Order Diptera Research Articles

The Composition of Arthropods in Nipah Fronds Decomposition at Sungai Kakap Mangrove Area in the West Kalimantan

Anthropogenic activities in Nypa palm (Nypa fructicans) forests directly leave a lot of residual nipa fronds, which take longer to decompose. The decomposition process involves decomposer organisms, one of which is Arthropods. Nevertheless, information regarding the composition of decomposition fronds is still limited. This study aims to obtain data and information regarding the composition of Arthropods and their relationship to the decomposition period. Arthropod sampling was carried out by hand collecting methods at 15, 25, 35, and 45 days after placement. The laying of the nipa palm fronds was determined randomly with a vertical position at 20 cm above the ground surface. Arthropod eggs, larvae, pupae, and imago samples were sorted and preserved in 70% Alcohol. Arthropod data obtained were analyzed descriptively. The results showed that the composition of Arthropods consisted of the class Crustacea and Insecta, each with one order (2 genera) and six orders (32 genera). The orders Diptera (Psychoda, Eristalinus) and Amphipoda (Allorchestoides) were dominant. The average number of individuals found increases with the decomposition period. The role of different arthropods influences their composition in the decomposition process of the nipa palm fronds. It is necessary to study the composition of microbes in each decomposition period.

Draft Genome Sequence Data of Lysinibacillus sphaericus Strain 1795 with Insecticidal Properties

Lysinibacillus sphaericus holds a significant agricultural importance by being able to produce insecticidal toxins and chemical moieties of varying antibacterial and fungicidal activities. In this study, the genome of the L. sphaericus strain 1795 is presented. Illumina short reads sequenced on the HiSeq X platform were used to obtain the genome’s assembly by applying the SPAdes v3.15.4 software. The genome size based on a cumulative length of 23 contigs reached 4.74 Mb, with a respective N50 of 1.34 Mb. The assembled genome carried 4672 genes, including 4643 protein-encoding ones, 5 of which represented loci coding for insecticidal toxins active against the orders Diptera, Lepidoptera, and Blattodea. We also revealed biosynthetic gene clusters responsible for the synthesis of secondary metabolites with predicted antibacterial, fungicidal, and growth-promoting properties. The genomic data provided will be helpful for deepening our understanding of genetic markers determining the efficient application of the L. sphaericus strain 1795 primarily for biocontrol purposes in veterinary and medical applications against several groups of blood-sucking insects.

Diagnosis of Olive Leaf Flay Daisenura oleae by PCR Technique in Nineveh Governorate

Through the PCR diagnostic technique, it found the Daisenura oleae, from the Cecidomyiidae family and the order Diptera. Olive leaf flay were characterized by their activity and continued presence during the activity season. The results of the electrophoresis of flys DNA, which was extracted from olive leaf adults. Obtained pure DNA, and the purity of the parasite DNA was confirmed by a successful operation. Electrophoresis using Agarose gel and showing the nucleic acid bundles clearly. The sequence of the nitrogenous bases of the samples (Cyanobacteria) that were under investigation was determined, as products were sent for PCR representation, and the sequence reading of the genes was completed by depending on the 3130 genetic analyzer that was equipped from the Japanese company Hitachi. BLAST software was used to compare the gene sequences that were sequenced with the gene sequences that were documented in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). The findings of this comparison were then analysed. The products of the amplified packages resulting from the PCR reaction were sent outside Iraq to study the sequence and sequence of the nitrogenous bases and compare them with the original cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) gene stored in the Global Genome Bank with specific sites of the gene to be studied, and it was found that there are sites of variation or variation in the nucleotide sequence compared to with the original gene at the NCBI website, and the isolate match was 100%. The isolate was recorded in the Gen Bank with accession number LC757225.1, and the genetic tree was drawn to find out the relationship between the Iraqi insect isolate and the rest of the insect isolates, and the closest was the American isolate.

