Fly Family Research Articles

The family Bombyliidae in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Diptera: Brachycera: Asiloidea).

Bombyliidae, also known as "Bee flies", is one of the dipteran families that have species of potential use as biological control agents, as their larvae are predators or parasitoids of eggs, larvae, prepupae or pupae of other insects. The hosts of Bombyliidae are found within six orders of insects: Lepidoptera, Orthoptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera, and Neuroptera, in addition to the arachnid order Araneae (Spiders). However, almost half of all host records are from bees and wasps (Hymenoptera). The present work provides a catalogue of bee flies (Family Bombyliidae) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Old World synonymies, type localities, world distributions by biogeographic realm(s) and country, Saudi Arabian localities and dates of collection are provided. A total of 116 species belonging to 40 genera, 12 tribes and 10 subfamilies has been catalogued. Hosts and/or habitat data, where known, are given under the proper genera and/or species. Colored photographs of some species are provided.

Caribbean Fruit Fly Management in Florida Peaches

The Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa, is a member of the fly family Tephritidae, which contains some of the most destructive fruit pests in the world. This 4-page fact sheet written by Amanda Coleen Hodges and Cory Penca and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Entomology and Nematology provides information about the biology and management of the Caribbean fruit fly. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1242

Review of the fossil record of Bolitophilidae, with description of new taxa and discussion of position of Mangas Kovalev (Diptera: Sciaroidea).

The dipteran family Bolitophilidae, with the single extant genus Bolitophila, is a small family of mycophagous flies. In marked contrast to related families such as Sciaridae and Mycetophilidae, the family has a poor fossil record with no definite species assigned to the genus. In addition, the position of the extinct Cretaceous subfamily Mangasinae Kovalev, 1986 (described in Bolitophillidae) has been controversial and it has been suggested that species in this clade may belong to other sciaroid families. This situation is made worse by misplacement of the type specimen. We herein describe two new species of Bolitophila, Bolitophila warreni sp. nov. from the 46-million-year-old Kishenehn Formation in Montana, USA and Bolitophila rohdendorfi sp. nov. from Baltic amber. Bolitophila pulveris Lewis, 1969 is reassigned to Sciaroidea incertae sedis. The subfamily Mangasinae is reviewed and its position within the Bolitophilidae confirmed. Two new species of Mangas, M. kovalevi sp. nov. and M. brevisubcosta sp. nov., both from the Lower Cretaceous of Khasurty in Western Transbaikalia, are described.

Agricultural intensification may create an attractive sink for Dolichopodidae, a ubiquitous but understudied predatory fly family

Long-legged flies (Dolichopodidae) are common within U.S. agroecosystems, but rarely the focus of ecological study. Given a documented sensitivity to environmental changes, at least in natural systems like grasslands and reed marshes, we aimed to determine how local management and landscape-scale factors might influence the community assemblage of Dolichopodidae found within vegetable farms. During the summer of 2013 and 2014, pan trapping was used to sample the long-legged fly community present in produce farms across the northeast region of the U.S. state of Ohio; farms were selected to represent gradients of landscape complexity and management intensity. Communities found within sweet corn, summer squash, and unmanaged old fields were surveyed. Over 3000 flies representing 11 genera and 33 species were collected. This adds an additional 4 genera and 19 species as occurring within the study region. In nearly all cases, we found that Dolichopodidae abundance and the diversity of genera collected was greater within vegetable crops versus set-aside habitats on farms. Within croplands, the value of a habitat patch for Dolichopodidae was highly dependent on agricultural intensification; fields with a high frequency of pesticide use and conventional tillage practices supported reduced abundance and diversity. Landscapes dominated by agricultural production were also found to reduce the species pool of Dolichopodidae found within sampled habitats. Our findings provide an important baseline of Dolichopodidae species and their relative abundance within regional agricultural landscapes. They also highlight the potential that highly attractive but intensively managed croplands may act as ecological traps, with consequences for Dolichopodidae conservation.

