demonstrated that the two Eurya species could be pollinated by a wide spectrum of flower visitors—mainly Diptera. The main pollinators were probably Chironomidae and Empididae for E. japonica in Kochi and Calliphoridae and Syrphidae for the remaining species–site combinations (i.e., E. emarginata in Kochi, E. japonica in Okinawa, and E. emarginata in Okinawa). We demonstrated that several dominant families of Dipteran visitors have the ability to pollinate the two Eurya species. Interestingly, floral traits (corolla diameter and nectar concentration) could not explain the difference in the assemblages. These results indicate that floral traits are not specifically adapted to their local pollinators. The fruit set rate was significantly lower for naturally pollinated flowers than for hand‐pollinated flowers, indicating pollen limitation in both Eurya species. However, there was no apparent difference in the number of seeds per fruit between naturally pollinated and hand‐pollinated flowers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of faecal analysis in the present study indicated no significant difference in prey items and prey occurrence between breeding and non-breeding seasons in yellow-wattled lapwings. However, Coleoptera and Araneae represented the highest and lowest prey items and prey occurrences respectively. Prey abundance significantly varied between breeding and non-breeding seasons. Uncultivated and cultivated habitat types had the highest and lowest prey abundances respectively. Jacob's index reflected that they primarily consumed arthropod larvae. Additionally, there was a positive selection for adult insects in the orders Coleoptera, Diptera and Blattodea and a negative selection for Oligochaeta, Diplopoda and Araneae. Thus, the yellow-wattled lapwings are flexible feeders, particularly in the breeding season; however, they favour uncultivated areas where food is abundant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae) are the cyclical vectors of human and animal trypanosomes. This viviparous insect develops and produces a single larva at 10-day intervals deposited in specific sites. In some species aggregation of larvae has been shown and seems to be mediated by both physical factors and volatile semiochemicals of larval origin. In this context, this study aims to identify chemicals emitted during the pupariation process in Glossina palpalis gambiensis. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) emitted by larvae were identified using static headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis. Electrophysiology and behavioural assays were performed on gravid females to confirm VOCs behavioural activity and attractiveness. GC–MS results revealed ten chemicals emitted during the pupariation process of G. p. gambiensis larvae. Among these chemicals, gravid females were shown to detect nine of them during coupled gas chromatography - electroantennographic detection tests. Behavioural assays highlighted two compounds were as attractive as pupae and one compound and a blend of four compounds were more attractive than pupae. Although the larval origin of some of them needs to be confirmed as they may also likely produced by micro-organisms, these compounds induced significant behavioural responses in the laboratory. Further experiments have to explore the biological activity and competitiveness of these compounds in the field. This work opens interesting opportunities for behavioural manipulation and control of tsetse flies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a virus infecting Entomophthora mus ca e , a behavior-manipulating fungal pathogen of dipterans. The virus, which we name Berkeley Entomophthovirus, is a positive-strand RNA virus in the iflaviridae family of capsid-forming viruses, which are mostly known to infect insects. The viral RNA is expressed at high levels in fungal cells in vitro and during in vivo infections of Drosophila melanogaster , and virus particles can be seen intracellularly in E. mus ca e. This virus, of which we find two closely related variants in our culture of E. muscae , is also closely related to three different viruses reported from metagenomic surveys, two of which were isolated from wild dipterans, and a third isolated from wild ticks. By analyzing sequencing data from these earlier reports, we find abundant reads aligning to E. mus ca e specifically in the samples from which viral reads were sequenced. These data establish a wide and perhaps obligate association with E. mus ca e in the wild, consistent with our laboratory data that E. mus ca e is the host for these closely related viruses. Because of this, we propose the name Entomophthovirus (EV) for this group of highly related virus variants. As other members of the iflaviridae have been reported to cause behavioral changes in insects, we speculate on the possibility that EV plays a role in the behavioral manipulation of flies infected with E. mus ca e. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trapping trichomes, a common trait found in protogynous trap flowers, are thought to enable interaction with pollinators, promoting both pollen removal and fruit set. However, this hypothesis has yet to be empirically confirmed.In this study, we experimentally tested whether trapping trichomes favour male and female functions in trap flowers. Using protogynous South American Aristolochia esperanzae trap flowers, we observed the temporal variation in both sexual functions and associated them with the wilting of the flower and trapping trichomes. Next, we described the trapping trichomes features associated with the capture, entrapment and release of pollinators. Finally, we used manipulative experiments involving trapping trichome removal to quantify their influence on pollinator entrapment, pollen removal and fruit set.While flowers wilted after the end of the female phase, the trapping trichomes only wilted some hours after pollen presentation, promoting a delay in the exit of pollinators, so they carried pollen. Trapping trichomes features, such as a density gradient towards the interior of the tube, unidirectional orientation and epicuticular waxes, may be important in the capture and entrapment of pollinators. Trapping trichome removal decreased drastically the probability of pollinator entrapment and pollen removal, leading to no fruit set.These results indicate that the evolution and maintenance of trapping trichomes in trap flowers probably occurred through selective pressures from both sexual functions and highlight their role in the functioning of this highly phenotypically specialized pollination system. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moose (Alces alces) in boreal habitats feed and rest where they are exposed to Dipteran flies and the parasites they carry. We collected 31,905 flies during the summer from 12 habituated moose on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. Moose flies, Haematobosca alcis (Snow), Diptera: Muscidae—a species that completes its entire life cycle on or around moose—accounted for 91% of flies collected; the reminder of the flies collected included mosquitoes (Culicidae), black flies (Simuliidae), and deer flies (Tabanidae). Flies impose physiological costs for moose, e.g. vectors for parasites such as Legworm (Onchocerca spp.) which causes sores on the hind legs of moose. We found that the number of sores present on the hind legs of moose is positively correlated with body fat, which suggests a correlation between gains of energy and damage from flies. We also found that the number of sores is negatively correlated with serum albumin, which is indicative of an inflammatory response and body protein being used to repair injuries from flies and parasites. The number or type of flies present on a Moose were not correlated with the concentration of corticosteroids in saliva or feces. Flies do not elicit a stress response in moose even though the costs of repairing wounds and resisting infections of those wounds likely reduce gains of protein from summer foraging. Moose can tolerate the injuries from biting flies with regular gains from summer foraging but exposure to insect-borne parasites poses a risk to reproduction and survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lemna minuta is native to North America but an invasive alien plant in Europe, where it poses significant threats to freshwater ecosystems. Explorations for biological control agents were conducted in two regions of the United States (Louisiana and California), revealing three candidate species. Subsequent laboratory investigations focused on the weevil Tanysphyrus lemnae and the fly Lemnaphila scotlandae as the most promising agents and confirmed that both the herbivorous insects attack L. minuta plants. To evaluate the