Phaenicia Eximia Research Articles

Ecología de una taxocenosis de Calliphoridae del área platense (Provincia de Buenos Aires) (Insecta, Diptera)

This paper constitutes the first approach to the knowledge of the ecology of Calliphoridae from Argentina. The selected stüdied area is a rural one located at 34°55’S and 58° W in the suburbs of Villa Elisa, Province of Buenos Aires. Samples were taken hourly from 10.15 am to 4.15 pm, every month from November 1985 to October 1986. Specimens were captured with entomological net while lying on the bait composed by cow meat. The sampling program included shaded and unshaded sites. Air temperature was recorded every hour. Results showed a remarkable heliophily for some of the recorded species. Chrysomya albiceps, Phaenicia sericata, Phaenicia purpurescens and Cochlipmyia macellaria were codominants during spring and summer, while Calliphora vicina and Calliphora nigribasis were so along the winter months. Chrysomya megacephala, Cochliomyia hominivorax,. Compsomyiops fulvierura, Paralucilia fulvinota, Phaenicia eximia, and Sarconesia chlorogaster were poorly represented for most o f the sampling dates. Sex ratio was female biased for the majority of the studied species.

OCORRÊNCIA E FREQÜÊNCIA DE CALIFORÍDEOS E SACOFAGÍDEOS EM FORMAÇÕES DE MATA E CERRASO NO MUNICÍPIO DE GOIÂNIA – GOIÁS OCCURRENCE AND FREQUENCY OF CALLIPHORIDAE AND SARCOPHAGIDAE IN DENSE BUSH AND CERRADO FORMATIONS IN THE CITY OF GOIÂNIA -GO

Collections performed in distinct ecological areas, during the rainy and dry seasons, in Goiânia — Goias, Brazil, 1975, allowed the determination of eight species of Calliphoridae and Sarcophagidae and of the local vegetation. A variation of the frequency of flies in the two collection areas and in the two periods of the year was studied too, as well as their liking for attractive substracts. The species Phaenicia eximia, Phaenicia Sericata and Oxysarcodexia paulistanensis were not found in the woods, while Hemilucilia segmentaria were found only in this area. The other species were found in both areas.

Nocturnal Light and Temperature Influences on Necrophagous, Carrion-Associating Blow Fly Species (Diptera:Calliphoridae) of Forensic Importance in Central Texas

The blow flies, Phaenicia eximia (Wiedemann) and Cochliomyia macellaria (F.), oviposited nocturnally on ground beef under artificial lighting of at least 1,500 footcandles at temperatures 26°C or higher during onsets of low-atmospheric pressure at study sites near Snook, Texas, during 2003. Nocturnal oviposition was replicated five times during 14 spring season experiments and three times during 14 summer season experiments conducted under similar conditions.

Species composition and seasonal succession of saprophagous calliphorids in a rural area of Córdoba: Argentina

During 2004, four experiments were carried out, one each season, in order to determine the species composition and seasonal dynamics of Calliphoridae in a rural area of Córdoba (Argentina). Two pigs (Sus scrofa L.), weighing approximately 8 Kg each, were used in each experiment. They were killed with a blow to the head and immediately placed in a variant of the Schoenly et al. (1991) trap. One pig was exposed in the shade and the other one under direct sunlight. The insect fauna was collected daily during the four first weeks and every two or three days thereafter. A total of 16.609 adults of Calliphoridae were collected, and later on identified as one of the following seven species: Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann), Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius), Phaenicia sericata (Meigen), Phaenicia eximia (Wiedemann), Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius), Sarconesia chlorogaster (Wiedemann) and Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy. C. albiceps was the dominant species in summer, autumn and spring, being replaced in winter by C. vicina, S. chlorogaster and P. sericata. The analysis of the seasonal distribution of the species revealed that the greater incidences are in the months of summer, autumn and spring.