Long-proboscid zhangsolvid flies in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber (Diptera: Stratiomyomorpha)

Zhangsolvidae is an extinct family of brachycerous flies with long proboscis that is known only from the Cretaceous. This family is considered a pollinator of Cretaceous gymnosperms. Two new species, Burmomyia rossi gen. et sp. nov. and Cratomyia zhuoi sp. nov., are described in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber from the Hukawng Valley in northern Myanmar. An updated key to all known genera and species of Zhangsolvidae is also given. Our study suggests that zhangsolvids had a relatively high diversity in the mid-Cretaceous and reveals zhangsolvid lacked distinct sexual dimorphism.

Complete mitochondrial genomes from three species of the genus Peckia (Sarcophagidae) with forensic entomology interest

Peckia is one of the most important genera in the Sarcophagidae family of flesh flies. This genus is distributed in Brazil and Latin America, and its species can be used to estimate the Post Mortem Interval (PMI) in forensic investigations. In this communication, we present four mitochondrial genomes (mtDNA) from three Peckia species: P. australis, P. collusor, and P. resona. These mtDNA range from 15,116 bp to 15,234 bp in length and have 22 tRNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes (PCG), and two rRNAs distributed along both the strands. These data expand the knowledge about the Sarcophagidae genomes and present, for the first time, four complete mtDNA sequences of the Peckia genus. We show novel complete mtDNA sequences of flesh fly species of forensic importance. Our data expand the knowledge on the molecular database for the identification of these species, and is an important step towards increasing the databases and can help on the identification of new species, particularly in the forensic context.

Overview of fruit flies important for fruit production on the Montenegro seacoast

Description of the subject. Fruit flies are a large group of pests belonging to the order Diptera. The family Tephritidae is one of two fly families referred to as “fruit flies”. Tephritidae (true fruit flies) represent one of the largest families of flies and are part of a group of the most destructive agricultural pests in the world, attacking a wide range of fruits and fleshy vegetables. The other fruit fly family is the Drosophilidae, often called “vinegar flies”. There are also fly species from other Diptera families that attack the fruits of agricultural crops. Objectives. Due to its favorable geographic position and Mediterranean climate, the Montenegro seacoast is suited to fruit and vegetable production. The aim of this study was to make an inventory of the fruit fly species affecting fruit crops on the Montenegro seacoast. Method. The study area was 300 km along the Montenegro coast. Different types of traps (lure attractants, pheromone, and yellow sticky traps) were used for the monitoring, detection and recording of the spread of fruit flies in the area. Results. From an economic point of view, the most important species of fruit flies recorded were the Bactrocera oleae Gmel. and Ceratitis capitata Wiedem. Rhagoletis cerasi L. and Carpomya vesuviana Costa were also found to be present. Although several specimens of Rhagoletis cingulata Loew were detected in 2013-2014, this species has not, to date, been considered as established in the area of study. After the first detection of Drosophila suzukii Matsumura in 2013, this fruit fly was found to spread rapidly, and its presence is now observed along the whole Montenegro seacoast. One of the fruit fly species recorded, Silba adipata McAlpine, is considered to be one of the most destructive pests for fig production in Montenegro. Conclusions. Of seven species recorded in the study, five belonged to the family Tephritidae, and one each to Drosophilidae and Lonchaeidae.

Complete mitochondrial genomes of three species of fresh flies of forensic entomology interest from the genus Sarcophaga (Sarcophagidae) from Portugal and Brazil

The Sarcophagidae family of fresh flies bears strong importance in the context of forensic entomology due to their application in the estimation of the Post Mortem Interval (PMI). Sarcophaga is the major genus in the Sarcophagidae family and includes cosmopolitan species, which are distributed worldwide. In this communication, we present the analysis of the complete mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) of two species from Portugal – S. melanura and S. dux – and one from Brazil – S. ruficornis. The mtDNA of these species range from 14,882 bp to 15,190 bp and have 22 tRNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes (PCG), and two rRNAs distributed along both strands. Our data include the first record of complete Sarcophaga mtDNA sequences from species collected in Portugal and in Brazil. These genomes represent an advance in the understanding about this group, expand the database, and can be used for the development of new markers for species identification.

