Dipteran Pupae Research Articles

Biological parameters of Muscidifurax raptorellus (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) on Bactrocera oleae (Diptera: Tephritidae), the key pest of olives

ABSTRACT The olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae, is one of the main pests of this crop and its control requires the development of methods environmentally safer than those used mostly nowadays, being biological control a possible alternative. Accordingly, the capacity of parasitisation and the biological parameters of Muscidifurax raptorellus, a generalist parasitoid of dipteran pupae, were evaluated on B. oleae at 25°C, 80% RH and a 16:08 h light/dark photoperiod. In a development assay, the rates of parasitism ranged 60% to 72% and the duration of the preimaginal period was between 17.0 and 18.5 days. The total mean number of adult wasps produced per pair in a reproduction assay was 50.7, with a mean daily production of 7 individuals and a mean rate of parasitism of 32.6%. The moment of maximum offspring production was estimated at 2.6 days after the beginning of the oviposition. The intrinsic rate of natural increase of M. raptorellus on B. oleae was 0.147, what determines a population doubling time of 4.7 days. The functional response was type II and the maximum attack rate in 24 h was 19.6 pupae. At host densities ranging 20–80 pupae per female, the number of adult wasps produced was around 20–22. The results obtained show the potential of M. raptorellus to be used for the biological control of B. oleae.

Synanthropy of dipterans collected in cattle feces in Brazil

Cattle feces accumulated in pastures and stables constitute an especially favorable microhabitat for the development of a rich and heterogeneous arthropod fauna. This study determined the species of Diptera of Medical, Veterinary and Agricultural importance present in forest, rural and urban areas in the municipality of Monte Alegre, state Minas Gerais Southeast region, Brazil in the period from March to November 2006. The dipterans pupae were individually placed in glass jars until the emergence of the dipterans. A total of 372 dipteran pupae were collected, 107 in the forest area, 194 in the rural area and 71 in the urban area. Percentage of dipterans in forest, rural and urban areas were 28.7%, 52.2% and 19.1%, respectively. Sorcophagula occidua (Fabricius, 1794) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) was the most frequent species with 42.2%. Regarding the synanthropy index of the species Archisepsis scabra (Loew, 1861) (Diptera: Sepsidae) Palaeosepsis pusio (Schiner, 1868) (Diptera: Sepsidae), Brontaea quadristigma (Thomson, 1869) (Diptera: Muscidae) and S. occidua presented an index of 16.0%, - 64%, +18.4% and +7.7%, respectively. Dipterans constitute the adequate model for the study of synanthropy, not only for their ecological importance, but also for their medical-sanitary aspect.

Brontaea debilis (Thomson, 1896) (Diptera: Cyclorrhapha: Muscidae) as host for Spalangia drosophilae Ashmead, 1885 (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae: Spalanginae) in Brazil

The flies included in the infra-order Cyclorrhapha (Muscomorpha) have medical and veterinary importance, since they may produce myiasis and act in carrying pathogens to man and animals. The experiment was carried out at the Federal University of Goiás farm in Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil. Every fortnight, ten dishes black plastic containers containing bovine feces were exposed for fifteen days in the pastures. After this period, the feces were sent to the laboratory for pupae extraction. The experiments were carried out from April 2006 to December 2007. Ninety-two pupae of Brontaea debilis (Thomson, 1896) (Diptera: Muscidae), from bovine feces, from which 31 specimens of Spalangia drosophilae Ashmead, 1887 (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) were emerged. The percentage of parasitism was 33.7%. Spalangia drosophilae is cited in the literature as parasitoid of the pupae of Diptera including Chloropidae, Drosophilidae, Muscidae, Sarcophagidae and Sepsidae.

First occurrence of Necrobia rufipes (De Geer) (Coleoptera: Cleridae) in dipteran pupae in Brazil

Larvae and adults of Necrobia rufipes (De Geer) (Coleoptera: Cleridae) were found in animal carcasses after the carcass deterioration stage and consider it a forensic indicator for southeastern Brazil. This paper reports the occurrence of N. rufipes collected from immature stage (pupae) of Peckia chrysostoma (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) by means of traps containing some fish bait in a forest area close to the Parque da Serra de Caldas Novas, Goiás, Brazil, in the period from August to November, 2003. It was collected a total of two specimens N. rufipes from 303 pupae of P. chrysostoma. This paper reports the first occurrence of N. rufipes in fly pupae.