host specificity of these two potential agents, insects were exposed to five species of duckweed commonly occurring in North America and Europe. Preliminary host-range testing indicated that T. lemnae develops on all evaluated duckweed species, including those from different genera (Lemna, Spirodela, Landoltia). Conversely, data revealed that feeding and development of the dipteran L. scotlandae are limited to species in the genus Lemna, but this includes L. minor, a native European species threatened in Europe due to the spread of L. minuta. No-choice and choice tests confirmed that neither larvae nor adults of L. scotlandae discriminate between the two Lemna species, except for pupation, which occurs more frequently in L. minor under choice conditions. We conclude that the broad host-range of T. lemnae and L. scotlandae render them unsuitable as biological control agents of L. minuta in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In flies (Diptera), the ovary displays several distinct patterns of the follicular epithelium formation and diversification. Two main patterns have been identified in the true flies or Brachycera, namely the Rhagio type and the Drosophila type. These patterns align with the traditional division of Brachycera into Orthorrhapha and Cyclorrhapha. However, studies of the follicular epithelium morphogenesis in cyclorrhaphans other than Drosophila are scarce. We characterise the developmental changes associated with the emergence of follicle cell (FC) diversity in two cyclorrhaphans belonging to the family Tephritidae (Brachycera, Cyclorrhapha). Our analysis revealed that the diversification of FCs in these species shows characteristics of both the Rhagio and Drosophila types. First, a distinct cluster of FCs, consisting of polar cells and border‐like cells, differentiates at the posterior pole of the ovarian follicle. This feature is unique to the Rhagio type and has only been reported in species representing the Orthorrhapha group. Second, morphological criteria have identified a significantly smaller number of subpopulations of FCs than in Drosophila. Furthermore, while the general pattern of FC migration is similar to that of Drosophila, the distinctive migration of the anterior‐dorsal FCs is absent. In the studied tephritids, the migration of the anterior polar cell/border cell cluster towards the anterior pole of the oocyte is followed by the posterior migration of the main body cuboidal FCs to cover the expanding oocyte. Finally, during the onset of vitellogenesis, a distinct subset of FCs migrates towards the centre of the ovarian follicle to cover the oocyte's anterior pole. Our study also highlights specific actions of some FCs that accompany the migration process, which has not been previously documented in cyclorrhaphans. These results support the hypothesis that the posterior and centripetal migrations of morphologically unique FC subsets arose in the common ancestor of Cyclorrhapha. These events appear to have occurred fairly recently in the evolutionary timeline of Diptera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Koinobiont parasitoids do not prevent host development immediately after the attack, hence the quality of their resource units may vary over time. Potential advantages exist, though less clear, of choosing a host of better initial nutritional quality. We studied the effect of host nutritional quality on Mallophora ruficauda Wiedemann (Diptera: Asilidae), a solitary, koinobiont ectoparasitoid that preferentially attacks larvae of Cyclocephala signaticollis Burmeister (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). In the field, lighter hosts were parasitized more often than heavier hosts, but sex did not explain parasitism patterns. Our experiments showed that parasitoid larvae did not differentially attack heavier or lighter hosts in either two‐ or four‐choice selection experiments, but do show differential selection based on the size of the host. Experiments simulating a host patch showed that parasitoid larvae choose larger hosts, but at a finer scale, as the size of the hosts increased, larvae chose the smaller host in a dyad. These results suggest that M. ruficauda larvae may select hosts of higher nutritional quality (i.e., larger hosts) but that there is an upper limit where a trade‐off between nutrient acquisition and survival (related to life expectancy or host defenses) may drive the larval decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Notonecta species (Hemiptera: Notonectidae) are generalist true predators with a strong impact on the size, structure, and richness of the aquatic communities, particularly on mosquito populations. Juvenile and adult backswimmers not only prey on mosquito larvae (consumptive effect) but their presence can also deter the oviposition of gravid mosquito females (non‐consumptive effect). In this study, we selected a Western Palearctic backswimmer, Notonecta maculata Fabricius, as a predator and deterrent of the highly invasive and health‐threatening Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae). In central Italy, N. maculata is univoltine and overwinters in the adult stage. Females lay eggs from February to the end of May, and the first new adults will emerge in late June; the complete nymphal development requires 44.5 ± 3.1 days. The number of Ae. albopictus larvae preyed on by N. maculata during its growth increases while developing, going from 0.03 ± 0.02 larvae per day for first instar nymphs to 21.38 ± 2.90 for mature adults. Furthermore, the presence of a single N. maculata adult in a mosquito ovitrap is enough to discourage the Ae. albopictus oviposition for up to 5 days. Limiting mosquito populations and, consequently, the transmission of viruses and parasites should be our main goal. Therefore, the integrated management of Ae. albopictus by the use of insecticides and a predator (such as backswimmer juveniles and adults), even if only in specific situations, may be promising and feasible. A more in‐depth knowledge of the biological cycle of N. maculata could help, consequently, to optimize its mass rearing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The immature stages of the patagonian podonomine (Diptera: Chironomidae) genus Rheochlus (Diptera: Chironomidae) have been unknown although the adult stage was described over half a century ago. New pupal associations with described adults belonging to two species of Rheochlus allow better understanding of the genus, its diversity and its phylogeny. The pupa of Rheochlus insignis Brundin is the same as an unreared damaged pupal taxon designated Podochlus sp. "Canteras'' by Brundin and is described more completely here. Inclusion of R. insignis in a molecular phylogenetic analysis shows it to be sister to two specimens (one a male, the other pharate female) allocated previously to Podochlus but better transferred to Rheochlus. The male morphology is compatible with Rheochlus prolongatus Brundin but we refrain from asserting identity by using 'cfr.' prolongatus to indicate the status. Molecular evidence also provides association of the female adult and pupa that are newly described here. We validate Rheochlus as distinguished on pupa and adult, with the type-species Rheochlus insignis from Patagonian Chile and Argentina, Rheochlus prolongatus Brundin from Southern Patagonia Argentina and possibly also from central Patagonia, Rheochlus latisetus Siri & Brodin from Patagonia, and the eastern Australian Rheochlus wirthi Brundin. The latter two species remain known only from their original adult male descriptions. Strengthened support for our concept of Rheochlus as a valid genus, sister group to Podochlus , derives also from an expanded and reanalysed morphological matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While terrestrial decomposition has been extensively researched to produce reliable methods of estimating the post-mortem interval of remains, there is limited literature documenting aquatic decomposition. Consequently, the ability to reliably estimate the post-mortem submersion interval for remains in water bodies is poor, despite markedly varying insect succession between aquatic and terrestrial decomposition This study was conducted to compare decomposition on Sus domesticus carcases in terrestrial and artificial lentic environments, aiming to provide more detailed characterization of aquatic decomposition and document the role of terrestrial organisms in the accompanying insect succession. Three trials consisting of six stillborn piglets in lentic environments and three in terrestrial environments were observed daily over a period of 12 months. Decomposition stage and morphological changes between terrestrial and lentic piglets were noted. Insects were sampled from remains and reared to adulthood for