Molecular phylogeny and evolution of world Tachinidae (Diptera)

We reconstructed phylogenetic relationships within the diverse parasitoid fly family Tachinidae using four nuclear loci (7800 bp) and including an exceptionally large sample of more than 500 taxa from around the world. The position of the earthworm-parasitizing Polleniinae (Calliphoridae s.l.) as sister to Tachinidae is strongly supported. Our analyses recovered each of the four tachinid subfamilies and most recognized tribes, with some important exceptions in the Dexiinae and Tachininae. Most notably, the tachinine tribes Macquartiini and Myiophasiini form a clade sister to all other Tachinidae, and a clade of Palpostomatini is reconstructed as sister to Dexiinae + Phasiinae. Although most nodes are well-supported, relationships within several lineages that appear to have undergone rapid episodes of diversification (basal Dexiinae and Tachininae, Blondeliini) were poorly resolved. Reconstructions of host use evolution are equivocal, but generally support the hypothesis that the ancestral host of tachinids was a beetle and that subsequent host shifts to caterpillars may coincide with accelerated diversification. Evolutionary reconstructions of reproductive strategy using alternative methods were incongruent, however it is most likely that ancestral tachinids possessed unincubated, thick shelled eggs from which incubated eggs evolved repeatedly, potentially expanding available host niches. These results provide a broad foundation for understanding the phylogeny and evolution of this important family of parasitoid insects. We hope it will serve as a framework to be used in concert with morphology and other sources of evidence to revise the higher taxonomic classification of Tachinidae and further explore their evolutionary history and diversification.

Immature stages of Blepharotes (Diptera: Asilidae), one of the world's largest assassin flies: multi‐function mandibles and soil‐drilling pupal spines and spurs

AbstractAssassin or robber flies belong to the family Asilidae, one of the most diverse fly families, with over 7400 described species worldwide. Adults are predators on mostly smaller insects which they catch on the wing; larvae are predators on soft bodied arthropods in the soil or rotting wood, usually beetle (Coleoptera) larvae, often curl or white grubs (Scarabaeidae). Predation by larval and adult Asilidae puts downward pressure on populations of their prey above and below ground. Because asilid larvae are cryptic, the immature stages of few species have been described, thus hampering our ability to identify larvae. We describe and illustrate the late instar larva and pupa of one of Australia's largest and most impressive asilid species, Blepharotes splendidissimus (Wiedemann) (Asilinae: Apocleini). Taxonomically useful variation in asilid larvae so far described occurs in the head and its appendages. We have examined the fine detail of the larval head capsule and mouthparts using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for the first time in Asilidae. The larva and pupa of B. splendidissimus are similar to other Asilidae but larger and more robust. The larva has a broad maxillae and long narrow mandibular hooks with an acute tip armed with a row of recurved spines. Our SEM studies detail the grooves on the inner surface of the mandible that form a feeding channel when the mandibles are appressed. Thus, the mandibular hooks are the insect equivalent of a Swiss army knife, with at least four functions: to pierce the prey, hold the prey, inject venom and extract nutrients from the prey. Asilid pupae have a well‐developed armature on the head, thorax and abdominal tergites, for drilling up out of the soil on adult eclosion. The pupa has distinct anterior and posterior antennal spinous processes and anterior and posterior mesothoracic spinous processes, and the tip of the abdomen has large, dorsally curved dorsal posterolateral processes and very small ventral posterolateral spinous processes. All the dorsal armature on the pupal abdominal segments are articulated spurs, rather than a mixture of fixed spines and spurs, as found in many asilid pupae.

Spatial Distribution of Necrophagous Flies of Infraorder Muscomorpha in Iran Using Geographical Information System.

