Chymomyza Amoena Research Articles

Fallen fruit: A backup resource during winter shaping fruit fly communities

Abstract Fallen fruits provide important feeding and breeding substrates for insects such as Drosophilidae and can be a potential trophic reservoir when usual host fruits become scarce. Recently, two invasive fruit fly species, Drosophila suzukii and Chymomyza amoena, have become established in Europe and are expected to alter existing Drosophilidae communities. In this study, carried out between September 2021 and April 2022 in northern France, we aimed to disentangle the relative roles of microclimatic, landscape and local factors driving the diversity of the Drosophilidae community in decaying fruit across seasons. Minimum site temperature during the week preceding sampling and the proportion of rotten fruit tissue had the strongest positive influence on Drosophilidae abundance and species richness. Drosophilidae abundance also increased with urbanisation (portion of building cover) around the sampled trees. Decaying apples were important breeding sites for C. amoena across seasons, but provided a suboptimal substrate for D. suzukii, which was only present in late summer. This study sheds light on the important role of unharvested fallen crop fruit in maintaining the diversity of an insect family that is generally overlooked in field studies. It also emphasises the importance of considering multiple scales and factors when studying the interactions between invasive species, native species and their shared trophic resources. Finally, our data highlight the importance of the Drosophilidae community in recycling agricultural waste.

Can exotic drosophilids share the same niche of the invasive Drosophila suzukii?

The presence of the four exotic drosophilids Chymomyza amoena (Loew), Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura), Zaprionus indianus (Gupta) and Zaprionus tuberculatus Malloch has been investigated in different orchards in Northern Italy for two consecutive years. The presence and the abundance of the population of the drosophilid flies were surveyed with apple cider vinegar traps, fruit baited traps, and fruit collection. Chymomyza amoena, Z. tuberculatus and D. suzukii have been identified in the Apple Cider Vinegar traps in both years. Only D. suzukii and Z. tuberculatus emerged from fruit baited traps. Except for D. suzukii, no other exotic drosofilid was captured from the fruit collection. Z. indianus was never observed. Analyses of the presence of the different species, seasonal occurrence and sex ratio are provided.

First Report of Phytomyza orobanchia (Diptera: Agromyzidae) from Poland and Chymomyza amoena (Diptera: Drosophilidae) on Phelipanche ramosa (Orobanchaceae)

Field surveys conducted in Poland in Sep and Oct 2017 revealed infestations of the parasitic plant Phelipanche ramosa (L.) Pomel (Orobanchaceae), also known as branched broomrape, by larvae of the monophagous fly Phytomyza orobanchia Kalt. (Diptera: Agromyzidae). A single broomrape plant could be infested by 1 to 10 larvae of P. orobanchia, and 70 to 80% of the broomrape population was infested. This fly is one of the most effective biological control agents of broomrape. Also, a single female of an alien species of drosophilid, Chymomyza amoena (Loew) (Diptera: Drosophilidae), was observed in 1 locality in Sandomierz County, near Szewce, Poland.

Synchrotron X-Ray Visualisation of Ice Formation in Insects during Lethal and Non-Lethal Freezing

Although the biochemical correlates of freeze tolerance in insects are becoming well-known, the process of ice formation in vivo is subject to speculation. We used synchrotron x-rays to directly visualise real-time ice formation at 3.3 Hz in intact insects. We observed freezing in diapausing 3rd instar larvae of Chymomyza amoena (Diptera: Drosophilidae), which survive freezing if it occurs above −14°C, and non-diapausing 3rd instar larvae of C. amoena and Drosophila melanogaster (Diptera: Drosophilidae), neither of which survive freezing. Freezing was readily observed in all larvae, and on one occasion the gut was seen to freeze separately from the haemocoel. There were no apparent qualitative differences in ice formation between freeze tolerant and non-freeze tolerant larvae. The time to complete freezing was positively related to temperature of nucleation (supercooling point, SCP), and SCP declined with decreasing body size, although this relationship was less strong in diapausing C. amoena. Nucleation generally occurred at a contact point with the thermocouple or chamber wall in non-diapausing larvae, but at random in diapausing larvae, suggesting that the latter have some control over ice nucleation. There were no apparent differences between freeze tolerant and non-freeze tolerant larvae in tracheal displacement or distension of the body during freezing, although there was markedly more distension in D. melanogaster than in C. amoena regardless of diapause state. We conclude that although control of ice nucleation appears to be important in freeze tolerant individuals, the physical ice formation process itself does not differ among larvae that can and cannot survive freezing. This suggests that a focus on cellular and biochemical mechanisms is appropriate and may reveal the primary adaptations allowing freeze tolerance in insects.