Diversity of Calliphoridae (Diptera) in Brazil's Tinguá Biological Reserve

The Calliphoridae are flies of great ecological, medical and sanitary importance because they are decomposers of organic matter, mechanical vectors of pathogenic agents, and causers of myiasis. This paper attempts to ascertain the diversity of Calliphoridae in the Tinguá Biological Reserve and correlate meteorological data (temperature, relative humidity of the air, and precipitation) with the occurrence of these flies. The study was conducted at a site in the Tinguá Biological Reserve, located in the municipality of Nova Iguaçu, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Four traps were set up using chicken viscera as bait. The experiment was conducted over the period of May 2001 to April 2002, with two monthly collections. The captured flies were killed with ether and conserved in 70% alcohol and identified in the Laboratory of Diptera Studies (UNIRIO) and the Laboratory of Vector Insect Biology and Control (FIOCRUZ), both headquartered in the city of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. A total of 1,987 insects were captured, 37.5% belonging to the family Calliphoridae, 29.4% to Muscidae, 16.0% to Sarcophagidae, and 17.1% to other families. The most representative species found was Phaenicia eximia (47.0%), followed by Hemilucilia semidiaphana (23.6%), Mesembrinella bellardiana (13.7%), Hemilucilia segmentaria (7.5%), Chloroprocta idioidea (4.9%), Chrysomya albiceps (1.2%), Chrysomya megacephala (0.9%), Phaenicia sericata (0.6%), Eumesembrinella sp. (0.5%), and Chrysomya putoria (0.1%). Large numbers of Calliphoridae were noted in May, June, September and January, coinciding with low rainfall and an average temperature of 21.8 to 27.0 degrees C. A negative correlation was found between the number of Calliphoridae captured and meteorological factors.

Trophic niches in calyptrate Diptera in Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Niche breadth and niche overlap of flies were estimated. The flies were breeding in different environments in Rio de Janerio (rural, urban and forest). It were used as a larvae substrate: banana mashed, mouse carcass, fish (sardine), bovine liver, shrimp and fresh human faeces. It were bred 14,294 flies, belonging to four families: Calliphoridae, Fanniidae, Muscidae and Sarcophagidae. The greater niche overlap values observed were: rural area: Phaenicia cuprina versus Chrysomya megacephala; urban area: Phaenicia eximia versus Sarcodexia innota and P. eximia versus Synthesiomyia nudiseta; forest area: P. eximia versus Hemilucilia flavifacies. The greater niche breadth recorded were: rural area: Peckia chrysostoma; urban area: S. nudiseta and Musca domestica; forest area: Euboettcheria collusor and P. eximia.

A preliminary analysis of insects of medico-legal importance in Curitiba, State of Paraná.

A survey of the carrion fauna was made at two sites in Curitiba, State of Paraná, with the objective of describing the insects associated with carrion and setting up a preliminary data-base for medico-legal purposes in south Brazil. Vertebrate exclusion experiments were carried out in each season between 1994 and 1995 with a 250 g laboratory-bred rat (Rattus norvegicus). Five stages of decomposition were identified: fresh, bloated, decaying, dry and adipocere-like. Some species showed seasonal and site preference and so could be used to identify the probable place and season where death took place. Sarconesia chlorogaster (Diptera, Calliphoridae) was restricted to an open field site and to cooler months. Hemilucilia semidiaphana (Diptera, Calliphoridae) and Pattonella resona (Diptera, Sarcophagidae) were restricted to the forest site and warmer months. Phaenicia eximia (Diptera, Calliphoridae) and Oxyletrum discicolle (Coleoptera, Silphidae) were present at both sites throughout the year and could be useful for population level analysis. Dissochaetus murray (Coleoptera, Cholevidae) was present throughout the year at the forest site and was associated with the adipocere-like stage. Ants played an important role producing post-mortem injuries to the carcasses. Insects of 32 species are reported as being useful in community level approaches.

Diptera and Coleoptera of potential forensic importance in southeastern Brazil: relative abundance and seasonality.