Medically important flies that majority of them are classified to synanthropic flies can be mechanical vectors for some of contagious diseases to human and many animals. Also some species of their larvae are cause of myiasis in human and livestock animals. The aim of this study was to determine the geographical distribution of medically important flies in Iran using Geographical Information System (GIS). All published English and Persian documents on medically important flies of Iran from reliable medical sciences resources were gathered. A database was then designed in Excel format, including all available information regarding flies. The valid data were transferred to ArcGIS 10.3 to prepare the first spatial database of medically important flies and human myiasis foci of Iran. The Iran Medical Important Flies base includes 71 papers and three PhD/MSc theses, reporting studies conducted during 1977-2017. This database contains different available data covering their faunistic and all myiasis data reports related to flies of 102 species in nine families of medical important flies in Iran. Twenty-three out of the 31 provinces of Iran, had some reports of medically important flies. However, these flies have high species diversity, wide geographical distribution and with various ecological niches in different provinces in Iran. Besides that, there are many high-risk foci of human myiasis in a number of provinces of Iran.

Shared traits make flies and bees effective pollinators of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.)

One of the major aims of pollination ecology has been to understand the role and relative importance of different pollinator species in both natural and agricultural systems. This study explores how the quantity of pollen delivered in a single visit to a stigma (SVD) differs across insect species from a wide range of taxa (Orders: Hymenoptera, Diptera and Coleoptera) and assesses the morphological and behavioural traits that lead to differences in pollen delivery. We used oilseed rape (OSR) (Brassica napus L.), an economically important crop with open self-fertile flowers, as a test system. Behavioural traits and SVD were measured in the field for individuals of all frequent flower-visiting species of OSR. Individuals were collected and morphological traits were measured in the laboratory. The quantities of free pollen on different body parts of flower visitors, or ‘pollen load’, were also measured. Behavioural and morphological traits were then assessed as predictors of SVD. The individuals that delivered most pollen were (in order of greatest median number of pollen grains delivered): bumblebees (Bombus spp.), mining bees (Andrenidae) and honeybees (Apis mellifera). However, all but one family of flies tested delivered a significantly greater median number of pollen grains than the control, and most delivered more than sweat bees (Halictidae). Behavioural and morphological traits were important in determining pollen delivery, with greater body length, hairiness and visit duration all resulting in greater SVD. Pollen load was measured for a proportion of individuals and we found that for momentary flower visits, a greater quantity of pollen on the head of the flower visitor was linked to a greater SVD. This study demonstrates that, while bees are important pollinators in this system, many fly taxa are also effective at delivering pollen and this is linked to morphological and behavioural traits found in both groups.

Fly family diversity shows evidence of livestock grazing pressure in Mongolia (Insecta: Diptera)

Members of the insect order Diptera respond differentially to environmental changes and may play an important role in understanding the effects that livestock grazing disturbances have on biodiversity. Here we examine how increasing grazing pressures on the Mongolian steppe affect Diptera diversity and abundance. Using 2334 yellow pan traps, we sampled a total of 132 sites over four years to collect 17,348 flies. We compared fly diversity and abundance at five levels of livestock grazing. We observed that fly family diversity decreased in heavily grazed sites and that diptera communities at sites with intense grazing have proportionally higher prevalence of taxa from the families Muscidae, Sepsidae, Ephydridae, Chloropidae, and Tachinidae, two of which are often associated with animal waste. Chironomidae, Ceratopogonidae, Sarcophagidae, and Sciaridae are most prevalent at sites with very little or no grazing, and Anthomyiidae, Calliphoridae, Carnidae, Cecidomyiidae, Dolichopodidae, Empididae, Scatopsidae and Sphaeroceridae are most often encountered at sites with intermediate amounts of grazing. Observing changes in a few guilds of fly families at different grazing levels is beneficial in understanding human effects on fly diversity.

Modal characterization and structural aerodynamic response of a crane fly forewing

This study describes a method for investigating the modal characteristics and the structural aerodynamic response of the crane fly (family Tipulidae) forewing under different airflow conditions. A micro-computed tomography scan is conducted to characterize the internal and external morphologies of the insect wing. A finite element model of the crane fly forewing is developed to determine its natural frequencies and mode shapes. The FE model is validated by comparing the natural frequencies of a beam with similar mechanical properties and geometric characteristics of those from the veins of the crane fly forewing to its analytical solution from the Euler–Bernoulli beam theory. A numerical simulation of the fluid–structure interaction is conducted by coupling the finite element model of the crane fly forewing with a computational fluid dynamics model of the surrounding airflow. From this simulation, the deformation response and the coefficients of drag and lift of the insect wing are predicted for different Reynolds numbers and angles of attack. The mode shapes show regions of low stiffness at the trailing and leading edges of the wing. The deformation increases nonlinearly from the root to the tip of the wing, and the aerodynamic efficiency of the insect wing increases with angle of attack and freestream velocity, especially for high Reynolds numbers.