Morphometric traits of shells determine external attack and internal utilization marks in the Roman snail in eastern Germany

Abstract. Overexploitation, habitat destruction and a changing climate threaten populations of the Roman snail (Helix pomatia Linnaeus, 1758), which has led to a high protection status in Germany. Vertebrate and invertebrate predators, including parasites and facultative parasitoids, further cause pressure on populations. Given the conservation concern for H. pomatia and its rarity in the study region (Cottbus, Germany), we studied how predators and facultative parasitoids utilize H. pomatia shells with a focus on non-invasive field methods. As previous studies indicated that shell size may affect prey selection by predators, morphometric traits were measured in eight subpopulations. We identified the total number and percentage of H. pomatia shells that showed external attack marks by predators and internal utilization marks by Diptera pupae and related those utilization patterns to the morphometric traits of shells. A large proportion of the shells in local subpopulations showed signs of external attack and internal utilization, and both utilization forms were positively correlated. External attacks by predators were more frequent in larger shells and internal utilization by Diptera was more common in shells with higher body density. These results suggest a considerable pressure by predators and potential facultative parasitoids on H. pomatia populations in the study area. Future research should focus on the relationship between snails from the family Helicidae and flies from the genus Discomyza. Conservation programmes should consider abiotic habitat conditions together with potential trophic interactions to maximize the success of conservation strategies.

Transient leg deformations during eclosion out of a tight confinement: A comparative study on seven species of flies, moths, ants and bees

Legs in dipteran pupae are tightly packed in a zigzag configuration. Changes in the shape or configuration of long podomeres during eclosion have been overlooked because they occur rapidly (in a few minutes) and the legs are hidden inside a tight opaque confinement: the puparium in the Cyclorrhapha, the obtect pupa in mosquitoes. We fixed insects at different times during eclosion and obtained a temporal description of changes in leg shape. At the start of eclosion in Calliphora vicina and Drosophila melanogaster, femora are buckled in between the joints. Later, the chain of podomeres straightened, pointing posterad. Initial deformation and further stretching were passive, exerted by forces external to the legs. The prerequisites for this are pliability of the tubular podomeres and anchoring of the tarsi to the confinement. Each femur was strongly crooked instead of buckled in the mosquito Aedes cantans. The site of bending shifted distad in the course of eclosion: a sort of peeling. In contrast, other insects (the moth Bombyx mori, the ants Formica polyctena and Formica rufa, the honey bee Apis mellifera) left their tight confinements without any change in the initial zigzag leg configuration and without transient deformations of initially straight femora and tibiae.

First records of sub-fossil insects from Quaternary deposits in the southeastern part of West Siberia, Russia

Data are presented on species composition in Bun'kovo taphocoenosis at the Chik River, Novosibirsk, Russia (55°03′46″ N, 82°29′50″ E) with conventional radiocarbon dating ca 11,550 ± 125 14C BP. The entomofauna complex is unique by species composition. 90 species of Coleoptera from 15 families, 4 species from 3 families of Hymenoptera (Pamphiliidae, Formicidae, Sphecidae) and pupae of Diptera are recorded. Amongst Coleoptera the most numerous is Curculionidae represented with 41 species, especially Otiorhynchus – 10 species and Stephanocleonus – 8 species, Carabidae – 21 species and Chrysomelidae – 7 species. Among the species recorded, Otiorhynchus karkaralensis (Curculionidae) predominates with 250 specimens present. 80% of the species are not known for this territory at the present time. Species typical of open landscapes such as boggy tundra, cold northern and warm southern steppes are included in the taphocoenosis. Forest species are rare, and humid thermophilic species are completely absent. The Bun'kovo taphocoenosis is closely related to entomofaunal complexes found in older deposits (28,000–24,000 BP) in central part of West Siberia and the Urals based on species composition, but differs in the abundance of Stephanocleonus. Similar-age taphocoenosis from central and northern parts of West Siberia are contrasted with Bun'kovo, highlighting the absence of xerophilic species. Based on the beetle species composition, cold and dry climate conditions (at least 4–5 C° cooler than present) and prevalence of dry tundra-steppe landscapes are re-constructed at Bun'kovo. This conclusion is reinforced by palynological data from nearby sites in the southern part of West Siberia. Analysis of modern distribution ranges of the species found in the taphocoenosis shows that species have shifted dramatically from the late Pleistocene to present time because of increasing warmth and humidity during the Holocene. The contemporary distributions include shifts to the north in meso-hygrophilous and mesophilous species, to the east or south in xerophilous species, and to northern, eastern or southern directions in hygrophilous species.

Carnivory during Ontogeny of the Plagioscion squamosissimus: A Successful Non-Native Fish in a Lentic Environment of the Upper Paraná River Basin.