To determine the species of Diptera and Coleoptera that visit and breed in carrion, four experiments, one for each season, were conducted from November 1992 to October 1993 in the vicinity of Campinas city, Southeastern Brazil. For each experiment two pigs weighting c. 10 kg were killed with a blow to the head with a blunt metallic object and immediately exposed, one in the shade and the other under sunlight. Adult insects and larvae leaving the carcass to pupate were collected daily. In addition, female blowflies were dissected in order to determine the stage of ovarian development. Five species of Calliphoridae: Chrysomya albiceps, C. megacephala, C.putoria, Phaenicia eximia and Hemilucilia segmentaria; three of Sarcophagidae; Pattonella intermutans, Liopygia ruficornis and Adiscochaeta ingens, and three of beetles: Dermestes maculatus, D. peruvianus (Dermestidae) and Necrobia rufipes (Cleridae), were considered of potential forensic importance, for they were able to breed in carrion exposed to natural environmental conditions. In addition, several fly species showed a definite seasonal pattern, with the Calliphoridae breeding more frequently during the warmer months of the year, and the Sarcophagidae preferring the cooler periods.

Primary myiasis in dog caused by Phaenicia eximia (Diptera:Calliphoridae) and preliminary mitochondrial DNA analysis of the species in Brazil.

A case of primary myiasis in a dog caused by Phaenicia eximia (Robineau-Desvoidy) in Brazil is presented. A young and healthy female dog, Canis familiaris, approximately 10 d old and still under maternal care, was found to have several eggs and 1st instars larvae in its abdomen and urogenital regions. Samples were collected in Campinas, São Paulo, and transferred to the laboratory for rearing and identification. A comparative analysis of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) with 12 restriction enzymes in 2 sampled populations of P. eximia collected in different hosts (live dog and bovine carcass) and in the same locality revealed that 4, EcoRI, EcoRV, HaeIII, and MspI were suitable for detecting mtDNA markers in the 2 populations.

Calliphoridae (Diptera) da bacia do alto rio Urucu, Amazônia Central, Brasil

Calliphoridae of the region of the upper Urucu river basin, West of the city of Manaus, Amazonas State, Brazil, were sludied considering composition and abundance of the species, capturing 14729 specimen distributcd as follows: Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius) (12643), Chloroprocta idioidea (Robineau-Desvoidy) (1667), Phaenicia eximia (Wiedemann) (354), Hemilucilia semidiaphana (Rondani) (54), H. segmentaria (Fabricius) (6), Chrysomya pularia (Wiedemann) (1) e C. albiceps (Wiedemann) (1). The rcsults showthat Cochliomyia macellaria has a facility to adapt rapidly to an environment changed by man. The fact that was registered two specimen of Chrysomya Robineau-Desvoidy in highly isolated localilies contributed to showthc ability of thesc flics in cxploring the availablc mechanisms to reach remote places, re-einphasizing the concept of high capacily of expansion ofthis species. The possibilities of colonization ofthis area by pioneer species of Chrysomya was discus-sed, considering the local environmental conditions. The importance of studies of endemic calliphorids (lies in areas withoul prescnce of pioncers, in order to better understand the mechanisms of adaptation used by these species were striked.

Ovipositional substrates used by Calyptrate Diptera in Tijuca forest, Rio de Janeiro

Twenty seven species of calyptrate muscoids were reared from a forested area of Rio de Janeiro (Tijuca Forest). Substrates for obtaining flies were beef liver, fish, mouse, frog, shrimp, snail carcasses, human faeces, banana and papaya fruits. The most frequent species found were: Fannia sp. (subgroup pusio) (49.9% on shrimp). Hemilucilia flavifacies (95.0% on liver). Phaenicia eximia (49.4% on mouse), Synthesiomyia nudiseta ( 100.0% on fish), Ophyra aenescens (100.0% on shrimp), Oxyvinia excisa (100.0% on faeces), Euboettecheria collusor (52.4% on faeces) and Pattonella intermutans (61.0% on frog).