identification. Lentic decomposition was prolonged relative to terrestrial decomposition, reflecting aquatic decomposition characteristics accompanied by terrestrial insect colonization. Diptera were more prevalent on terrestrial remains, and Coleoptera in the lentic environments, with few dipteran taxa common between environments. Results show the variability of decomposition stages, characteristics and insects between terrestrial and lentic remains, and are discussed with regard to implications for aquatic forensic casework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The predatory gall midge, Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Rondani), and tobacco aphid cocoon wasp, Aphidius gifuensis Ashmead, are important natural enemies of Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Predation by A. aphidimyza and A. gifuensis can regulate M. persicae ; however, how interspecific interference competition affects their foraging efficiency is unknown. Here, we investigated the consumption and parasitization abilities of A. aphidimyza 3rd instar larva and A. gifuensis adults under various conditions. Consumption of parasitized aphids by A. aphidimyza 3rd instar larvae was significantly lower than that of nonparasitized controls, with a substantial increase in handling time. The presence of A. gifuensis adults did not significantly affect the predation capacity of A. aphidimyza larvae. Relative to controls, A. aphidimyza larvae predation trace (PT) and imago activity significantly decreased A. gifuensis parasitism rates at different aphid densities. Further, A. aphidimyza larvae PT increased the A. gifuensis handling time of M. persicae , whereas the presence of A. aphidimyza adults had the opposite effect. Coexistence with heterospecific natural enemies reduced the parasitic capacity of A. gifuensis , whereas A. aphidimyza larvae predation capability was influenced to a lesser extent. Our results demonstrate that intraguild interactions strongly influence the predatory and parasitic efficacy of A. aphidimyza and A. gifuensis , although the effect on A. gifuensis was more pronounced. For effective biological control of M. persicae using A. aphidimyza and A. gifuensis , we recommend releasing A. aphidimyza first to mitigate intraguild predation and enhance the overall success of the pest control program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The American hoverfly Eupeodes americanus (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Syrphidae) is an aphidophagous predator during its larval stage and is currently being evaluated for inclusion in biocontrol programs as a new biocontrol agent. However, little is known about its reproductive aptitudes. The objective of the present study was to determine the reproductive parameters of E. americanus and to compare them with those of a commercialized and widely used biological control agent for aphids, the aphid midge Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Rondani) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). The preoviposition period, oviposition period, adult longevity, lifetime and daily fecundity, egg hatching rate, and fertility were determined for E. americanus females and compared to those of A. aphidimyza. Trials were conducted under laboratory conditions in rearing cages on the broad bean plant Vicia faba L. (Fabaceae), infested with pea aphids Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) (Hemiptera: Aphididae). The results revealed that the preoviposition period, oviposition period, and adult longevity were significantly longer in E. americanus than in A. aphidimyza. The daily fecundity and egg-hatching rate were similar in both species. However, lifetime fecundity and fertility were considerably higher in E. americanus than in A. aphidimyza. This study demonstrates that the reproductive capacity of E. americanus is clearly superior to that of A. aphidimyza and therefore supports its inclusion in the aphid pest management program as a new biocontrol agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Certain species of true fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) cause tremendous damage to commercially important fruits and vegetables, and many countries operate continuous trapping programs which rely on male-specific lures such as trimedlure (TML), methyl eugenol (ME), and cue-lure (CL). Traditionally, these attractants have been applied as liquids to cotton wicks inside traps, although this results in high evaporative loss of the lure. Slow-release, polymeric plugs have been widely adopted for TML, but such devices are not widely used for ME or CL. Recent data, however, suggest that ME and CL plugs may be attractive for as long as 12 wk in the field. The present study investigates whether ME and CL plugs weathered for 18 or 24 wk are effective in capturing males of Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) and Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett), respectively. For B. dorsalis , 6 g ME plugs were as effective as the control treatment (fresh liquid on a wick) after 12 wk of weathering but not after 18 or 24 wk. For Z. cucurbitae , 3 g CL plugs were as effective as the control treatment (fresh CL plugs) after 12 and 18 wk of weathering but not after 24 wk. The residual content and release rate of the 2 lures were also measured over time, but, with the exception of the residual content of ME, we did not find a direct correlation between these parameters and numbers of flies captured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pest management on hemp is still in its infancy, and biological control options are limited. Helicoverpa zea (corn earworm) is one of the key pests of hemp cultivated outdoors, especially on cultivars grown for cannabinoids and grain. In a three-year study, we assessed the effect of diet on the performance of H. zea and its tachinid parasitoids. Parasitized (bearing fly eggs) and unparasitized (without eggs) H. zea larvae were fed on hemp flowers or an artificial diet. Five tachinid species parasitized H. zea larvae, but the most abundant species were Winthemia rufopicta (68.8%) and Lespesia aletiae (28.3%). Overall, 55.2% of H. zea larvae bearing tachinid eggs died, while the mortality of unparasitized larvae reached 24.7%. The success of tachinids increased by 2-fold when the host larvae were fed on an artificial diet. Our results demonstrated that high protein food (artificial diet), intensity of parasitism, and caterpillar size play a role in the fitness of both the herbivores (H. zea) and its tachinid parasitoids. These findings have important implications for understanding biological control mechanisms and open new insights into the impact of landscape variation on plant-herbivore-parasitoid interactions. This study contains supporting evidence that makes both Winthemia rufopicta and Lespesia aletiae excellent candidates for biological control programs against H. zea, a key pest of hemp in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Zoology's dark matter comprises hyperdiverse, poorly known taxa that are numerically dominant but largely unstudied, even in temperate regions where charismatic taxa are well understood. Dark taxa are everywhere, but high diversity, abundance, and small size have historically stymied their study. We demonstrate how entomological dark matter can be elucidated using high-throughput DNA barcoding ("megabarcoding"). We reveal the high abundance and diversity of scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) in Sweden using 31,800 specimens from 37 sites across four seasonal periods. We investigate the number of scuttle fly species in Sweden and the environmental factors driving community changes across time and space. Results: Swedish scuttle fly diversity is much higher than previously known, with 549 putative specie) detected, compared to 374 previously recorded species. Hierarchical Modelling of Species Communities reveals that scuttle fly communities are highly structured by latitude and strongly driven by climatic factors. Large dissimilarities between sites and seasons are driven by turnover rather than nestedness. Climate change is predicted to significantly affect the 47% of species that show significant responses to mean annual temperature. Results were robust regardless of whether haplotype diversity or species-proxies were used as response variables. Additionally, species-level models of common taxa adequately predict overall species richness. Conclusions: Understanding the bulk of the diversity around us is imperative during an era of biodiversity change. We show that dark insect taxa can be efficiently characterised and surveyed with megabarcoding. Undersampling of rare taxa and choice of operational taxonomic units do not alter the main ecological