This study evaluated feeding patterns and ontogenetic variations in a non-native fish species (Plagioscion squamosissimus) in an isolated lake in the Upper Paraná River floodplain. Quarterly samplings were performed from April 2005 to February 2006 using plankton nets to capture larvae, seining nets for juveniles, and gill nets and trammel for adults. Stomach contents (n = 378) were examined according to the volumetric method in which the volume of each food item was estimated using graduated test tubes or a glass counting plate. During early development (larval stage), P. squamosissimus consumed mainly Cladocera and Copepoda. Juveniles showed a more diverse diet, including shrimp (Macrobrachium amazonicum), fish, aquatic insects (Trichoptera, Ephemeroptera, Chironomidae and pupae of Diptera) and plants. It was notable the high proportion of cannibalism (23.3%) in this stage. Adults consumed predominantly shrimp and fish. The use of food resources varied significantly between development stages (ANOSIM; r = 0.458; p<0.005), showing changes in food preferences during ontogeny. The Similarity Percentage Analysis (SIMPER) indicated that Cladocera and Copepoda were responsible for the differences observed between the larval stages of pre-flexion, flexion and post-flexion. M. amazonicum and Chironomidae were responsible for the differences between juvenile and larval stages, while M. amazonicum and other fishes caused the differences between adults and other ontogenetic stages. These results are confirmed by the relationship between standard length and developmental periods (ANCOVA; r2 = 0.94; p<0.0001). In general, there were low values of trophic niche breadth. The essentially carnivorous habit from the early stages of P. squamosissimus and the predominant use of M. amazonicum by adults have important roles in feeding patterns of the species, suggesting a major contribution to its success and establishment, especially in lentic environments.

Cordyceps ningxiaensis sp. nov., a new species from dipteran pupae in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China

Cordyceps ningxiaensis sp. nov., a new species from dipteran pupae in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China

On the diet of two endemic and rare species of Trichomycterus (Ostariophysi: Trichomycteridae) in the Jordão River, Iguaçu River basin, southern Brazil

The diet and the eect of body size on the feeding habits of Trichomycterus crassicaudatus and Trichomycterus stawiarski, collected in the Jordão River, an import tributary of the Iguaçu River basin, were investigated. Samples were collected in august 2003 during the Jordão River Energetic Complex Aquatic Fauna Rescue and Monitoring program. Stomach contents were evaluated through the frequency of occurrence, permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA), si-milarity percentage analysis (SIMPER) and non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis (MDS) methods. A total of 86 stomach contents of T. stawiarski and 36 of T. crassicaudatus were assessed. The species presented an insectivorous feeding habit, with differences in the diet composition of the “smallest” and the “largest” individuals. Ephemeroptera nymphs, lar-vae and pupae of Diptera, organic detritus and plant fragments were the most important food items. Both species feeding habits were based mainly in benthic aquatic immature insects.

Host‐habitat Location by the Parasitoid, Nasonia vitripennis Walker (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae)

This study investigated the role of odorant cues used during host-habitat location by the generalist parasitoid, Nasonia vitripennis Walker. Nasonia vitripennis is a common parasitoid of Dipteran pupae found in association with decaying carrion. Behavioral assays were used to investigate the host-habitat searching behavior under different scenarios. First, we demonstrated N. vitripennis to be significantly attracted toward odorant cues associated with decaying meat. The biological activity of nine of the volatile molecules constituting the odor of decaying meat was tested on the searching behavior of parasitoid females through two complementary chemoecological approaches: electroantennography (EAG) and olfactometry bioassays. Butanoic acid and butan-1-ol elicited high olfactory responses, but no attraction was induced by these two chemicals. Behavioral assays showed that, among the VOCs tested, methyldisulfanylmethane (DMDS) was the only volatile chemical to induce attraction in N. vitripennis.

Natural growth and diet of known-age pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) early life stages in the upper Missouri River basin, Montana and North Dakota

Summary Prior to anthropogenic modifications, the historic Missouri River provided ecological conditions suitable for reproduction, growth, and survival of pallid sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus. However, little information is available to discern whether altered conditions in the contemporary Missouri River are suitable for feeding, growth and survival of endangered pallid sturgeon during the early life stages. In 2004 and 2007, nearly 600 000 pallid sturgeon free embryos and larvae were released in the upper Missouri River and survivors from these releases were collected during 2004–2010 to quantify natural growth rates and diet composition. Based on genetic analysis and known-age at release (1–17 days post-hatch, dph), age at capture (dph, years) could be determined for each survivor. Totals of 23 and 28 survivors from the 2004 and 2007 releases, respectively, were sampled. Growth of pallid sturgeon was rapid (1.91 mm day−1) during the initial 13–48 dph, then slowed as fish approached maximum length (120–140 mm) towards the end of the first growing season. The diet of young-of-year pallid sturgeon was comprised of Diptera larvae, Diptera pupae, and Ephemeroptera nymphs. Growth of pallid sturgeon from ages 1–6 years was about 48.0 mm year−1. This study provides the first assessment of natural growth and diet of young pallid sturgeon in the wild. Results depict pallid sturgeon growth trajectories that may be expected for naturally produced wild stocks under contemporary habitat conditions in the Missouri River and Yellowstone River.

