Psychodidae Research Articles

New species of Australopericoma Vaillant (Diptera: Psychodidae) from the Brazilian semiarid region and key to males of the genus

ABSTRACTA new species of moth fly, Australopericoma paraibana sp. n., is described from areas of the Brazilian semiarid region, in the states of Paraíba and Bahia, north-eastern Brazil. A key to males of Australopericoma and morphological remarks on Australopericoma caudata (Satchell) are also provided.

Effect of municipal solid waste incinerator types on characteristics of ashes from different air pollution control devices

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the characteristics of fly and bottom ashes sampled from both fluidized bed (FB) and mass-burning (MB) municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWIs), respectively. Fly ashes from different locations at FB and MB MSWIs equipped with a cyclone, a semi-dry scrubber, and a bag filter as air pollution control devices were examined to provide the baseline information between physicochemical properties and leaching ability. Experimental results of leachability indicated that the bag filter fly ash (FB-FA(B)) from the FB incinerator meets Taiwan regulatory standards set through the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure. X-ray diffraction results revealed the presence of Cr5O12 and Pb2O3 in the cyclone fly ash (MB-FA(C)) and bag filter fly ash (MB-FA(B)), respectively, from the MB incinerator. To observe lead incorporation mechanism, mixture of simulate lead-laden waste with bed material were fired between 600 °C and 900 °C in a laboratory scale FB reactor. The results clearly demonstrate a substantial decrease in lead leaching ratio for products with an appropriate temperature. The concentration of Pb in the MB-FA(B) was 250 times that in the FB-FA(B), suggesting that incineration of MSW in FB is a good strategy for stabilizing hazardous metals.

Moth-flame optimization algorithm: A novel nature-inspired heuristic paradigm

In this paper a novel nature-inspired optimization paradigm is proposed called Moth-Flame Optimization (MFO) algorithm. The main inspiration of this optimizer is the navigation method of moths in nature called transverse orientation. Moths fly in night by maintaining a fixed angle with respect to the moon, a very effective mechanism for travelling in a straight line for long distances. However, these fancy insects are trapped in a useless/deadly spiral path around artificial lights. This paper mathematically models this behaviour to perform optimization. The MFO algorithm is compared with other well-known nature-inspired algorithms on 29 benchmark and 7 real engineering problems. The statistical results on the benchmark functions show that this algorithm is able to provide very promising and competitive results. Additionally, the results of the real problems demonstrate the merits of this algorithm in solving challenging problems with constrained and unknown search spaces. The paper also considers the application of the proposed algorithm in the field of marine propeller design to further investigate its effectiveness in practice. Note that the source codes of the MFO algorithm are publicly available at http://www.alimirjalili.com/MFO.html.

Moth flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) of the Moravskoslezské Beskydy Mts and the Podbeskydská pahorkatina Upland, Czech Republic

Abstract The investigation of Psychodidae is still far from finished in the NW part of the Carpathians of the Czech Republic, only 21 species have been published in scattered papers in the past. Altogether 36 genera of moth flies and 84 species including 20 threatened or rare taxa are recorded in this study from 8 localities: 5 mountainous and 3 submountainous sites. Katamormia niesiolowskii (Wagner, 1985) and Threticus negrobovi Vaillant, 1972 are new for the fauna of the Czech Republic, Katamormia strobli Ježek, 1986 and Philosepedon (Philothreticus) soljani Krek, 1971 are new for Moravia (incl. Silesia); three species are new for the Carpathians Mts generally, and 9 for the Carpathians Mts. of the Czech Republic. The total number of moth flies in CZ is increased to 175 species. The communities of moth flies of the preserved areas and localities studied here (in contrast to Kněhyňka 2.) are among the richest sites in the Czech Republic.

Faunistic and bibliographical inventory of the Psychodinae moth-flies of North Africa (Diptera, Psychodidae).

All published records for the 49 species of moth flies known from North Africa are reviewed and discussed: Morocco (27 species), Algeria (33 species), Tunisia (18 species) and Egypt (five species). In addition, records of seven species of Psychodinae new to the fauna of Morocco are added, of which three are new mentions for North Africa (Table 1) and one is a new record for Egypt. Telmatoscopus squamifer Tonnoir, 1922 is transferred to the genus Iranotelmatoscopus Ježek, 1987, comb. n. Satchelliella reghayana Boumezzough & Vaillant, 1987 is transferred to the genus Pneumia Enderlein, 1935, comb. n. Pneumia aberrans Tonnoir, 1922 is transferred to the subgenus Logima.