The Drosophilidae (Diptera) of Estonia

Until recently, no published records on drosophilids from the Baltic countries existed, except for an unpublished species list for Estonia. We made two collecting trips through the three Baltic countries in the summer of 2000. The first trip was made in early summer to get spring species and the second in late August to get the fungivorous species. We used baiting methods for collecting Drosophila, while the earlier results were obtained e.g. using net sweeping. In general, the drosophilid fauna of Estonia resembles the well-known fauna of the Nordic countries. The single most interesting result was that Chymomyza amoena, a recent American invader of central Europe, was found. Another interesting finding was the relative rarity of D. subobscura and the virtual absence of D. virilis group species.

Behavioral constancy for interspecies dependency enables Nearctic Chymomyza amoena (Loew) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) to spread in orchards and forests in Central and Southern Europe

Nearctic Chymomyza amoena, an eastern US forest drosophilid, was initially known only to breed in damaged or parasitized nuts and had been little studied. It has been spreading in Europe since its discovery in the former Czechoslovakia in 1975. By the time it arrived in Switzerland’s Canton Ticino in 1988, research in the United States revealed it had long been in domestic habitats, overwinters in the third instar larval stage in endemic substrates (black walnut husks Juglans nigra, native crabapples Malus coronaria), domestic [imported] apples Malus domestica and ornamental fruits (crabapples) and uses these plus other substrates for breeding from spring and summer through autumn. Female oviposition in firm substrates in Michigan and the mid-South (North Carolina, Virginia) as fallen unripe and ripe frassy apples, acorns, black walnut husks, native and ornamental crabapples is mediated by prior insect attack. Although large numbers of C. amoena coming to banana bait in Canton Ticino suggested that founder effects involving attraction to fermenting substrates might have occurred, experimental studies with European flies in Michigan and continuing research in Zurich and Canton Ticino revealed that behavioral constancy had been maintained. This enabled prediction that C. amoena would spread into apple orchards in northern Switzerland and into Italy. Research in July 2000 established that it is in apple orchards on the German border and in the chestnut forests and in old orchard apples in Italy’s Valtellina region, Lombardy Province. Other European drosophilids have not exploited parasitized fruits and nuts, indicating C. amoena entered a vacant niche. Facilitation provided by pest species attacking fruit and nut substrates parallel those in North America. Chymomyza amoena has maintained behavioral constancy for interspecies dependency and continues to be the principal drosophilid breeding in parasitized fruits and nuts in both North America and Europe.

The Drosophilidae (Diptera) of Lithuania

The Baltic countries represent a veritable terra incognita on the Drosophilidae map of Europe. To remedy the situation we arranged two collecting trips across the three Baltic countries in the summer of 2000. The first trip was made in early summer to get spring species such as Chymomyza and the second one – in late August to get the mushroom-feeding species. In general the drosophilid fauna of the Baltic resembles the well-known fauna of the Nordic countries. The most interesting result is that Chymomyza amoena was found in Estonia and Lithuania. This American species is a recent invader of central Europe. Another interesting finding was relative rarity of Drosophila subobscura and virtual absence of the D. virilis group species. The latter have become uncommon in Sweden and Finland in recent years as well.

The evolution of HOM-C homeoboxes in the Dipteran family Drosophilidae.

Forty-five new Homeotic Complex (HOM-C) homeobox sequences from six species of Drosophilidae (Drosophila heteroneura, D. adiastola, Zaprionus vittiger, Chymomyza amoena, Scaptodrosophila pattersoni and Hirtodrosophila pictiventris) were obtained using a PCR-cloning method. These new homeoboxes are from the labial, proboscipedia, Deformed, Sex combs reduced, fushi tarazu, Antennapedia, Ultrabithorax, abdominal-A and Abdominal-B genes. Phylogenetic signal in the homeobox sequences was assessed and several aspects of sequence evolution were examined. In particular, codon bias was examined and found to exist between the drosophilid species examined here and Anopheles gambiae outgroup sequences. In addition, different patterns of codon bias were detected in homeoboxes interrupted with introns when compared to homeoboxes that are uninterrupted.

Structure and sequence of the Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase gene of Chymomyza amoena: phylogeny of the genus and codon-use evolution.

We have cloned and sequenced the Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase gene of Chymomyza amoena. The coding sequence has the same length as in Drosophila species and in Ceratitis capitata. There are two introns, located at the same sites as in Ceratitis. The second intron is absent in Drosophila: this places Chymomyza outside the Drosophila lineage, contrary to proposals based on anatomical and other evidence. The nucleotide or amino acid distances support a phylogeny in which Ceratitis first branches off the common stem, then Chymomyza splits before the divergence of the two major Drosophila subgenera. The estimated divergence times are 58 million for Chymomyza-Drosophila; 48 million years for the Drosophila subgenera. During the intervening 10 million years, the Drosophila lineage lost the second intron and evolved distinct codon-preferences: the G + C use in the third coding positions is increased by 69% in Drosophila relative to Chymomyza or Ceratitis.