Egg size affects larval performance in a coleopteran parasitoid

Abstract 1. Optimal progeny size models assume that the more eggs a female produces, the lower the amount of resource allocated per egg. As egg size generally correlates with the fitness of the emerging immature, this trade‐off can be expressed as a choice between the production of numerous low quality or fewer high quality progeny.2. The first‐instar larvae of the coleopteran parasitoid Aleochara bilineata have to search for and parasitise dipteran pupae. The present study found a positive correlation between egg size and larval weight, but not between egg size and development time. Larger first‐instar larvae survived longer, were more active, and found and parasitised their host more rapidly.3. Female A. bilineata may invest smaller larvae in conditions of high host density and low intraspecific competition, but investing fewer, larger larvae would bring them more fitness when hosts are scarce and competition high.

Effects of Benthic Prey Composition and Abundance on Diet and Growth of Black Crappies in Three Florida Lakes

AbstractThe influence of benthic prey availability on growth of black crappies Pomoxis nigromaculatus is poorly understood due to scant research on the relationships between benthic prey abundance and composition and black crappie diet. However, benthic taxa play an important role as prey items of black crappies during intermediate ontogenetic diet phases. We evaluated diet, growth, and abundance of black crappies in three large Florida lakes (Lochloosa, Marian, and Monroe), and we related diets to benthic prey availability at these lakes. Black crappies in Lake Monroe obtained the largest size at age, whereas those in Lake Marian had the smallest size at age. Black crappies in Lakes Lochloosa and Marian consistently exhibited positive selection of dipteran pupae; fish in Lake Monroe showed consistently positive selection of a higher‐quality prey item (the mysid shrimp Americamysis almyra) that was not available in Lakes Lochloosa and Marian. A similarity index indicated that benthic prey availability influenced consumption of benthic prey items by black crappies in all three lakes. Differences in prey availability (i.e., density and presence‐absence) and prey selection influenced diet composition and ontogenetic diet shifts of black crappies. Diet and prey availability differences among lakes probably contributed to the variation in black crappie growth rates; the highest growth was observed at Lake Monroe, where the additional prey resource (A. almyra) was available.

Populational parameters of Spalangia endius Walker (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) on Pupae of Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae) treated with two strains of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuil. (Deuteromycetes)

The parasitoid Spalangia endius Walker is an efficient controller of Dipteran pupae, such as Musca domestica L. The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuil. is a regulator of insect populations, including these synanthropic pests. The aim of this work was to explore the possibilities of utilizing both agents in a combined form for the biocontrol of the domestic fly. Recently formed M. domestica pupae were inoculated by immersion in conidia suspension (10(8) conidia/ml) with two strains of B. bassiana (Bb6 and Bb10). The inoculated pupae were offered to the female parasitoid. In one bioassay they were offered pupae inoculated a single day and in other, pupae inoculated the following day as well. In both bioassays non inoculated (control) pupae were offered to the parasitoids until their death. Thirty females of S. endius were used for each strain and bioassay. From the study of the parasitoid offspring, life tables were built and the reproduction net rate (R(0)) and intrinsic natural increase (r(m)) were obtained among other demographic parameters; the parasitism percentages and sex ratios were also analyzed. B. bassiana did not affect significantly the biodemography of the parasitoid when pupae were inoculated a single time. On the other hand the R0 and the rm were smaller than that of the control without the fungus when pupae were inoculated twice, although sporulation was not observed in the cadavers of S. endius.

SEXUAL DIMORPHISM, FEMALE FERTILITY, AND DIET OF PIPA ARRABALI (ANURA, PIPIDAE) IN SERRA DO CACHIMBO, PARÁ, BRAZIL

The family Pipidae includes five genera and two subfamilies, Pipinae and Dactylethrinae. Pipinae is restricted to Central and South America, occurring in the Amazon and Atlantic forest. We analyzed sexual dimorphism, female fertility, and diet of Pipa arrabali from their range's southernmost portion in Serra do Cachimbo, Pará, Brazil, and compared it to previous studies on populations near Manaus. We found no sexual dimorphism in shape, but females are significantly larger than males. Nineteen of 31 females had tadpoles embedded under the skin. Females harbored more and smaller tadpoles than previously reported for other populations. Diet of P. arrabali at the end of the dry season consisted mainly of dipteran pupae, contrasting to Manaus populations, where tadpoles were the main item, therefore underscoring the importance of prey availability on frog diet composition.