Native pollinator management may be a key to improving fruit set in Tasmanian Mountain Pepper, Tasmannia lanceolata (Winteraceae), an emerging spice resource

ABSTRACTTasmanian Mountain Pepper is a new crop that produces a valuable flavoring agent derived from its fruit. However, annual yields are unpredictable and its commercial prospects depend upon a reliable fruit set. As poor pollination is a possible cause, the pollination biology of this dioecious plant was examined in natural and plantation settings using direct observations, sticky traps, gas chromatography, and microscopy. A community of small insects visits the flowers, and the insect species represent at least seven families of small flies, three families of beetles, and various wasps and moths. Pollen grains were observed on the bodies of bibionid flies (Bibionidae), syrphid flies (Syrphidae), and snail-flies (Sciomyzidae). The tetrahedral tetrad pollen grains are unlikely to be suitable for dispersal by wind. Similar volatiles were emitted by both males and females; several ocimene compounds are attractants for insect pollen vectors. The female flowers also emitted indole, a known fly attractant. It is therefore likely that Tasmannia lanceolata is dependent on the services of diverse insects, especially Diptera, for promoting fruit set. Plantations should be established in the vicinity of biodiverse native vegetation that supports a wide variety of native flying insects capable of transferring pollen.

Myiasis under Dermatoscope: The Hidden Story.

Case 1 A 12-year-old boy accompanied by his father presented with boggy swelling of the scalp with multiple overlying ulcerations for the past 15 days. His father revealed a history of head trauma due to slippage in rainwater 15 days back. On examination, multiple 1 × 1 cm to 1 × 2 cm ulcers were presented over the vertex with oozing of blood and serous fluid [Figure 1a]. The underlying scalp was boggy and tender. Cervical lymphadenopathy was present. Rest of the mucocutaneous and systemic examination was normal. KOH was negative. The ulcers probably resulted from infestation and secondary bacterial infection.Figure 1: (a) Multiple oozing ulcers present over the scalp. (b) Ulcer showing minute creamy white structures within the fluidCase 2 A 5-year-old girl was brought by her mother with multiple ulcers over bilateral upper limb and lower limb for the past 20 days. The lesions started spontaneously as erythematous nodules, suggestive of furunculosis. On examination, multiple ulcers with serosanguineous drainage were noted. There was movement of fluid inside the ulcer [Figure 1b]. Dermoscopy [Dinolite AM413ZT; polarising mode; 50-150X] was done for both cases. It showed multiple, mobile, creamy white-colored structures with reniform centres. Each Reniform centre had three pairs of hairpin loop-like structures [Figure 2a]. A diagnosis of myiasis was considered and turpentine oil was flushed over the lesions. Within 15 minutes, the larvae started moving upwards and captured on dermoscopy as white translucent cylindrical mobile organisms. Each larva had multiple bands of arrow-shaped brown pigmentation [Figure 2b]. The larva was extracted and an ex-vivo dermoscopy was done which showed a fusiform semi-translucent larva. The posterior segment of the larva had tracheal trunk whereas the spiny mouth parts were present on the anterior end. Multiple, spiny, arrowhead-shaped structures arranged in bands were present on the body and blood meal was seen within the body [Figure 2c]. All the visible larvae were manually extracted and the patient was given turpentine oil application along with systemic antibiotics.Figure 2: (a) Creamy white structures (Black arrow) with brown reniform centres (blue arrow). Note the three pairs of hairpin loop-like structures (Dinolite 413ZT; ×50). (b) Creamy white cylindrical larva with multiple bands of spiny arrow-shaped structures (Dinolite 413ZT; ×50). (c) Ex-vivo dermoscopy showing tracheal trunk on the posterior segment (blue arrow) while the spiny mouth parts were present on the anterior end (red arrow). Note multiple spiny arrowhead-shaped structures arranged in bands (black arrow) and blood meal within the body (Dinolite 413ZT; ×150)Myiasis is an infestation by dipterous larvae. In cutaneous myiasis, two clinical forms have been described – wound myiasis and follicular (furuncular) myiasis.[1] Dermoscopic features of myiasis has been described with handheld contact dermatoscopes.[2345] The breathing spiracles has been described as bird's feet-like structures.[4] The dark brown spiny structures have been described as thorn crown.[4] In our observation, the breathing spiracles were visible as reniform structures with three hairpin loop-like structures on either side. The variation in observation may be because of higher magnification provided by the USB dermatoscopes and larvae of different family of flies causing myiasis. Whereas Dermatobia hominis is the major cause of myiasis in the American continent, Chrysomya bezziana is the most common etiology in the Indian subcontinent. Entomodermoscopy is an evolving field of dermoscopy. Though a good clinical evaluation with or without magnifying lens can reveal presence of larva in most cases, the utility of dermoscopy as a tool for easy detection of larvae and their complete extraction encouraged us to report these findings. Declaration of patient consent The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form the patient(s) has/have given his/her/their consent for his/her/their images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patients understand that their names and initials will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal their identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed. Financial support and sponsorship Nil. Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest.