Characterization of complete mitochondrial genome of three Horse flies of the genus Tabanus (Diptera: Tabanidae): comparative analysis.

Tabanidae (Horse-Flies or Deer-Flies) are one of the most economically important as well as medically significant haematophagous insect family within the order Diptera. Members of this group are also responsible for the mortality of substantial number of live-stock every year. Due to their pathogen transmission potential and vector competencies makes them an important insect group to study. Till now, mitochondrial genome of 18 species of tabanids were available. The complete mitogenome of three species T. diversifrons (15,809bp), T. rubidus (15,878bp) and T. tenens (15,872bp) were generated by Next generation sequencing method. They consist 37 genes, with a positive AT skew and a negative GC skew. The gene order of these three species is similar to the typical gene arrangement of infra-order Tabanomorpha. Most of the tRNAs showed typical clover-leaf secondary structure except trnS1, which lacks the DHU arm. The sliding window analysis showed that thenad4L is the most conserved while atp8, and nad6 are the most variable genes. Moreover, the ratios of non-synonymous to synonymous substitution rates indicated that all PCGs under the purifying selection. Phylogeny revealed Chrysops and Haematopota are monophyletic while species of Hybomitra are nested within the polyphyletic clade of Tabanus. T. diversifrons exhibits sister relationship with Atylotus miser. Two morphologically divergent species T. rubidus and T. tenens are found to be genetically similar and indistinguishable by mitochondrial genome. The hypervariable genes like atp8 and nad6 can be used as molecular markers for the identification of recently diverged lineages of family Tabanidae. Further, to address uncertainties arising from the two morphological divergent species, it is imperative to obtain data from nuclear gene markers.

Biological Flora of Britain and Ireland:Geranium pratense

AbstractThis account presents information on all aspects of the biology ofGeranium pratenseL. (Meadow Crane's‐Bill). The main topics are presented within the standard framework of theBiological Flora of Britain and Ireland: distribution, habitat, communities, responses to biotic factors, responses to environment, structure and physiology, phenology, floral and seed characters, herbivores and disease, history and conservation.Geranium pratenseis a perennial gynodioecious forb of neutral grassland. In Britain and Ireland, it is particularly abundant on roadside verges, railway embankments, the margins of watercourses and woodland rides. It is generally intolerant of grazing and is absent or scarce in livestock‐grazed grassland.Geranium pratenseis widespread in England, Wales and Scotland but is scarce in Ireland. It has an extensive native range in Europe and Asia, extending eastwards to Russia, north‐western China and Mongolia. It has been widely introduced to new sites within its native range and has been introduced to Canada, the USA and New Zealand.Geranium pratenseusually occurs on free‐draining soils but also infrequently where drainage is impeded. The soils are often nutrient‐rich and weakly acidic to weakly alkaline. The underlying geology is usually non‐acidic sedimentary rocks or superficial deposits.Geranium pratenseis protandrous and is pollinated by various insects of the orders Hymenoptera, Diptera and Lepidoptera, particularly bumblebees, solitary bees, hoverflies and butterflies. Eleven species of phytophagous insect have been recorded onG. pratensein Britain and Ireland.Geranium pratensehas little or no capacity for vegetative spread. Primary seed dispersal is ballistic and seeds may be flung over distances of up to several metres. The species has a transient seed bank, that is germination typically takes place in the winter and spring after seed production, after the physically dormant seeds have become permeable. Seedling establishment is higher in vegetation‐free gaps than in undisturbed grassland vegetation.There has been no significant change in its distribution between the late 1950s and 2019, although since 2000, it has expanded its range, mainly via introductions, in northern and western Scotland, west Wales and in Ireland. Alien sites have increased markedly since the 1960s due to introductions from wildflower seed sowing and spread from gardens.