Chemical composition and physical properties of filter fly ashes from eight grate-fired biomass combustion plants

For the handling, treatment and utilization of fly ash from biomass combustion its chemical composition and physical properties are important. In this study eight filter fly ashes from different grate-fired biomass combustion plants were investigated. In fly ash from straw combustion high concentrations of (K) were found, whereas in the fly ash from wood combustion the concentrations of Ca and Mg were higher. The average concentration of PO43− was similar in both types of fly ashes. In all wood fly ashes some measured heavy metal concentrations were above the limits for utilization. The straw fly ashes were much less contaminated and can be utilized. For wood fly ash most parameters showed little variation, except from one fly ash where the dust pre-separator is in poor condition. The average values were: mass median diameter 4.3±0.8μm, spread of particle size distribution 19±11, particle density 2620±80kg/m3 and angle of repose 50°±1°. The density of the straw fly ashes is lower (2260±80kg/m3) and the spread of the size distribution is higher (72±24). For one straw combustion fly ash the values of the mass median diameter and the angle of repose were similar to the values of wood combustion fly ash, for the other straw fly ash the values differed considerably. While the particle size of this fly ash was much smaller, surprisingly the angle of repose was also lower. This can be attributed to the formation of small agglomerates in this fly ash, which were not disintegrated without a certain stress.

Prodromus of moth flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) from Slovakia

Abstract First records of fourteen species of moth flies are from Slovakia mentioned: Apsycha pusilla (Tonnoir, 1922), Clytocerus (Boreoclytocerus) splendidus Ježek & Hájek, 2007, C. (B.) tetracorniculatus Wagner, 1977, Jungiella (Jungiella) hygrophila Ježek, 1987, J. (J.) valachica (Vaillant, 1963), J. (Psychocha) laminata (Szabó, 1960), Parajungiella prikryli Ježek, 1999, Pericoma (Pericoma) exquisita Eaton, 1893, P. (P.) ljubiniensis Krek, 1969, P. (P.) vestita Vaillant & Withers, 1993, Psychoda alticola Vaillant, 1973, P. uniformata Haseman, 1907, Pneumia compta (Eaton, 1893) and P. kabelaki Omelková & Ježek, 2012. Records on the basis of larvae of Berdeniella manicata (Tonnoir, 1920), Pericoma (Pericoma) pseudoexquisita Tonnoir, 1940 and Pneumia stammeri (Jung, 1956) in the past are first time confirmed as adults from Slovakia. Some detailed important morphological characters males of two selected species Pericoma (Pericoma) exquisita and P. (P.) pseudoexquisita are figured. All credible and available data of non-biting moth flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) from Slovakia were summarized (396 localities) and many new collecting sites (visited by different collectors from 1977 to 2013) added (188 localities). A suitable grid mapping for Central Europe was used. A preliminary conservation status of 51 rare species is discussed. The speciesrichness of the psychodid fauna in Slovakia is increased by this paper to 117 species.

Checklist of the Diptera (Insecta) of Finland: an introduction and a summary of results.

Nearly thirty-five years have passed since Hackman published his “Check list of the Finnish Diptera” (1980). The number of true flies (Diptera) known from Finland has increased by more than two thousand species since then. At the same time, hundreds of erroneous records have been recognized and purged from the checklist.ZooKeys issue 441 provides a new checklist of the Diptera species of the Republic of Finland. This introductory paper presents the rationale behind the project, provides technical documentation on the checklist format and sources used, and summarizes the results. The remaining papers in this issue cover one or more Diptera families in detail.Two electronic appendices are provided: supporting data (additional references to first published records and the previous checklist) and a complete list of Finnish Diptera taxa in Darwin Core compliant format for easy computer access and processing.The new checklist records 6920 fly species from Finland, 2932 belonging to the nematoceran or lower flies and 3989 to the suborder Brachycera. The changes since 1980 are most prominent in the Lower Diptera. For example, more than 400 non-biting midges (Chironomidae) have been added since 1980, and the number of moth flies (Psychodidae) known from Finland has more than tripled. Among the larger families, large increases in known Finnish species are also seen in Cecidomyiidae (161% increase), Pipunculidae (98%), and Chironomidae (90%).