Mansonellosis: current perspectives.

Mansonellosis is a filarial disease caused by three species of filarial (nematode) parasites (Mansonella perstans, Mansonella streptocerca, and Mansonella ozzardi) that use humans as their main definitive hosts. These parasites are transmitted from person to person by bloodsucking females from two families of flies (Diptera). Biting midges (Ceratopogonidae) transmit all three species of Mansonella, but blackflies (Simuliidae) are also known to play a role in the transmission of M. ozzardi in parts of Latin America. M. perstans and M. streptocerca are endemic in western, eastern, and central Africa, and M. perstans is also present in the neotropical region from equatorial Brazil to the Caribbean coast. M. ozzardi has a patchy distribution in Latin America and the Caribbean. Mansonellosis infections are thought to have little pathogenicity and to be almost always asymptomatic, but occasionally causing itching, joint pains, enlarged lymph glands, and vague abdominal symptoms. In Brazil, M. ozzardi infections are also associated with corneal lesions. Diagnosis is usually performed by detecting microfilariae in peripheral blood or skin without any periodicity. There is no standard treatment at present for mansonellosis. The combination therapy of diethylcarbamazine plus mebendazole for M. perstans microfilaremia is presently one of the most widely used, but the use of ivermectin has also been proven to be very effective against microfilariae. Recently, doxycycline has shown excellent efficacy and safety when used as an antimicrobial against endosymbiotic Wolbachia bacteria harbored by some strains of M. perstans and M. ozzardi. Diethylcarbamazine and ivermectin have been used effectively to treat M. streptocerca infection. There are at present no estimates of the disease burden caused by mansonellosis, and thus its importance to many global health professionals and policy makers is presently limited to how it can interfere with diagnostic tools used in modern filarial disease control and elimination programs aimed at other species of filariae.

Effect of superplasticizers on the rheological properties of fly ash incorporated cement paste

The rheology is a study of flow of matter. Rheological behavior of cement paste changes with composition of cement, amount of mineral and chemical admixtures, family of superplasticizer, temperature etc. This paper explores the influence of superplasticizer dosage, superplasticizer family and mineral admixture dosage on the rheological behavior of cement paste. For this purpose cement pastes were prepared at a water cement ratio of 0.37 using OPC and different percentage of fly ash (15, 25, 35) and different dosages of superplasticizer (one from each family). Four families of superplasticizer used for this study are polycarboxylate ether, sulphonate melamine formaldehyde, sulphonate naphthalene formaldehyde and lignosulphates. Rheological tests were performed in a coaxial cylinder viscometer (Brookfield DV-II). Saturation dosage of the superplasticizers in the cement paste mixes with different percentage of fly ash replacement were obtained through marsh cone and mini slump tests on cement paste. Cement pastes were placed in the sample chamber of coaxial cylinder viscometer and shear stress produced measured with known shear rate ranging from 30 S to 65 S-1 applied to the fluid through the spindle. Rheological parameters like yield stress and plastic viscosities were calculated using Bingham and Herschel bulkley model. Change in rheological parameters of the cement paste with fly ash replacement percentage, superplasticizers dosage and family were measured and comparison is made