Temporal variation of a plant-floral visitor network in a temperate forest in Michoacán, Mexico

The ecological network approach allows the analysis of interactions between plant communities and their floral visitors. However, most floral visitation network studies analyze the interactions with a temporally-static perspective. Hence, few studies have evaluated the temporal variation of these systems. This study characterized the plant-floral visitor interaction network of a temperate forest remnant in Michoacán, analyzing monthly changes in its composition, structure, and dynamics during 3 seasons of the year. In total, we recorded 1,325 floral visits and 131 links between 27 plant species and 74 floral visitor species. Most of the plant species observed belong to the families Lamiaceae, Asteraceae, and Apiaceae, while most of the floral visitor species observed belong to the orders Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, and Diptera. Most of the floral visits were recorded in highly abundant plant species with longer flowering periods at the study site. The constant species turnover gave rise to monthly plant-floral visitor networks with different levels of specialization, connectance, nestedness, and modularity. Our results suggest that plant-floral visitor networks in temperate forest remnants are highly dynamic and poorly connected, which makes them vulnerable to drastic changes in the environment.

Pesticides affecting the diversity of pollinator insects in cocoa plantations (Theobroma cacao L.)

Pollinating insects play a significant role in the pollination process of cocoa flowers because unpollinated cocoa flowers will fall within 24 hours and fail to develop into fruit and seeds; on the other hand, the presence of pollinators in cacao plants is influenced by cultivation techniques such as the use of pesticides to against pest and disease attacks. This study aims to determine the diversity of pollinating insects in cacao plantations with and without pesticides. The study included field research on cocoa plantations in Rahmat Village, Palolo Sub-district, Sigi Regency. Insect identification was carried out at the Plant Pests and Diseases Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Tadulako University, Palu. Sampling was carried out in 3 plots measuring 40×40 m² with treatments: application of Chlormite 505 EC insecticide at a dose of 20ml/15L water, Lamda Cyhalothrin 247 ZC insecticide at an amount of 10ml/15L water, and control. In each plot, ten trees were selected for observation. Insect pollinators and flower visitors were collected using yellow pant traps and direct observation. The results of this study found six species of pollinator insects, namely Forcipomyia sp. and Bactrocera sp. from the order Diptera, Lasius niger, Solenopsis invica, and Vespidae from the order Hymenoptera, and Melantis sp. from the order Lepidoptera. Insecticide application affects pollinating insect diversity.

Entomofaunal diversity and involvement in the diagnosis of water quality in Afridougou's Drébot Lake used for drinking water supply in Gagnoa (Centre-West, Côte d'Ivoire)

The population of Gagnoa is growing, leading to the expansion of human activities such as agriculture, urbanisation and leisure activities around Drébot Lake, which is used to supply drinking water. These anthropogenic pressures are characterised by the discharge of toxic substances into this lake and the degradation of its ecological quality, which is still poorly understood. This study was carried out to provide the first data on the entomofauna and the ecological status of the water in Gagnoa's Drébot Lake. Sampling took place in February 2023 at 22 stations. Aquatic insects were collected using a turbid net (2.5 m2 of surface area sampled) and a Van Veen bucket (0.3 m2 of sediment per sample). Physico-chemical parameters were measured using a multiparameter. Spatial variations in physico-chemistry indicate that only transparency and depth varied significantly between sampling stations on Drébot Lake. The inventory revealed 317 insect individuals divided into 31 taxa, 19 families and 4 orders. The order Diptera (9 taxa) is the most diverse and the most abundant (141 individuals).Species richness is higher on the banks (28 taxa) than in open water (2 taxa).Predatory organisms dominate the trophic structure of the lake's insect population.The insect population was not very diversified, but balanced. Assessment of water quality using the Chironomidae index indicated that most of the sites surveyed have good quality water.