inferences, making it an opportune time to tackle zoology's dark matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explored how the ratio of blood‐feeding behaviour—nonfeeding, bird feeding (ornithophily) and mammal feeding (mammalophily)—and voltinism (univoltine and multivoltine) vary over a latitudinal gradient from Alaska to Florida. These two fixed species traits were divided into five mutually exclusive combinations of trait states—nonfeeding/univoltine, ornithophilic/univoltine, mammalophilic/univoltine, ornithophilic/multivoltine and mammalophilic/multivoltine—within each of three datasets (north, east and west). We found a significant association between location (north, east and west) and trait state, which was driven by the large percentage of nonfeeding females in the north. When this trait state was removed, no significant differences were found for the remaining trait states and locations. Although the distribution of trait states did not differ between east and west datasets, the distribution with relation to 1° changes in latitude within each of these datasets showed distinct differences. In the east, both ornithophilic/univoltine and mammalophilic/univoltine species significantly increased with latitude, in proportion to the total species present. In contrast, the proportion of mammalophilic/multivoltine species decreased as latitude increased. Ornithophilic/multivoltine species in the east and the trait states in the west did not show any significant relationship to latitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 327 species of Agromyzidae has been recorded from the Gemer area and for 245 of these species new data are given. Altogether 89 species are ascertained to occur in the Gemer area for the first time. Of this number, 35 species are new additions to the fauna of Slovakia, viz. Agromyza filipendulae Spencer, 1976, A. myosotidis Kaltenbach, 1864, Amauromyza (Amauromyza) rameli Černý, 2011, Am. (Cephalomyza) flavifrons (Meigen, 1830), Aulagromyza populicola (Haliday in Walker, 1853), Cerodontha (Butomomyza) rohdendorfi Nowakowski, 1967, C. (Cerodontha) coxalis Martinez, 1987, C. (C.) xanthocera Hendel, 1920, C. (Dizygomyza) eriophori Nowakowski, 1972, C. (Poemyza) beigerae Nowakowski, 1973, C. (P.) kerteszi (Hendel, 1931), Chromatomyia dorsata (Hendel, 1920), Liriomyza bryoniae (Kaltenbach, 1858), L. coronillae Pakalniškis, 1994, L. dracunculi Hering, 1932, Melanagromyza lappae (Loew, 1850), M. limata Spencer, 1971, M. verbasci Spencer, 1957, Napomyza inquilina (Kock, 1966), Ophiomyia crispa Guglya, 2013, O. gnaphalii Hering, 1949, O. submaura Hering, 1926, Phytobia cerasiferae (Kangas, 1955), Phb. errans (Meigen, 1830), Phb. mallochi (Hendel, 1924), Phytoliriomyza perpusilla (Meigen, 1830), Phl. variegata (Meigen, 1830), Phytomyza aconiti Hendel, 1920, Ph. anemones Hering, 1925, Ph. astrantiae Hendel, 1924, Ph. bipunctata Loew, 1858, Ph. kugleri Spencer, 1974, Ph. leucanthemi Hering, 1935, Pseudonapomyza balkanensis Spencer, 1973 and Ps. vota Spencer, 1973. The biogeographically most important are records of Amauromyza (Am.) rameli, Cerodontha (C.) xanthocera, C. (P.) kerteszi, Chromatomyia dorsata, Phytomyza kugleri and Pseudonapomyza vota being from their northernmost occurrence limits and usually the first record from Central Europe. Cerodontha (Dizygomyza) eriophori (first record outside Poland) has been found in a new southernmost locality, similarly as was also Chromatomyia rhaetica Griffiths, 1980. The biodiversity of species of the family Agromyzidae in particular large-sized protected areas of the Gemer region is discussed. Thanks to recent intensive research, the highest number of species was found in the Muránska planina National Park (250) and in the Cerová vrchovina PLA (198), which is significantly more than in the other protected areas of similar extent in Slovakia that have been studied in detail for Diptera up to the present. A new checklist of Agromyzidae for the fauna of Slovakia is presented, which now includes 414 species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We modeled feeding of the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) parr to understand the role of global (cross‐continental) and regional (river) spatial scales for delineating feeding patterns. The diet composition differed between Eurasia and North America populations. Geographic location (latitude and elevation) had an influence for the most common prey (Ephemeroptera, Diptera and Plecoptera). The random factors (sampling location and river) had a strong explanatory power in our models, suggesting that local drivers may override the effects of large‐scale drivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We found leafmines of Phytomyza ditmani on Ilex decidua (Possumhaw) in Craighead County, AR, in the spring of 2023. We collected larvae and pupae of P. ditmani in the field and reared them in the lab to obtain adult forms. Through genetic sequencing of a barcoding gene, we confirmed the identity of the flies as P. ditmani. To our knowledge, this is the first confirmed record of P. ditmani in Arkansas and the mid-south region of the US. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents novel findings that expand our understanding of the evolutionary history and diversity of the Limoniidae subfamily Limnophilinae, with a specific focus on the relict genus Chilelimnophila. The family Limoniidae is well documented in the fossil record, with many species considered relicts in the modern fauna. Our study is based on the discovery of the first fossil specimens of Chilelimnophila in both Cretaceous Spanish and Kachin amber. The new materials have allowed the establishment of a new subgenus Chilelimnophila (Ribeironia) Krzemiński, Kania-Kłosok et Arillo, subgen. nov. and three new species: Chilelimnophila (Ribeironia) amorimi Krzemiński, Kania-Kłosok et Arillo, sp. nov. Chilelimnophila (Chilelimnophila) wangi Krzemiński, Kania-Kłosok et Arillo, sp. nov. and Chilelimnophila (Chilelimnophila) parva Krzemiński, Kania-Kłosok et Arillo, sp. nov. This research also significantly extends the stratigraphic range of the genus, providing evidence of its existence dating back to the Early Cretaceous period. The morphology and phylogenetic analysis of Chilelimnophila and related genera within the Limoniidae subfamily Limnophilinae provide valuable insights into the evolutionary relationships of these organisms. Furthermore, our research highlights the unique environmental conditions of Cretaceous Spanish and Kachin amber formations, which differ significantly from the current habitat of these organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phylogeny of the subfamilies Sciophilinae and Leiinae (Diptera: Mycetophilidae) is reconstructed, based on three nuclear (18S , 28S , CAD) and three mitochondrial (16S , COI , Cytb) gene fragments. The analysis supports the monophyly of Sciophilinae in a strict sense, without the Paratinia Mik, 1874 genus group and genera Aneura Marshall, 1896 and Taxicnemis Tonnoir and Edwards, 1927, the latter two revealed as being the most plesiomorphic within Mycetophilidae. The subfamily Leiinae is found monophyletic, but only in much narrower sense than it was defined based on recent morphological analyses. The genus Taiwanosciaroides Saigusa, 2018 synon. nov. is considered to be a junior synonym of Deimyia Kallweit, 2002. A new molecular phylogeny of Sciaroidea is presented, based on longer sequences of nuclear genes (18S , 28S , CAD) and three mitochondrial gene fragments (12S , 16S , COI), including 10 genera of the Sciaroidea incertae sedis group. Eight of them grouped together (ufboot2 = 93), including Rangomarama Jaschhof and Didham, 2002 (family Rangomaramidae). Two outlier genera, Ohakunea Edwards, 1927 and Heterotricha Chandler, 2002 , grouped within Sciophilinae and as the sister-taxon to Sciaridae, respectively. Our results spark a debate over how to interpret and combine molecular and morphological data, and we refrain from reclassifications at this point. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Culicoides biting midges are small dipterous insects known as biological vectors of arboviruses, protozoa, and filaria parasites worldwide. Many studies on Culicoides focus on trapping them at ground level, without considering the best trap heights for different vector species. This implies that we might overlook insects positioned higher in the canopy. From June to August, we used UV traps to catch Culicoides biting midges at three different heights in three temperate mature forest areas in east Lithuania, Baltic region of Europe. We conducted this study to test the differences in midge numbers, male and female proportions, and female parity at each height. We caught the majority of biting midges (80.6%) at the mid-canopy and high-canopy. A higher number of female Culicoides midges than males was caught, with the proportion of males varying based on height and reaching its lowest point at ground level. No significant difference between the proportion of nulliparous and parous females caught at different height was detected. Culicoides pictipennis and C. festivipennis were the most common species of biting midge we found. They were found in the mid-canopy (86.8%) and the high-canopy (50.0%), respectively. Culicoides kibunensis was next, found at ground level (66.2%), and C. punctatus was found at the high canopy strata (63.0%). Each species' abundance was seasonal dependent. Information on the vertical distribution of vector species in the temperate forest ecosystem is an important step in understanding patterns of vector borne disease transmission in wildlife. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mosquitoes and sandflies exhibit a wide range of blood feeding patterns, targeting a wide range of vertebrate species, including birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, for proteins vital for egg development. This broad host range increases the opportunity for them to acquire pathogens of numerous debilitating‐and‐fatal diseases from various animal reservoirs, playing a significant role in disease crossover between animals and humans, also known as zoonotic transmission. This review focuses on the intricate blood‐feeding habits of these dipteran vectors, their sensory systems and the complex dance between host and pathogen during disease transmission. We delve into the influence of blood sources on pathogen spread by examining the insect immune response and its intricate interplay with pathogens. The remarkable sense of smell guiding them towards food sources and hosts is explored, highlighting the interplay of multiple sensory cues in their navigation. Finally, we examine the challenges in mosquito control strategies and explore innovations in this field, emphasizing the need for sustainable solutions to combat this global health threat. By understanding the biology and behaviour of these insects, we can develop more effective strategies to protect ourselves and mitigate the burden of vector‐borne diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are approximately 850 species of Ficus (Moraceae). However, few species of gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) inhabiting syconia and leaves of fig trees are known. In field surveys, gall midges were found in syconia of Ficus caulocarpa and Ficus subpisocarpa. Here, we examined adults, pupae and larvae of the gall midge species, describe the morphology, and provide information on distribution, behavior and genetic data. A new genus, Ficidiplosis Yukawa and Arimoto, gen. nov., is established in the supertribe Cecidomyiidi for two new species, Ficidiplosis subpisocarpae Yukawa and Arimoto, sp. nov. and Ficidiplosis caulocarpae Yukawa and Arimoto, sp. nov., which emerged from syconia of Ficus subpisocarpa and Ficus caulocarpa, respectively, in Japan and Taiwan. The larvae of Ficidiplosis species feed on the parenchyma of the fig wall and pupate there without making galls. The mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI)‐based neighbor‐joining tree using samples from Japan and Taiwan supported the existence of two separate species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mushrooms produce a great variety of defense chemical compounds to protect themselves from fungivores. Alpha‐amanitin is one of such compounds found in some Amanita mushrooms. The present study focuses on the effect of α‐amanitin on adult survival in 17 drosophilid species including mycophagous ones from the subgenus Drosophila and the genus Hirtodrosophila and nonmycophagous ones of the subgenera Drosophila, Siphlodora and Sophophora. The results showed that all the essential fungivores and some partially mycophagous species from different lineages are tolerant to this lethal toxin at a concentration of 50 μg/mL, suggesting that the α‐amanitin tolerance may have been acquired more or less independently of the evolution of mycophagy in the family Drosophilidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To better understand the limitations of dormancy on Odontomyia Meigen, 1803 (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) survival and body condition, we conducted a series of laboratory-based microcosm experiments. We found that Odontomyia larvae can survive at least two extended dry periods (≥30 days) through dormancy. The presence of moisture in the substrate during dormancy is not necessary to survive and had no effect on survival or larval body mass in our experiments. Energy and bodily water loss likely limit survival in dormant stages. Although these results suggest Odontomyia are fairly resistant to drying, more data is needed on body mass, pupation, and reproductive success across hydroregimes. The more we understand about the survival limitations of rock pool aquatic invertebrates, the more successful conservation efforts will be for their unique aquatic biota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Larval habitat availability, Typha phytotelmata use and the relation of environmental factors to annual dynamics of the mosquito Wyeomyia leucostigma Lutz, 1904 (larvae and females) were studied in Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve at Buenos Aires, Argentina. Bimonthly, 1520 plants were examined, detecting W. leucostigma in 80.8% of surveys. Larval habitat availability was associated with temperature, but not with rainfall. In addition, the high temperature was associated with greater biting rate. Dynamics of host-seeking were recorded over 10 months of the year and were associated with temperature as well. Furthermore, an accidental fire led to an increase of W. leucostigma abundance likely based on an increase of the Thypha marshes productivity that occurred after the fire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate identification of agricultural pests is a major component of integrated pest management. The seedcorn maggot, Delia platura (Meigen) (Diptera: Anthomyiidae), is a cosmopolitan polyphagous pest species that may be found in high numbers in numerous crops. Two morphologically identical genetic lines of D. platura (H and N) with distinct distributions were recently identified. To date, no study has investigated the reproductive compatibility of the two lines and thus the possibility that they may actually be two unique biological entities. A previous study described the reproductive traits of the two lines and suggested that H‐line females are highly selective toward the male with which they mate, pointing to a possible pre‐mating isolation mechanism between the lines. Using laboratory‐reared colonies originating from the Montérégie region in Québec, Canada, this study investigates the reproductive compatibility of the two D. platura lines. We found that only one of 30 H‐line females was inseminated by an N‐line male, further suggesting mate choice as a pre‐mating isolation mechanism between the lines. However, N‐line females were readily inseminated by H‐line males, suggesting a lack of pre‐mating isolation in this type of cross. The eggs laid by N‐line females mated with H‐line males had a lower hatching rate than the ones laid by females of intraline crosses, suggesting either post‐mating pre‐zygotic or post‐zygotic partial isolation. However, the larvae that did hatch had a comparable developmental success to those from intraline crosses in terms of survival and developmental time from larval hatching to adult emergence, pupal mass, and adult sex ratio, suggesting a lack of post‐zygotic isolation for these life stages. Considering the different biological traits of the two lines, we suggest the use of the 'biotype' terminology to designate the two biological entities and discuss their implications for integrated pest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical signals have an important role in the survival of many animals and are essential for the exploration of the resources available in their habitat. All phytophagous insects, including dipterans, use diverse chemical compounds released by plants as olfactory signals to locate their hosts. Spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae), is a generalist fly that uses numerous plants as hosts. In this study, we evaluated the attractiveness of extracts from six plants commonly used as ornamental and medicinal plants in the southern region of Mexico. When the flies were exposed to Piper auritum Kunth (Piperaceae) extract, we observed a stimulating‐attracting effect, especially on females, whereas the other five extracts showed no significant differences from their respective controls. In