Векторы трансмиссивных вирусных болезней животных

The article reviews the data of Russian and foreign literature sources concerning the spread of vector-born animal infectious diseases such as lumpy skin disease (LSD), Rift Valley fever (RVF), bluetongue. Epidemiology, spread of diseases as well as geographical distribution of their vectors are described, the most probable reasons for expanding the areas of vector-borne infections are considered. Insects and ticks serve not only as vectors, but also as reservoirs and amplifying agents of many pathogens of natural focal infections of human and animals. Of great epidemiological importance is the ability of some vectors to transmit vertically the pathogens from infected females to their offspring. An important role in the epidemiology of vector-borne infections belongs to the following bloodsucking insects - mosquitoes (family Culicidae), sandflies (family Phlebotomidae), midges (family Simuliidae), biting midges (family Heleidae), flies (family Muscidae). Spread of lumpy skin disease to the new territories in recent years is associated with blood-sucking ticks and flying biting insects of the order Diptera (Muscidae -Stomoxys calcitrans; Culicoides - C. Punctatus; Anopheles - An. stephensi; Culex, - Cx. quinquefasciatus). Rift Valley fever virus is transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitoes of the genera Aedes, Anopheles, Coquillettidia, Culex, Eretmopodites Eunelanomyia, Mansonia, Neomelaniconion, Ochlerotatus, Stegomyia. A wide range of mosquitoes’ feeders and the ability of some species to feed consistently on birds and mammals allowed these insects to become the most important vectors of many zoonoses. The major vectors of the bluetongue virus are representatives of blood-sucking biting midges of the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), numbering about 1350 species distributed throughout the world (about 117 species in Europe). This article summarizes data on species composition Culicoides in the world and in the Russian Federation and their competence in the transmission of the bluetongue virus. The major vectors of the bluetongue virus in Africa include representatives of the species C. imicola, in North America - C. sonorensis,.in Australia - C. brevitarsis. In Europe the bluetongue virus is transmitted by biting midges from the complex obsoletus and pulicaris.

First observations on the life cycle and mass eclosion events in a mantis fly (Family Mantispidae) in the subfamily Drepanicinae.

BackgroundThe Mantispidae are a distinctive group of Neuroptera known for the adults’ possession of raptorial forelegs. There are four recognised, extant subfamilies of Mantispidae: the Mantispinae, Symphrasinae, Calomantispinae and Drepanicinae. The life history and larval behaviour of the subfamily Mantispinae is best known: the immatures are spider egg predators. Among the three remaining subfamilies, larval Symphrasinae and Calomantispinae most likely predate on other small arthropods, while the immature life history of Drepanicinae, until now, remained completely unknown.New informationHere we provide observations of annual, near-synchronised, mass emergences of adults of the drepanicine, Ditaxis biseriata (Westwood), within a well-established Macadamia orchard in northern New South Wales, Australia. A female deposited fertile eggs, allowing this first report of egg batch and first instar morphology. The mass emergence of mobile pharate adults from the ground was observed in the same month in two consecutive years. The pharates climbed tree-trunks for a distance before undergoing eclosion. The newly-hatched first instar larvae are campodeiform and prognathous; a typical morphology among Mantispidae. After hatching, they drop to the ground and burrow into soil. They are unpigmented and appear to lack stemmata. Together, the observations infer that the immature component of the life cycle takes place underground in forested habitats. If this feature is common among the Drepanicinae, it might explain why so little is known of the biology of the immature stages.