Diversity and distribution of true flies (Diptera) of Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha, India: Functional roles based on ecological guilds

Proper understanding of ecological dynamics of faunal components, whether it is a large mammal or a tiny insect of any ecosystem including forests, plays an important role in the eco-management of any eco-zone. Dipteran insects constituting a major faunal group among the entomo-diversity of any forest ecosystem portray significant functional roles in determining the stability in the ecosystem functioning of the respective ecosystem. The present paper has attempted to document the diversity of dipteran insects inhabiting a tropical deciduous forest of the extended part of Deccan Biogeographic Zone in the eastern part of India, the Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary alongside indicating its habitat preference and distribution patterns. A total of 34 species under 19 families of the order Diptera were recorded from different habitats of the studied forest areas, of which three species are considered new reports from the state of Odisha, India. Out of the three selected eco-zones, the deep forest area having a higher density of sal trees (Shorea robusta) revealed less species richness but high relative abundance, whereas the barren grazing land demonstrated higher species richness with low relative abundance. The eco-zone with wetlands and associated vegetation have shown moderate species richness and diversity of dipteran insects. Three contrasting seasons (pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon) of this region have also demonstrated different patterns of diversity and density of this group of insects which have been segregatedinto several feeding guilds in tune with the seasonal availability of food resources.

Dominant species of radish (Raphanus sativus (L.) convar. radicula (Pers) Sazon.) pests in the Right Bank Forest Steppe of Ukraine

Based on the results of phytosanitary monitoring (2008–2022), the species composition of pests in agroecosystems of radish (Raphanus sativus (L.) convar. radicula (Pers) Sazon.) in the central part of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine has been specified. In radish crops, 59 species of phytophagous insects, two species of nematodes, and one species of slugs were identified. The harmful entomocomplex structure includes insects from 20 families of 8 orders. Representatives of the orders Coleoptera (17 species), Lepidoptera (16 species), and Homoptera (9 species) dominate the taxonomic structure, collectively occupying 71% in the structure of the harmful entomocomplex. Representatives of the orders Diptera and Orthoptera were presented by species from 6 and 5 families, respectively, and in the entomocomplex structure, they occupied 10% and 8%, respectively. The least species diversity was found for the order Thysanoptera, Hemiptera, and Hymenoptera, which collectively occupied 10% in the structure of the harmful entomocomplex. Sixteen constant species were identified (Plutella maculipennis Curt., Phyllotreta cruciferae Goeze, Phyllotreta undulata Kutsch., Pieris brassicae L., Agrotis segetum Denis&Schiff., Lacanobia oleracea L., Eurydema ventralis Kol., Brevicoryne brassicae L., Delia brassicae Bouche, Athalia rosae L., Delia platura Mg., Ceutorrhynchus quadridens Panz., Delia floralis Fallen, Thrips tabaci Lindeman, Entomoscelis adonidis Pallas, Evergestis extimalis Scop.), which caused significant damage to radish plants throughout the vegetation period. These species were trophically specialized, with 75% being oligophagous and 81% being phytophagous. Flea beetles such as Phyllotreta cruciferae Goeze, Phyllotreta undulata Kutsch., diamondback moth (Plutella maculipennis Curt.), cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae L.), turnip moth (Agrotis segetum Denis&Schiff.), and armyworm (Lacanobia oleracea L.) were found with high and medium frequencies in the studied agroecosystems, with population densities reaching maximum levels of 60–100% in some years.

Openly living phytophages and entomophages of the agrocenosis of winter soft wheat in the forest-steppe of the Samara region