addition, gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry analysis of the P. auritum extract revealed 11 compounds, where safrole and methyl eugenol (ME) showed the highest concentrations of all the compounds found. ME has been shown to attract flies, mainly males of the genus Bactrocera. In this case, we found a stronger effect on female D. suzukii, indicating a potential effect of ME as a kairomone that mainly stimulates the attraction behavior of females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The African fig fly, Zaprionus indianus Gupta (Diptera: Drosophilidae), is an ecologically diverse pest species that interacts with and feeds on various microbial pathogens including bacteria and yeast found in decomposing fruits. However, the interaction of Z. indianus with its microbial community and microbial pathogens is obscure. To determine the presence of fungal pathogens, we collected wild Z. indianus from the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent. Based on molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis, Debaryomyces hansenii (Zopf) Lodder & Kreger‐van Rij (isolate ziha1) was the most commonly observed fungus associated with Z. indianus. Furthermore, we identified two more opportunistic fungal pathogens: Aspergillus flavus Link (isolate zias2), and Pichia kudriavzevii Boidin, Pignal & Besson (isolate zibd3). The interaction of isolated fungi with Z. indianus was evaluated in terms of larval mortality, adult emergence, and fecundity. Debaryomyces hansenii ziha1 resulted in 90% emergence rate for adults, and did not cause significant mortality in the larval stage. In contrast, A. flavus zias2 and P. kudriavzevii zibd3 showed a significant reduction in fecundity and caused 99% and 74% larval mortality of Z. indianus, respectively. In the laboratory oviposition preference assay, mated females of Z. indianus preferred D. hansenii ziha1 supplemented food with a positive oviposition index compared to the uninfected control and compared to food infected with P. kudriavzevii zibd3 or A. flavus zias2. These findings underscore Z. indianus' potential to act as a reservoir for both symbiotic and pathogenic fungal species, some of which may be further harnessed for effective fruit fly pest control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grape berry moths, particularly Lobesia botrana Denis & Schiffermüller (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), and vinegar flies, such as Drosophila melanogaster Meigen and Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae), are important vineyard pests, causing severe quality loss of grapes. Several arthropod taxa may be involved in the natural control of these pests. However, the role of arthropod predators in the natural control of vineyard pests remains unclear. We investigated 32 vineyards in the Palatinate region, southwest Germany, under organic and conventional management, which in both cases received either full or reduced fungicide applications (2 × 2 design). Predation of L. botrana eggs and pupae and D. melanogaster pupae on sentinel cards exposed in the vineyards was observed with infrared cameras. In total, nine predator taxa could be identified. The most dominant predator was the European earwig, Forficula auricularia L. (Dermaptera: Forficulidae), with 90% of all predation events. We conclude that F. auricularia is likely a key predator of vineyard pests, and that special attention should be paid to maintain it at high population densities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among phytophagous insects, life history often evolves as a strategy to cope with seasonality in host plant availability. Whereas specialization often leads to dormancy, aestivation, or longevity, polyphagous species bridge between periods of host availability by exploiting alternative host plants. The aim of the present work was to characterize the life histories of four species of specialist and generalist uni‐ and multivoltine frugivorous fruit flies – Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann, Anastrepha fraterculus Wiedemann, Rhagoletis blanchardi Aczel, and Rhagoletotrypeta pastranai Aczel (all Diptera: Tephritidae) – inhabiting in sympatry in Las Yungas phytogeographical province in Tucumán (northwestern Argentina). For this purpose, infested host plant fruits were sequentially collected during two consecutive years, and flies recovered from these fruits were subjected to demographic experiments to establish longevity and overwintering mechanisms. The results indicated that life cycles were tightly related to host fruit availability, where multivoltine species sequentially exploit different host plants over the year, whereas univoltine species must undergo pupal dormancy to reach the next host fructification period and may extend the duration of dormancy when climatic conditions are acyclic and unpredictable. The present study may broaden knowledge about diapausing Tephritidae in subtropical regions and may contribute to an increased conceptual basis for the improvement of pest control strategies, such as the sterile insect technique (SIT). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Repeatable macroevolutionary patterns provide hope for rules in biology, especially when we can decipher the underlying mechanisms. Here we synthesize natural history, genetic adaptations, and toxin sequestration in herbivorous insects that specialize on plants with cardiac glycoside defenses. Work on the monarch butterfly provided a model for evolution of the "sequestering specialist syndrome," where specific amino acid substitutions in the insect's Na+/K+-ATPase are associated with (1) high toxin resistance (target site insensitivity [TSI]), (2) sequestration of toxins, and (3) aposematic coloration. We evaluate convergence for these traits within and between Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, and Orthoptera, encompassing hundreds of toxin-adapted species. Using new and existing data on ∼28 origins of specialization, we show that the monarch model evolved independently in five taxonomic orders (but not Diptera). An additional syndrome occurs in five orders (all but Hymenoptera): aposematic sequesterers with modest to medium TSI. Indeed, all sequestering species were aposematic, and all but one had at least modest TSI. Additionally, several species were aposematic nonsequesterers (potential Batesian mimics), and this combination evolved in species with a range of TSI levels. Finally, we identified some biases among these strategies within taxonomic orders. Biodiversity in this microcosm of life evolved repeatedly with a high degree of similarity across six taxonomic orders, yet we identified alternative trait combinations as well as lineage-specific outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peckia (Peckia) chrysostoma (Wiedemann, 1830) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) is a colonizer of cadavers in the Neotropical Region. Nevertheless, data on development for the P. (P.) chrysostoma (e.g., instar duration) and behavioral strategies used by the species for locating and colonizing a corpse are scant. We aimed to explore bionomic and reproductive aspects of the flesh fly P. (P.) chrysostoma, and in this article we: (a) provide quantitative data on the life cycle of P. (P.) chrysostoma; (b) present bionomic measurements (length and weight) of larvae and pupae; (c) describe intrauterine egg and larvae development; and (d) analyze the ovo/larviposition behavior by gravid females. Females showed ovaries with discernible eggs and larvae between 8 and 10 days (x̅ = 23.3 eggs/female). This study reports the first observation of egg deposition, an atypical behavior for the species. The average development time for immature stages was 22.24 h and 21.36 h for 1st and 2nd respectively, and 3rd showed an average development time of 80.47 h. Pupa had the longest duration (x̅ = 295.69 h). A direct increase was observed in weight (P < 0.05) and length (P < 0.05) throughout time. The average survival time of males and females is approximately 30 days. This study expands the knowledge on P. (P.) chrysostoma, such as facultative ovoviviparity under laboratory conditions and the life cycle, which may benefit future studies for accuracy in entomology-based estimation of minimum post-mortem interval (min PMI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insects geographically separated into island and mainland populations often exhibit phenotypic variations, a phenomenon known as insular conditions. These conditions can lead to rapid evolutionary changes that affect the morphological characteristics of mosquito vectors. Nevertheless, studies that specifically examine phenotype differences between island and mainland mosquito populations have been limited. In this study, wing