Capture of Caliptrate flies with different breeding substrates on beaches in Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

Muscidae flies belonging to four Familia and 13 species in a total number of 3.652 specimens were collected from beaches at Ilha do Governador, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil using different breeding substrates, and subsequently bred in the laboratory. Captures were done from April to November 1989, using in a first phase different substrates: fruits (banana and papaya), vegtable (tomato), animal viscera (bovine liver), marine animals (fish, crab, shrimp, squid), mouse carcass and feaces (human and canine). The species collected more often were: Fannia sp. (subgroup pusio), Chrysomya megacephala, Phaenicia eximia, Synthesiomyia nudiseta, Peckya chrysostoma, Musca domestica and Atherigona orientalis. In a later phase, only fish was used, as bait and placed directly on the beach sand. From a total of 189 pupae, the following adult specimen were obtained: Peckia chrysostoma (58.06%), Chrysomya megacephala (30.64%) and in lesser numbers Synthesiomyia nudiseta and Phaenicia eximia.

Calliphoridae (Diptera) em Manaus, Amazonas: II. Padrão de atividade de vôo em cinco espécies

Five species of calliphorid flies, Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794), C. putoria (Wiedemann, 1830), C. albiceps (Wiedemann. 1819), Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius, 1775) and Phaenicia eximia (Wiedemann, 1819), were collected hourly belween 6:00 and 18:00h., during five consecutive days per month for 12 moths; using home-made traps baited with rotting bovine lung. The data were statisticaly analyzed with relation to precipitation, temperature, relative humidity and luminosity. The results indicate that precipitation must have acted upon the seasonal abundance of the species, and that these responded equally to temperature, relative humidity and luminosity, throughout the entire day, except for P. eximia, which exhibited greater sensibility to these factors, demonstrating greater activity during the morning hours. The geographic expansion of invader species, associated to the tolerance to climatic variations was briefily discussed.

Muscóides sinantrópicos associados ao lixo urbano em Goiânia, Goiás

The occurrence of synanthropic muscoids associated with the urban garbage in the town of Goiânia, Goias, Brazil was investigated from March, 1987 to February, 1988. Flies were captured by entomological nets in four different sites: periodical food markets, popular markets, garbage containers and the municipal refuse dump. The following species were founded: Phaenicia eximia, P. sericata, P. cuprina, Chrysomya putoria. C. albiceps, C. megacephala, Musca domestica, Ophyra sp., Fannia sp. and several species of Sarcophagidae.

Substratos utilizados para a criação de dípteros caliptratos no jardim zoológico do Rio de Janeiro (Rio-Zoo)

No Rio-Zoo, foram criados 7.377 dípteros caliptratos, pertencentes a quatro famílias e 22 espécies. As criações foram efetuadas de agosto de 1987 a abril de 1988. Foram utilizados como substratos de criação: banana, camarão, carcaça de camundongo,fezes caninas, fezes humanas, fígado bovino, lula, mamão, peixe, siri e tomate. As espécies criadas com maior freqüência foram: Fannia sp. (subgrupo pusio), Atherigona orientalis, Chrysomyia megacephala, Phaenicia eximia. Paraphrissopoda chrysosotoma, Ophyra aenescens, Synthesiomyia nudiseta, Ophyra chalcogaster, Oxisarcodexia fluminensis e Hemilucilia segmentaria. Foi efetuado um estudo, ainda que incompleto, das espécies que se desenvolvem em fezes de animais cativos do Rio-Zoo. Dentre as mais freqüentes destacam-se: Fannia sp., Sarcophagula occidua, Ophyra chalgogaster, Ravinia belforti e Phaenicia eximia.