Studies were conducted to study the species composition of open-living insects of phytophages and entomophages in the agrocenosis of winter soft wheat on varieties Povolzhskaya 30 and Povolzhskayaniva. The studies were conducted in 2020-2022, which differed in meteorological conditions, in the forest-steppe zone of the Samara region. In the agrocenosis of winter wheat, 28 species of phytophagous insects were identified, which belonged to 16 families. The most numerous in terms of species composition were the families: Chloropidae, Chrysomelidae ,Aphididae, Scutelleridae. The families were small in species composition: Phlaeothripidae, Pentatomidae, Berytidae, Miridae, Acrididae, Elateridae, Cephidae, Carabidae and Scarabaeidae. All phytophagous insects were divided into 6 orders: Bubble-legged or Thrips (Thysanoptera), Hemiptera or bugs (Hemiptera), Diptera (Diptera), Coleoptera or Beetles (Coleoptera), Straight-winged (Ortoptera), Hymenoptera (Hymenoptera). Numerous species composition of phytophagous insects was observed in the orders of Hemiptera (39.0%), Diptera and Coleoptera (25.0% each). The majority of phytophagous insects fed only on vegetative parts of plants (64.0%) (roots, stems, and leaves), 7.0% of species fed on generative parts of plants (mainly grain feeding). 29.0% of the species had a mixed type of nutrition, on vegetative organs (mainly in the larval stage) and on generative organs (mainly imago). Among phytophagous insects, the proportion with a gnawing mouth was 54.0%, and the proportion with a sucking mouth was 46.0%. The species composition of openly living entomophages in the agrocenosis of winter wheat was diverse. It is represented by 6 detachments. The largest number of species was observed in the orders Coleoptera or Beetles (Coleoptera) and the order of Spiders (Araneae). Ladybugs (Coccinellids) dominated among entomophages, which were represented by 9 species.

First report of Aphrialatifrons (Diptera, Tachinidae, Leskiini) in the Canary Islands.

The Canary Islands are an archipelago of volcanic origin, located off north-west Africa comprising eight islands. Fuerteventura and Lanzarote are the oldest (20 and 15 millon years old, respectively) and the easternmost islands. The order Diptera is one of the most relevant taxa in the Canary Islands as they constitute the second highest species richness. Within this order, the family Tachinidae is especially interesting as all species are endoparasitoids of arthropods and most species play a key role as pollinators. In the Canary Islands, the family comprises 52 species, with Fuerteventura and Lanzarote harbouring up to 20 species each. Aphrialatifrons, a Palaearctic tachinid fly, is reported for the first time from the Canary Islands, where it was found on Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. Morphological examination was carried out and the first known barcode of the species is presented. Its potential distribution and source of origin are discussed.

Insects pollinating parsnip Pastinaca sativa l. (Apiaceae) in Moscow province

The purpose of the study was to test the ability of Pastinaca sativa , as one of the plants whose sap contains furanocoumarins, to attract the same types of insects as the most dangerous weed - Sosnowsky’s hogweed, which is widely spread in Russia. As a result, 46 species of pollinating insects from the orders Hymenoptera (3 species), Hemiptera (2 species), Coleoptera (10 species) and Diptera (31 species) have been recorded on P. sativa . Among the latter, representatives of Tachinidae (6 species), Anthomyiidae (6 species), Calliphoridae (4 species), and Syrphidae (4 species) predominated. About 50% of insects pollinating P. sativa are found on other species of umbrella plants, including native species Anthriscus sylvestris , Aegopodium podagraria , Angelica sylvestris ; on horticultural crops: Anethum graveolens , Petroselinum crispum , Carum carvi , Coriandrum sativum , Levisticum o cinale , and on the invasive hogweed Heracleum sosnowskyi . It was not possible to detect any preference of insects for yellow (parsnip, lovage, dill) or white (kupyr, goutweed, angelica, hogweed, parsley, cumin, coriander) corolla color, plant height (from 30 cm to 2 m) or umbrella diameter (from 8 to 30 cm). Among all the captured insects, the following groups can be distinguished: those found on P. sativa and on wild-growing species of Apiaceae - 6 species; on P. sativa and garden crops - 4 species; on P. sativa and Heracleum sosnowskyi - 4 species; found on many species of Apiaceae - 10 species; found only on P. sativa - 24 species.