variation in size and shape was investigated using the geometric morphometric (GM) technique in two dominant mosquito vectors, Aedes albopictus and Armigeres subalbatus, in the Ranong and Trat archipelagos of Thailand. Significant differences in average wing centroid size (CS) were found in 6 out of 15 population pairs for Ae. albopictus (p < 0.05) and in 5 population pairs for Ar. subalbatus (p < 0.05). After removing the allometric effect, canonical variate analyses (CVA) based on wing shape analysis revealed overlap across all populations for both Ae. albopictus and Ar. subalbatus. However, the statistical analysis indicated that Ar. subalbatus exhibited wing shape differences across all populations (p < 0.05), and most Ae. albopictus populations also displayed distinct wing shapes (p < 0.05), except for the populations from Chang Island and the mainland of Ranong, which showed no significant differences (p > 0.05). These findings enhance our understanding of mosquito adaptability in island regions and provide valuable data for the surveillance and monitoring of vector evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of biodiversity is fundamental to preserving life on Earth but a challenging endeavour due to the taxonomic neglect associated with hyperdiverse lineages. To overcome this problem, we have implemented for the first time a Large‐scale integrative taxonomic (LIT) approach on the hyperdiverse insect family Chloropidae. This lineage of flies is a great fit for implementing emerging protocols such as LIT due to their ecological relevance, abundance and global distribution, poorly known genetic diversity and challenging taxonomy. In this study, we test cost‐effective barcoding workflows on nonoptimally preserved chloropid flies from Sweden and then apply targeted morphological validation to accelerate the species recognition process. Our dataset yielded DNA barcodes of 63 species that represent almost one‐third of the species diversity from Sweden and 15% of the European diversity. Applying LIT allowed us to uncover two new species and address for the first time three troublesome species complexes through a comprehensive framework. We also provide previously unknown DNA barcodes for 35% of the described species found and address distribution patterns with a focus on grassland environments. We have thus contributed significantly to overcoming the taxonomic neglect of this hyperdiverse lineage by tackling the diversity of chloropids using complementary sources of data, scalable techniques and quickly translating multiple sources of evidence into named species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present records of 103 fly species from six families of Bibionomorpha (namely: Anisopodidae, Ditomyiidae, Bolitophilidae, Diadocidiidae, Keroplatidae, and Mycetophilidae) collected by a single Malaise trap in an Eastern Slovakia locality during the vegetation period in 2023. Data on five species, viz., Mycomya (Neomycomya) fimbriata (Meigen, 1818), Synapha fasciata Meigen, 1818, Cordyla pusilla Edwards, 1925, Mycetophila freyi Lundstrom, 1909, and Sceptonia tenuis Edwards, 1925 (all Mycetophilidae) represent the first records for the fauna of Slovakia, and habitus photographs of these species have been provided. A very rare Central European species – Neoclastobasis draskovitsae Matile, 1978 – has also been recorded and photographed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solanum fruit fly Bactrocera latifrons (Diptera: Tephritidae) is an invasive alien insect that causes huge economic losses to pepper and other solanaceous plant industries. It is mainly distributed in South and Southeast Asia, SW Europe, Western USA, and in some African countries. However, the potential global geographical distribution of B. latifrons is unknown. Therefore, in this study, based on the current (1981–2010) and future (2040–2059) climatic scenarios determined using the CNRM-CM5, Access1.0, GFDL-ESM-2M, and NorESM1-M models, we used a species distribution model (CLIMEX 4.0) to project the potential global geographic distribution of B. latifrons to prevent further invasion and harm. In the current climate scenario, South America (1286.06 × 104 km2), Africa (1435.47 × 104 km2), and Oceania (410.66 × 104 km2) have the largest proportions of suitable land areas for B. latifrons colonization. Under all four future climate models, the global potential suitable area for Bactrocera latifrons is projected to decrease and shift towards higher latitudes. This study provides an important baseline upon which researchers, quarantine personnel, and governments can develop the appropriate control strategies against B. latifrons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orseolia oryzivora is a major insect pest of rice in Burkina Faso. This study aimed at assessing the incidence of this pest on an integrated irrigated rice cropping system in Bama, western Burkina Faso. The work was carried out during two consecutive wet cropping seasons, 2020 and 2021. The experiment was conducted using a randomized split-plot design in a latice design. The main plots (MP) were divided into secondary plots, made up of a combination of two factors: two rice varieties (FKR64 and Orylux6) and four types of crop management before rice (Mucuna, cowpea forage, organic matter and a no-crop control); the third factor, mineral fertilization (F0, F1, F2, F3) was distributed in secondary plots (SP). Weekly entomological assessments were carried out from day 28 after transplanting (DAT) to DAT 84. Symptoms of O. oryzivora damage were assessed during the vegetative and reproductive phases of rice and examined in the laboratory. Results showed that all rice varieties were infested with O. oryzivora. The higher amount of NPK, the higher the damage caused by the insect pest. The FKR64 variety recorded the highest average rate of pre-imaginal O. oryzivora populations. The results of this study could contribute effectively to the sustainable management of O. oryzivora in Bama. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Human ophthalmomyiasis is a rare ocular parasitosis that results from the accidental infestation of dipteran larvae of several species, including Oestrus ovis (Linnaeus, 1758). This study aims to present the fourth documented human case of ophthalmomyiasis in Mexico, identifying the etiological agent through morphological and molecular analyses. Additionally, we investigated the phylogenetic position and genetic distances among different specimens globally characterized based on mitochondrial Cox1 sequences. Methods: A total of five larval specimens were extracted from the patient's eye, with two specimens allocated for identification based on morphological features using a stereomicroscope, and the remaining three preserved in absolute ethanol, one of them used for subsequent analysis using molecular methods. The mitochondrial Cox1 region was amplified and sequenced using automated Sanger sequencing. The resulting sequence was deposited in GenBank under accession number OR440699 and subjected to BlastN analysis against 35 other Cox1 sequences of O. ovis from GenBank. The identity and phylogenetic position of the strains were further explored using parsimony and maximum likelihood phylogenetic methods. Results: Morphological examination of the larval specimens extracted from the patient's eye unequivocally identified them as O. ovis species. BlastN analysis and comprehensive phylogenetic investigations involving a total of 36 Cox1 sequences confirmed the taxonomic identity of the larvae. Notably, our sequence was positioned within the cluster formed by the Brazilian and two Iranian samples. This finding underscores a shared genetic ancestry among these distinct geographical isolates and provides valuable insights into the evolutionary relationships within O. ovis populations. Conclusion: The presence of O. ovis infestation in Mexico City suggests potential shifts in environmental conditions favoring fly proliferation, highlighting the need for vigilance in urban healthcare settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The house fly, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae), is a significant pest in livestock farms and a major concern for both humans and farmed animals due to its ability to transmit over 200 pathogens. The use of pupal parasitoids is a sustainable strategy for controlling this pest. Spalangia cameroni Perkins (Hymenoptera: Spalangiidae) and Muscidifurax zaraptor Girault & Sanders (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) are commonly used as biocontrol agents for M. domestica. The objective of this study was to determine the oviposition peak of female parasitoids in relation to their age and the sex ratio of the adult progeny. For both species, 20 fresh