Primer registro de Nemopalpus phoenimimos Quate & Alexander, 2000 (Diptera, Psychodidae, Bruchomyiinae) en Venezuela

Se registra por primera vez la presencia en Venezuela del díptero-psicódido de la subfamilia Bruchomyiinae Nemopalpus phoenimimos Quate & Alexander, 2000. Se capturaron dos especímenes a 2200 m de altitud en Escagüey (8°42’31.19”N; 70°59’41.25”W), estado Mérida, en la región andina de Venezuela. Este registro representa la segunda especie de Nemopalpus Macquart,1838 reportada para el país.

Visual ground pattern modulates flight speed of male Oriental fruit moth Grapholita molesta

AbstractInsects flying in a horizontal pheromone plume must attend to visual cues to ensure that they make upwind progress. Moreover, it is suggested that flying insects will also modulate their flight speed to maintain a constant retinal angular velocity of terrestrial contrast elements. Evidence from flies and honeybees supports such a hypothesis, although tests with male moths and beetles flying in pheromone plumes are not conclusive. These insects typically fly faster at higher elevations above a high‐contrast ground pattern, as predicted by the hypothesis, although the increase in speed is not sufficient to demonstrate quantitatively that they maintain constant visual angular velocity of the ground pattern. To test this hypothesis more rigorously, the flight speed of male oriental fruit moths (OFM) Grapholita molesta Busck (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) flying in a sex pheromone plume in a laboratory wind tunnel is measured at various heights (5–40 cm) above patterns of different spatial wavelength (1.8–90°) in the direction of flight. The OFM modulate their flight speed three‐fold over different patterns. They fly fastest when there is no pattern in the tunnel or the contrast elements are too narrow to resolve. When the spatial wavelength of the pattern is sufficiently wide to resolve, moths fly at a speed that tends to maintain a visual contrast frequency of 3.5 ± 3.2 Hz rather than a constant angular velocity, which varies from 57 to 611° s−1. In addition, for the first time, it is also demonstrated that the width of a contrast pattern perpendicular to the flight direction modulates flight speed.

Population-level effects of fitness costs associated with repressible female-lethal transgene insertions in two pest insects.

Genetic control strategies offer great potential for the sustainable and effective control of insect pests. These strategies involve the field release of transgenic insects with the aim of introducing engineered alleles into wild populations, either permanently or transiently. Their efficacy can therefore be reduced if transgene-associated fitness costs reduce the relative performance of released insects. We describe a method of measuring the fitness costs associated with transgenes by analyzing their evolutionary trajectories when placed in competition with wild-type alleles in replicated cage populations. Using this method, we estimated lifetime fitness costs associated with two repressible female-lethal transgenes in the diamondback moth and olive fly as being acceptable for field suppression programs. Furthermore, using these estimates of genotype-level fitness costs, we were able to project longer-term evolutionary trajectories for the transgenes investigated. Results from these projections demonstrate that although transgene-associated fitness costs will ultimately cause these transgenes to become extinct, even when engineered lethality is repressed, they may persist for varying periods of time before doing so. This implies that tetracycline-mediated transgene field persistence in these strains is unlikely and suggests that realistic estimates of transgene-associated fitness costs may be useful in trialing ‘uncoupled’ gene drive system components in the field.

Catalogue of the type material of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae) deposited in the Instituto Evandro Chagas, Brazil

The available type material of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae) deposited in the “Coleção de Flebotomíneos” of the Instituto Evandro Chagas (ColFleb IEC) is now presented in an annotated catalogue comprising a total of 121 type specimens belonging to 12 species as follow: Nyssomyia richardwardi (2 female paratypes), Nyssomyia shawi (9 male and 25 female paratypes), Nyssomyia umbratilis (female holotype and 1 female paratype), Nyssomyia yuilli yuilli (1 male and 1 female paratypes), Pintomyia gruta (1 male and 2 female paratypes), Psychodopygus lainsoni (2 male syntypes), Psychodopygus leonidasdeanei (male holotype, female “allotype” and 45 female paratypes), Psychodopygus llanosmartinsi (2 female paratypes), Psychodopygus wellcomei (1 male and 4 female “syntypes”), Trichophoromyia readyi (male holotype, female “allotype” and 1 male paratype), Trichophoromyia adelsonsouzai (male holotype, 13 male 5 female paratypes), and Trichophoromyia brachipyga (1 male paratype).