Diversity and spatial distribution of Order Diptera from Kuala Keniam National Park, Pahang, Malaysia

Diversity and spatial distribution of Order Diptera from Kuala Keniam National Park, Pahang, Malaysia

Diversity and Abundance of Insect Pollinators of Cucurbits at Mid-Hills of Meghalaya, India

The current research was carried out at the ICAR-Research Complex for the North Eastern Hill Region (NEH) in Umiam, Meghalaya to investigate the diversity and abundance of insect pollinators of cucurbits at mid-hills of Meghalaya. Ridge gourd, sponge guard, pumpkin, teasel gourd, chow-chow, bottle guard and cucumber were taken as a target crop to observe the data on diversity and abundance. Total twenty-five (25) pollinators were observed in different cucurbits belongs to order Hymenoptera, Diptera and Lepidoptera which represents that mid-hills of Meghalaya have rich pollinator fauna. Out of 25 insect pollinators 3 pollinators identified from ridge gourd, 6 from sponge gourd, 4 from pumpkin, 3 from bottle gourd, 4 from cucumber, 3 from chow-chow and 2 from teasel gourd. Efficient pollinator was nominated on the basis of their abundance. During investigation it was found that bumble bee emerged as the most abundant pollinator in ridge gourd, pumpkin and sponge gourd. In sponge gourd carpenter bee also showed almost equal abundance. Indian honey bee abundance was high in cucumber and in chow-chow. Among collected pollinators, hymenopterans were the abundant with 80% relative abundance. It is clear from the recorded observation that native bees are equally contributing in pollination service so conservation of these bees is also a demand of nature. Activity time period of pollinators on flowers guided the farmers to avoid pesticide spray during particular time period.

A full repertoire of Hemiptera genomes reveals a multi-step evolutionary trajectory of auto-RNA editing site in insect Adar gene

ABSTRACT Adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing, mediated by metazoan ADAR enzymes, is a prevalent post-transcriptional modification that diversifies the proteome and promotes adaptive evolution of organisms. The Drosophila Adar gene has an auto-recoding site (termed S>G site) that forms a negative-feedback loop and stabilizes the global editing activity. However, the evolutionary trajectory of Adar S>G site in many other insects remains largely unknown, preventing us from a deeper understanding on the significance of this auto-editing mechanism. In this study, we retrieved the well-annotated genomes of 375 arthropod species including the five major insect orders (Lepidoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera and Hemiptera) and several outgroup species. We performed comparative genomic analysis on the Adar auto-recoding S>G site. We found that the ancestral state of insect S>G site was an uneditable serine codon (unSer) and that this state was largely maintained in Hymenoptera. The editable serine codon (edSer) appeared in the common ancestor of Lepidoptera, Diptera and Coleoptera and was almost fixed in the three orders. Interestingly, Hemiptera species possessed comparable numbers of unSer and edSer codons, and a few ‘intermediate codons’, demonstrating a multi-step evolutionary trace from unSer-to-edSer with non-synchronized mutations at three codon positions. We argue that the evolution of Adar S>G site is the best genomic evidence supporting the ‘proteomic diversifying hypothesis’ of RNA editing. Our work deepens our understanding on the evolutionary significance of Adar auto-recoding site which stabilizes the global editing activity and controls transcriptomic diversity.

Characterization of bird, reptile, and insect community diversity in constructed wetlands and waste stabilization ponds across Tanzania