The occurrence of primary myiasis in cats caused by Phaenicia eximia (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

The occurrence of primary myiasis in cats caused by Phaenicia eximia (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Diseminación de enteroparasitos por Calliphoridae (Insecta, Diptera)

It is establish the dissemination enteroparasite by Calliphoridae in a district situated around by Federal Capital of Argentina. The species implicated in this dispersal are: Phaenicia sericata (meigen, 1826); Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830; Chrysomya chloropyga (Wiedemann, 1818) and Phaenicia eximia (Wiedemann, 1819). Fifty two flies was studies, thirty four (65%) to belong at the family Calliphoridae. Of this thirteen (38%) have eggs of taeniid and cysts of Entamoeba coli (Grassi, 1879) and Giardia lamblia Styles, 1915.

Substratos utilizados para a criação de dípteros caliptratos em uma área urbana do Município do Rio de Janeiro

Em uma área urbana do município do Rio de Janeiro, foram criados 10.988 dípteros caliptratos, pertencentes a quatro famílias e 22 espécies. As criações foram efetuadas em quatro etapas durante os anos de 1986 a 1987. Foram utilizados como substratos: peixe, fígado, carcaça de camundongo, fezes humanas e caninas, camarão, siri, banana, manga mamaão e tomate. As espécies criadas com maior freqüência foram: Fania sp (subgrupo pusio), Atherigona orientalis, Phaenicia eximia, Paraphrissopoda chrisostoma, Chrisomyia megacephala, Ophyra solitaria, Musca domestica, Synthesiomyia nudiseta, Phaenicia cuprina, Ophyra aenescens, Sarcophagula occidua, Morellia flavicornis, e Sarcodexia innota.

Selective attractiveness of rodent-baited traps for female blowflies.

Five species of Calliphoridae, mostly females, were collected using fly-traps baited with freshly killed rodent carcasses. Female blowflies were examined to determine the stages of ovarian development. The traps were selective for certain ovarian stages which varied according to the species. Phaenicia eximia (Wiedemann) was attracted to the traps mainly to oviposit, whereas females of Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann), C. putoria (Wiedemann) and C. megacephala (Fabricius) were captured in intermediate stages of oogenesis but seldom with eggs mature for oviposition. It is concluded that this kind of baited trap is unsuitable for the collection of male blowflies and that samples of female blowflies are specifically biased in favour of certain ovarian conditions.

Distribution and Medical Ecology of the Blow Flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) of Peru1

The altitudinal distribution and medical ecology of 26 species of blow flies along an Andean transect in central Peru are given, based on ca. 25,000 flies collected in 1979, 1980, and 1981. Five species are reported for the first time from Peru: Hemilucilia hermanlenti Mello, Phaenicia eximia (Wiedemann), Phaenicia ochricornis (Wiedemann), Phaenicia sericata (Meigen), and Sarconesia versicolor Bigot. In the wet season, when flies are most abundant, and on the eastern slope of the Andes, species richness was greatest at 1,800 m at eusynanthropic and hemisynanthropic sites, and at 200 m at asynanthropic sites. Although the western slope had fewer species, richness was maximum near the same altitude. In general, species diversity was greater near human habitats than in the wild. Ten species showed an upward shift of 300 to 600 m in their range in the wet season, with few species invading another biotic zone. The synanthropic indices of 13 species at 200, 1,000, 2,500, and 4,000 m in wet and dry seasons are given. Three of five species showed increased synanthropy with elevation and two of eight species increased synanthropy in the dry season. The bait preferences of 20 species, the propensity of 14 species to enter homes, and the diurnal activity curves of 9 species are presented. Based on this study, the medically most important blow flies in Peru are Cochliomyia macellaria (F.), P. eximia, Phaenicia ibis (Shannon), Sarconesia magellanica (LeGuillou), Sarconesia chlorogaster (Wiedemann), and Compsomyiops spp., with a combined range from tropic to alpine zones. The ecological niches of 26 species are defined according to altitude, synanthropy, food preferences, endophily/exophily, and diurnal flight patterns.