M. domestica pupae (24–48 h old) were provided daily to each fertilised female for 14 days, after which the pupae were checked for parasitoid emergence. A control group of 20 pupae without female parasitoids was maintained. The results showed that S. cameroni had a higher overall percentage of parasitisation (57.7%) compared with M. zaraptor (32.4%). The parasitisation ratio of S. cameroni remained almost constant throughout the 14‐day period, whereas that of M. zaraptor decreased drastically after Day 11. Peak oviposition for S. cameroni was on Day 5 with 13 parasitised pupae per female, whereas M. zaraptor parasitised eight pupae per day on 4 days during its peak oviposition period (between Days 3 and 8). The newly emerged parasitoids had a skewed sex ratio towards females: 81% for S. cameroni and 66% for M. zaraptor. The presence of these parasitoid species resulted in fewer new house fly emergences than in the control group, where natural pupal mortality was lower in the absence of parasitoids. These findings may be useful for optimising the mass production and time‐use of the two parasitoid species for the management of house flies in livestock farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Culicoides biting midge species (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) of the Obsoletus Group and the Pulicaris Complex are considered the major vectors of bluetongue and Schmallenberg viruses in Europe. Overwintering strategies of these arboviruses are controversially discussed, with the ongoing activity of vector species and a non‐disrupted transmission cycle during winter being a plausible explanation. Although data on Culicoides winter activity are relatively scant, a seasonal vector‐free period (SVFP), during which adult Culicoides are not or hardly active, is questionable. To determine winter activity and define SVFPs according to the EU Commission Regulation No 1266/2007, adult Culicoides were trapped weekly with UV‐light traps from October to April 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 inside and outside stables on 16 farms throughout Germany. Temperature measurements were taken regularly at each trapping site since the temperature is a known driver of biting midge activity. In 960 indoor and outdoor catches, 32,377 Culicoides were trapped, with 90.9% of them belonging to the Obsoletus Group, 6.1% to the Pulicaris Complex and 3.0% to ‘other Culicoides’ according to morphological identification. The majority (61.3%) of Culicoides were trapped indoors, with substantial numbers of specimens collected from October to December, in March and in April, and only a few or no specimens in January and February. Obsoletus Group biting midges were active indoors for almost the entire winter. Outdoors, Culicoides numbers decreased from October to December, few or no specimens were caught from January to March, and high numbers were captured in April. Of the collected Culicoides, 2028 were blood‐fed, of which 94.6% were trapped in the stables. The indoor SVFP, although calculated for blood‐fed instead of parous females, lasted for almost 4 months (late November until mid‐March) in winter 2019/2020 and 2 months (January and February) in winter 2020/2021. The outdoor SVFPs covered almost the entire study period in both winters, with slight differences between the onsets and the ends. The Culicoides activity significantly depended on temperature. Specimens of the Obsoletus Group were caught at an average temperature of 7.4°C (minimum 0.3°C) and of the Pulicaris Complex at an average temperature of 10.3°C (minimum 1.2°C). These temperatures were reached inside the stables over more extended periods than outside. The average indoor temperatures were 1.2 K higher than the average outdoor temperatures, although absolute temperature differences of up to 9.0 K were recorded. Based on Culicoides activity, the results of the present study indicate an almost continuous potential for virus transmission in winter within livestock houses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The black soldier fly (BSF) Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) plays a significant role at the larval stage in the circular economy due to its ability to convert organic waste into valuable products for energy, food, feed, and agricultural applications. Many data are available on larval development and biomass generation, but basic research on this species is lacking and little is known about adult biology, in particular about the cues involved in sexual recognition. In the present study, using various instruments (stereomicroscope, scanning and transmission electron microscope, hyperspectral camera and spectrophotometer), wing ultrastructure of both sexes was analysed, reflectance and transmission spectra of the wings were measured and behavioural bioassays were carried out to measure male response to specific visual stimuli. The collected data showed the existence of sexual dimorphism in the wings of H. illucens due to iridescent structural colouration generated by a multilayer of melanin located in the dorsal lamina of the central part of the wing. Wing sexual dimorphism is particularly evident regarding the strong emission of blue light of female wings. Blue colour induces in males a strong motivation to mate. The obtained results can help to improve and optimize the breeding techniques of BSF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowing how environmental conditions affect performance traits in pest insects is important to improve pest management strategies. It can be informative for monitoring, but also for control programs where insects are mass‐reared, and field‐released. Here, we investigated how adult thermal acclimation in sterile Bactrocera dorsalis affects dispersal and recapture rates in the field using a mark‐release‐recapture method. We also considered how current abiotic factors may affect recapture rates and interact with thermal history. We found that acclimation at 20 or 30 °C for 4 d prior to release reduced the number of recaptures in comparison with the 25 °C control group, but with no differences between groups in the willingness to disperse upon release. However, the deleterious effects of acclimation were only detectable in the first week following release, whereafter only the recent abiotic conditions explained recapture rates. In addition, we found that recent field conditions contributed more than thermal history to explain patterns of recaptures. The two most important variables affecting the number of recaptures were the maximum temperature and the average relative humidity experienced in the 24 h preceding trapping. Our results add to the handful of studies that have considered the effect of thermal acclimation on insect field performance, but notably lend support to the deleterious acclimation hypothesis among the various hypotheses that have been proposed. Finally, this study shows that there are specific abiotic conditions (cold/hot and dry) in which recaptures will be reduced, which may therefore bias estimates of wild population size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species, Macheriobia muriniensis Melo, Cunha & Santos sp. nov. (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae), is described here, inducing globoid galls on leaves of Machaerium lunatum in a Floodplain Forest along the banks of the Paricatuba River, Benevides, Pará, Brazil. Illustrations of the larvae, pupae, and adults (male and female), as a diagnosis for the species are provided. Specimens of Eurytomidae and Eulophidae were found associated with this gall midge.http://zoobank.org/urna:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FEB646A4-49DE-4A9C-ADD3-D809DFBE563A [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tachinid flies (Diptera) and their host species have been studied in the corn and sugar beet fields of Kermanshah and Hamedan provinces from 2022 to 2023. The infested plants by caterpillars were collected in order to rear the larvae at the laboratory. In this study, six species of parasitoids were identified of which Drino imberbis (Wiedemann, 1830), Linnaemya neavei Curran, 1934 and Pseudogonia rufifrons (Wiedemann, 1830) parasitize the larval stages of Leucania loreyi (Duponchel, 1827) in corn fields. The species D. imberbis is newly reported here as a parasitoid of L. loreyi in Iran. The tachinid Voria ruralis (Fallén, 1810) is the first world recorded parasitoid of larval stages of Sesamia cretica Lederer, 1857. Furthermore, Periscepsia carbonaria (Panzer, 1797) and an undetermined Tachina sp. were discovered to parasitize the larvae of Agrotis segetum (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) and Spodoptera exigua (Hübner, [1808]), respectively, in sugar beet fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]