Proline accumulation and its implications for Chymomyza amoena (Diptera: Drosophilidae) larvae

Proline accumulation and its implications for Chymomyza amoena (Diptera: Drosophilidae) larvae

Multiple overwintering mechanisms inChymomyza amoena larvae (Diptera: Drosophilidae) and laboratory induction of freeze tolerance

Chymomyza amoena larvae in apples in summer were found to be either potentially freeze tolerant or to supercool. By late September only potentially freeze tolerant larvae were recovered from apples. Larvae from walnut husks in winter supercooled to avoid freezing. However, freeze tolerance could be induced in laboratory grown larvae by placing them in apples around the seed area and maintaining them at chilling temperatures for several weeks. Overwintering mechanisms employed byC. amoena larvae in Michigan appear to depend upon larval feeding site.

Overwintering ofChymomyza amoena larvae in apples in Michigan and preliminary studies on the mechanism of cold hardiness

Chymomyza amoena, a member of the family Drosophilidae, is now breeding in fallen apples in the state of Michigan.C. amoena larvae can overwinter in fallen apples, completing development and emerging as adults in the summer. Cold resistance during the overwintering phase may not depend upon the accumulation of glycerol or other sugar alcohols.

The Adaptation of Drosophila virilis to Life on an Artificial Crab

Previous articleNext article No AccessLetters to the EditorsThe Adaptation of Drosophila virilis to Life on an Artificial CrabBruce WallaceBruce Wallace Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUS Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by The American Naturalist Volume 112, Number 987Sep. - Oct., 1978 Published for The American Society of Naturalists Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/283341 Views: 4Total views on this site Citations: 3Citations are reported from Crossref Copyright 1978 The University of ChicagoPDF download Crossref reports the following articles citing this article: In Memory of Bruce Wallace: 1920-2015, Journal of Heredity 106, no.33 (Apr 2015): 331–332.https://doi.org/10.1093/jhered/esv024Henretta Trent Band, Gerhard Bächli, Rudolph Neal Band Behavioral constancy for interspecies dependency enables Nearctic Chymomyza amoena (Loew) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) to spread in orchards and forests in Central and Southern Europe, Biological Invasions 7, no.33 (May 2005): 509–530.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-004-6352-2O. Bergerson, D. Wool The process of adaptation of flour beetles to new environments, Genetica 77, no.11 (Jul 1988): 3–13.https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00058546

Enzyme Variability in 12 Sympatric Drosophilid Species (Genera: Chymomyza, Leucophenga, Scaptomyza and Drosophila)

Genetic variability in 12 sympatric drosophilid species was sampled using standard gel electrophoretic techniques. Specimens from central Indiana representing Chymomyza amoena, Leucophenga varia, Scaptomvza adusta, Scaptomyza pallida, Drosophila robusta, D. melanogaster, D. tripunctata, D. immigrans, D. nigromelanica, D. pu- trida, D. falleni and D. palustris were sampled for five to nine loci. The proportion of polymorphic loci per individual ranged from 22 to 86% using the 5% criterion level to determine polymorphic loci. The propor- tion of heterozygous loci per individual ranged from 4 to 27% (mean, 13%). These estimates are not significantly different from previously reported levels of genetic variability for drosophilids. may be sampled with electrophoretic techniques by determining ailozyme frequencies. The data base for estimating the level of naturally occurring polymorphisms includes frogs, mice, horseshoe crabs and man (Selander and Kaufman, 1973), but most information pertains to the fly family, Drosophilidae. Estimates of heterozygosity (% polymorphic loci or average % heterozygous loci per individual) are available for about 52 drosophilid species, including 40 Hawaiian species. Pacific island populations are heavily represented (43 species). Although drosophilid species other than those in the genus Drosophila are numerous, only Hawaiian representatives of Antopocerus (two sp.), Scaptomyza (one sp.) and Trichotobregma (one sp.) have been previously examined electrophoretically (Rockwood let al., 1971). The purpose of the present investigation is to estimate naturally occurring levels of genetic variability in mainland species and in particular for evolutionarily divergent species of Drosophilidae. Comparisons are made between natural populations of 12 species for common alleles and overall heterozygosity levels based upon allozyme frequencies derived from electrophoretic analysis of the genera: Drosophila, Scaptomyza, Leucophenga and Chymomyza. Of these 12 species, only D. melanogaster has been previously examined for enzyme poly- morphisms.