Wastewater treatment systems, such as Constructed Wetlands (CWs) and Waste Stabilization Ponds (WSPs), have untapped biodiversity enhancement and development potential. Birds, insects, and reptiles, which are displaced by human development, might find refuge in these ecosystems. However, the lack of a detailed characterization of the biodiversity status of these wastewater treatment systems hinders their widespread adoption. Point counts, direct observations, and camera traps were used to assess bird diversity across five CWs and three WSPs in Tanzania in 2021. For insects and reptiles, pitfall and pan traps were laid along established transects, in addition, direct observations and fishnets were also used to assess the reptiles dwelling within the WSPs. Abundance, Shannon index, Simpson index, Margalef index, and evenness index were the diversity parameters used to analyze the diversity of birds, insects, and reptiles. Our results show that among the studied groups and between WSPs and CWs, birds had high species abundance (n = 1132), richness, Margalef index (D = 4.266), evenness (E = 0.815), Shannon diversity (H = 2.881) and Simpson index (λ =0.903). The abundance and diversity of studied groups differed significantly (P < 0.05) between WSPs and CWs. Our study also recorded four reptile species belonging to three orders. Molecular analyses confirmed that insect species belong to nine orders and 13 families, with the order Diptera dominating both CWs and WSPs, followed by Orthoptera, Hymenoptera, and Araneae. We conclude that CW and WSP wastewater treatment systems are important for hosting various populations of birds, reptiles, and insect species.

Molecular Characterization of Pollinators in Cotton Ecosystem

DNA barcoding using cytochrome c oxidase I (mtCO1) for molecular characterization is a taxonomic method that uses a short genetic marker in an insect DNA to identify a species, including an unknown species. The coming-to-light of this identification tool is timely when we are facing perhaps the greatest rate of species loss in recent millennia. This study contributes to increasing the number of published accounts of DNA barcoding and accurately distinguishing the pollinator fauna of cotton in Punjab, India. The mtCOI region of all the samples was amplified, cloned and the nucleotide sequences were determined and analyzed. This study reveals that specimens collected in cotton belong to order Hymenoptera and Diptera. Hymenopterans include Apis dorsata, Apis florea, Xylocopa fenestrata, Sceliphron madraspatanum and Polistes wattii. Dipterns include Eristalinus quinquelineatus and Musca convexifrons.

Berberis aristata DC: An Important Winter Foraging Source for Anthophilous Insects in Western Himalaya

The article presents a first-hand study that provides information about the anthophilous insects of Berberis aristata in Nainital Western Himalaya. By using the direct sampling method, a total of 11 species of anthophilous insects were recorded on the medicinally important plant B. aristata. The recorded anthophilous insects were belonging to the order Diptera, Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera. The IVR index value of Apis cerana was recorded as maximum showing that it is a potential pollinator of B. aristata. The study reported a good abundance of anthophilous insects on B. aristata, which revealed that it is a good food source for insects during winter. The study concluded that more efforts should be made to investigate resources that could support and provide switching platforms for pollinators during the winter.

New fly records of potential biological control importance in Saudi Arabia (order Diptera)

BackgroundThe Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in Saudi Arabia has begun funding some projects to set up some agricultural pest control programs. Therefore, it is very important to enumerate all the predacious or parasitic insects that live on or in other agricultural insect pests and have the potential to become biological control agents against these pests.ResultsIn the present study, nine fly species of potential importance in biological pest control are recorded for the first time from Saudi Arabia, namely, Spogostylum ventrale Bezzi, 1924, Prothaplocnemis anthracina (Becker, 1902) [family Bombyliidae], Alloxytropus anomalus Bezzi, 1925, Scenopinus minusculus (Séguy, 1934) [family Scenopinidae], Actorthia frontata Kröber, 1912, Hoplosathe brevistyla Lyneborg & Zaitzev, 1980 [family Therevidae], Hilara sp. [family Empididae], Tomosvaryella demeyeri Kuznetzov, 1993 [family Pipunculidae] and Orchisia costata (Meigen, 1826) [family Muscidae]. In addition, this is the first time to record the four genera Prothaplocnemis Bezzi, Alloxytropus Bezzi, Hilara Meigen and Orchisia Rondani from Saudi Arabia. World and local distributions, diagnoses, feeding behaviors and some colored photographs of recorded species are provided.ConclusionIn the present study, nine species of predacious and parasitic flies belonging to nine genera and six families are recorded for the first time in Saudi Arabia.