New data on Philornis seguyi Garcia (1952)(Diptera, Muscidae)

M S Couri,F L Rabuffetti,J C Reboreda

doi:10.1590/s1519-69842005000400010

Abstract

Philornis Meinert is a very interesting Muscidae (Diptera) genus whose larvae are associated with a wide range of bird species. The existing description of Philornis seguyi Garcia (1952), which was reported in Argentina, so far involves only the female. During the 2000-2002 breeding seasons, we collected Philornis flies from six bird species in Buenos Aires province, Argentina. All the flies were identified as P. seguyi. Based on this material, we describe the larva, puparium, adult male, and male and female terminalia. All the host associations presented here--Mimus saturninus (Mimidae), Troglodytes aedon (Troglodytidae), Pitangus sulfuratus (Tyrannidae), Pyrocephalus rubinus (Tyrannidae), Satrapa icterophrys (Tyrannidae) and Molothrus bonariensis (Icteridae) in nests of M. saturninus and Troglodytes aedon--are new for P. seguyi. We also present some data on the biology of the species.

Highlights

Philornis Meinert is a very interesting muscid genus whose larvae are present as parasites on birds in distinct forms of associations
The aim of this study is to describe the larva, puparium, and male and female terminalia, and to provide some data on the biology and host associations of P. seguyi
FLR and JCR collected the material used in this study during the 2000-2002 breeding seasons of the birds in Magdalena, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina (35° 08’ S, 57° 25’ W)

Summary

Introduction

Philornis Meinert is a very interesting muscid genus whose larvae are present as parasites on birds in distinct forms of associations (from scavengers in the nests to subcutaneous bloodfeeders). The genus is mainly Neotropical and comprises 50 known species (2 occurring in the southern United States). Four of these species are known to live freely in nests: P. aitkeni Dodge and P. rufoscutellaris Couri, which have coprophagous habits, P. downsi Dodge & Aitken and P. falsifica Dodge & Aitken, COURI, M.

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