PRELIMINARY ELECTRON-MICROSCOPE STUDIES OF FERTILISATION IN TELMATOSCOPUS ALBIPUNCTATUS (WILLISTON) (DIPTERA PSYCHODIDAE)

SUMMARY The results of preliminary studies of fertilisation in Telmatoscopus albipunctatus (Williston) (Diptera Psychodidae) are described. In this species the spermatheca is missing, consequently the sperms are injected deeply into the female apparatus during mating. The sperms are immotile and devoid also of the accessory structure which substitute the flagellar complex; they are even unable to acquire motility after chemical treatment. The eggs are, however, normal; in fact, they are provided with common inclusions, a normally constituted chorion and a micropyle like a corolla of petal-shaped platelets. Probably the sperms reach the micropyle as a results of the activity of the slender filaments present near it.

New moth flies (Diptera: Psychodidae: Psychodinae) from Turkey

Specimens of moth flies (Diptera: Psychodidae: Psychodinae) were sampled in southwest Anatolia and the European part of Turkey between 2003 and 2009. Samples contained nine species new to science: Ulomyia asiaminorica sp. n., Pneumia pellucida sp. n., Berdeniella turcica sp. n., B. aktashi sp. n., Clytocerus thracicus sp. n., Jungiella afyonica sp. n., J. geniculatoides sp. n., J. barlasi sp. n., and Telmatoscopus remotus sp.n. The new species are described and illustrated. Distributional data for a total of 45 species are provided. 63 species of Psychodinae are now known to occur in Turkey.

Lightweight Artificial Aggregate Based on Fly Ash for New Rehabilitation Materials

During rehabilitation work are often strict requirements on the use of high quality lightweight materials, including aggregate. Due the constantly increasing social pressure on the optimal use of secondary raw materials is therefore most appropriate to exploit the potential of fly ash as mineral residue from the combustion of ground coal in power plants. Especially filter fly ash has proven to be an adequate substitute for traditional materials in the past. This article deals with the evaluation of physical and mechanical properties of cold-consolidated pellets based on conventional and fluidized fly ash with various cement addition.

SERGENTOMYA FALLAX (DIPTERA: PSYCHODIDAE: PHLEBOTOMINAE) FEEDS ON BLOOD IN THE EXTERNAL EAR OF THE GECKO PTYODACTYLUS HASSELQUISTII

ABSTRACT Sandflies belonging to Sergentomya fallax (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) were found gorged with blood in the external ear chamber of the gecko Ptyodactylus hasselquistii. Of all the blood parasite species in the host, only two were found so far in the sandfly.

Role of the moth fly Clogmia albipunctata (Diptera: Psychodinae) as a mechanical vector of bacterial pathogens in German hospitals

The formerly Mediterranean moth fly species Clogmia albipunctata (Diptera: Psychodidae) is now present in Germany, where it has become a common, year-round pest in hospital buildings. To investigate the potential of C. albipunctata to transport and transmit bacterial pathogens in infested German hospitals. From June 2011 to May 2012, 271 adult C. albipunctata were collected from four infested hospitals and analysed qualitatively and, in part, quantitatively, for bacterial colonization. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed for selected nosocomial pathogens. Forty-five bacterial species representing 40 genera were found to be colonizing C. albipunctata. Among the bacteria isolated were Acinetobacter baumannii, Aeromonas hydrophila, Alcaligenes faecalis, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae ssp. pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P. fluorescens and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, with colonization rates of 0-17.5%, 0-16.7%, 0-12.5%, 0-62.1%, 0-2.5%, 0-4.1%, 0-12.5%, 0-7.6% and 0-10%, respectively. Additionally, one strain of both Yersinia frederiksenii and Nocardia spp. was detected. Unlike 11 strains of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) S. maltophilia collected from one hospital, no MDR Enterobacteriaceae were isolated. Acinetobacter spp. colonized C. albipunctata at rates from 2.9% to 36.8%, and revealed a high affinity for the exoskeleton, with up to 2080 colony-forming units per moth fly for A. baumannii. C. albipunctata is a potential mechanical vector of bacterial pathogens associated with nosocomial infections.

A rare urogenital myiasis caused by Psychoda albipennis: a case report

Myiasis is the infestation of body tissues or organs by dipterous fly species and is often associated with poor hygiene. Urogenital myiasis is uncommon, and Psychoda albipennis-induced urogenital myiasis is very rare. In this article, we present a case of urinary myiasis caused by Psychoda albipennis. The patient claimed that he had observed more than 10 black-grayish-colored mobile particles in his urine. We identified them as the fourth stage of the moth fly Psychoda albipennis. The patient was a farmer and lived in Ankara, Turkey. He was treated with antibiotics, and there were no complications during or after treatment.