Parasitóides da família Pteromalidae (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) coletados em fezes de gado bovino em uma propriedade rural do município de Panamá, Goiás

The frequency of Pteromalidae species found in Diptera pupae that were collected from cattle dung in Panama, State of Goias, Brazil, between May and December 2003 was studied. The pupae were obtained by the flotation method and were individually placed in gelatin capsules until the emergence of the adult flies or their parasitoids. The overall percentage of parasitism was 14.7%. The percentage of parasitism presented by the parasitoids Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae (Rondani), Spalangia cameroni Perkins, Spalangia drosophilae Ashmead , Spalangia endius Walker, Spalangia nigra Latrielle and Spalangia nigroaenea Curtis were 1.7%, 1.4%, 2.4%, 0.7%, 2.4% and 6.1%, respectively.

Development of an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Detection of the Gregarious Hymenopteran Parasitoid Muscidifurax raptorellus in House Fly Pupae

Muscidifurax raptorellus (Kogan and Legner) are gregarious parasitoids of stable fly (Stomoxys calcitrans L.) and house fly (Musca domestica L.) puparia. Strategic inundative releases of mass-reared M. raptorellus and other microhymenopteran parasitoids have been used in studies of biological control of pest and hemophagic dipterans that develop in livestock waste. Lack of an accurate and simple method to estimate pupal parasitism rates has limited the assessment of the utility of filth fly biological control by M. raptorellus and other parasitoids. Conventional estimates of parasitism rates are based on measurements of both the emergence of adult wasp parasitoids from puparia and the noneclosion of adult host flies (assuming parasitoid-induced pupal mortality). Microdissection of dipteran pupae for parasitoid presence is a difficult and tedious alternative method to estimate parasitism rates. In the present study, we produced polyclonal rabbit anti-M. raptorellus larvae serum antibodies, absorbed the antiserum with house fly puparia homogenates to remove muscoid host-reactive antibodies, and used the absorbed antiserum in a rapid enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect M. raptorellus larvae in parasitized house fly pupae. The ELISA accurately detected M. raptorellus parasitism of house fly pupae between 7 and 21 days poststing and detected parasitoids in nonemergent house fly pupae. Absorbed antiserum specificity for parasitoid antigens was confirmed by Western blots. This first report of muscoid pupal parasitoid detection by enzyme immunoassay suggests that this approach has potential as a research and surveillance tool for monitoring and quantifying the success of parasitoid releases for biological control of dipteran pests. © 2001 Academic Press

Dípteros sinantrópicos associados a restos alimentares e seus parasitóides

Este estudo foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de determinar as espécies de parasitóides associadas com Diptera coletados em restos alimentares. A coleta de pupas de dípteros foi realizada duas vezes ao mês nos restos alimentares mantidos em bacias por mais de quinze dias. As pupas foram obtidas pelo método de flutuação e colocadas individualmente em cápsulas de gelatinas, onde foram mantidas até a emergência das moscas e/ou de parasitóides. A espécie mais freqüente foi Megaselia sp., correspondendo a 47,5% dos indivíduos coletados. A porcentagem total de parasitismo foi de 2,4%, sendo que em Musca domestica L., a taxa de parasitismo alcançou 20,0%. Pachycrepoideus vindemiae (Rondani) e Muscidifurax raptor Girault & Sanders apresentaram taxas de parasitismo de 2,1% e 0,2%, respectivamente.

Hydropy and ultrastructure of egg envelopes in Aleochara bilineata (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae)

Aleochara bilineata oviposits in soil microhabitats likely to contain the dipteran pupae that are hosts of its ectoparasitoid first instar larvae. The eggs of A. bilineata have a rigid chorion but they are nonetheless hydropic and, after 30 h of development, start to increase in volume and do so until 50 h. This increase in volume is due to absorption of water. The eggs increase their initial volume by a factor of 1.68 that corresponds to an increase of 44.44% of initial weight. To explain this augmentation in volume, we describe the modifications occurring in the egg chorion during hydropy. The increase in volume in such a rigid egg is made possible through the fragmentation of the chorion which, initially dense and regular, becomes fragmented. Such adaptation enables female A. bilineata to oviposit hydropic eggs in habitats where mechanical resistance is needed.