Gedenkschrift for Brian Roy Stuckenberg (1930–2009)

Three years ago our esteemed colleague Brian Stuckenberg, the doyen of Afrotropical dipterology, left his professional fraternity and this world. Time flies like an arrow, yet our memories of Brian do not fade. This is best attested by the present issue of African Invertebrates that commemorates Brian's life and scientific career with contributions made by 37 fellow dipterists from 15 countries. The Gedenkschrift opens with a dedication article by A.H. Kirk-Spriggs, who provides a biography and summary of Brian's major achievements. The article is supplemented by Brian's previously unpublished reports on his two Madagascan expeditions and includes a full list of his publications. The following 20 articles deal with the taxonomy, nomenclature, systematics and biogeography of representatives of 19 families of nematoceran and brachyceran Diptera. In total, four new genera and 58 new species are described, with one genus and 16 species named after Brian. Most papers include identification keys. All articles are of a high standard and make a substantial addition to our knowledge of Afrotropical Diptera, still I would like to highlight several contributions. T. Dikow's detailed review of the Mydidae tribe Halterorchini is the first cybertaxonomic article in the history of African Invertebrates . By providing hyperlinks to ZooBank, Morphbank and GBIF, it sets a new standard for future taxonomic publications in the journal. J.-H. Stuke's revision of Stylogaster (Conopidae) is the most comprehensive and richly illustrated study done on this genus in the Afrotropics, and is directly linked to Brian's interest in this genus back in 1960s. Brian also had a particular interest in the bruchomyiine moth flies (Psychodidae) and himself contributed to the study of fossil and modern representatives of the genus Nemopalpus in the article prepared by R. Wagner. The Afrotropical Diptera fauna is still far from being exhaustively known, and Brian's legacy for the present and upcoming generations of dipterists is to study it in its entirety. I wish to thank all contributors to this Gedenkschrift and numerous reviewers, who critically evaluated all the manuscripts. Dr A.H. Kirk-Spriggs solicited contributions, co-ordinated the peer-review process and handled correspondence with the authors; this project would not have succeeded without him. I am grateful to Prof. D.J. Brothers, who expertly commented on numerous manuscripts and generously undertook the laborious task of language editing; copy-editing was also done by Prof. M.B. Markus. I sincerely appreciate meticulous work of Mr B. Muller, our graphics editor, and Dr M. Ovechkina, who did the proof-reading of each article and the entire issue. Last but not least, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Deputy Director of the KwaZulu-Natal Museum Mr S. Miya and the Chief Financial Manager Mr M. Mazibuko for their overall and financial support of the journal. I regret that some manuscripts could not be included in this Gedenkschrift due to technical reasons; they will be published in the next issue of African Invertebrates , thus continuing to commemorate Brian. To cite this paper: Mostovski, M. 2012. Gedenkschrift for Brian Roy Stuckenberg (1930-2009). African Invertebrates 53 (1): (2).

Full-scale trials of external nitrification on plastic media nitrifying trickling filter

The full-scale single-stage tertiary nitrifying trickling filter (NTF) at the Citrusdal Wastewater Treatment Plant provides for external nitrification of unclarified effluent from the facultative aerobic lagoon in order to meet standard effluent ammonia concentration requirements. The apparent ammonia nitrification rate (ApANR, gN/m2 media surface·d) of the NTF was sensitive to particulate organic loading rates which were predominantly in the form of algae, and the soluble COD removal rates increased under cold climates. Installation of forced-air ventilation fans improved the nitrification efficiency from 15% to 43%. An increase in hydraulic loading rate (HLR) by effluent recirculation significantly improved the ApANR, eradicated filter flies and decreased the prevalence of worms. Maximum ApANR of ~1.0 gN/m2·d was achieved yielding an ammonia- removal efficiency of approximately 71%. Profile samples collected along the NTF media depth indicated poor media wetting at low HLR resulting in low ApANR (<0.5 gN/m2·d). Also during the cold and rainy winter period, poor biofilm activity and prevalence of motile algae were observed, and under low hydraulic loading rates and warmer temperatures, a dominance of filter flies and fly larvae were observed. In contrast, in controlled laboratory studies, ApANRs up to 1.72 gN/m2·d (22.1 mgN/l removal) were attained, which, in conformity with full-scale, was also found to be sensitive to hydraulic loading conditions.