Robineau-Desvoidy Research Articles

Mud lobster Thalassina Latreille, 1806 (Decapoda: Gebiidea: Thalassinidae), its Cenozoic occurrences in Italy and palaeobiogeography

Two specimens of Thalassina sp. are reported from the lower Oligocene sediments cropping out at Salcedo, Italy. Although the material is not sufficiently preserved to be identified below the genus level, it represents an important addition to the known fossil record of the genus. Thalassina sp. from Salcedo is considered the oldest and the only fossil occurrence of the genus from Europe; indeed, the previous reports on Thalassina grandidactylus Robineau Desvoidy, 1849 from the Cretaceous of France and Thalassina sp. from the Pliocene of Italy are disputed herein. Thalassina is today known only from the Indo-West Pacific region; however, unequivocal evidence of Thalassina in the Oligocene strata of Europe suggests the origin of the genus in the west Tethyan (modern circum-Mediterranean area). Alternatively, the geographic distribution of the genus might be wider in the Oligocene than it is today. The Italian material presented herein comes from marine settings with strong fluvial influence, suggesting that the environmental preferences of Thalassina have not changed since the Oligocene.

Population Fluctuation, Influence of Abiotic Factors and the Height of Traps on the Abundance and Richness of Calliphoridae and Mesembrinellidae.

Calliphoridae and Mesembrinellidae are relevant to environmental conservation, public health, and forensic entomology. Researches regarding the flight behavior and the influence of abiotic factors on these insects may assist the application of entomology sciences. This study aimed to analyze the population fluctuation of Calliphoridae and Mesembrinellidae, verifying the influence of environmental factors, trap height, and the anthropic effect in the Itaipu-Piratininga lagoon complex, Niterói (RJ). The collections were carried out monthly from September 2015 to August 2016, with fish bait (sardines) exposed for 48 h, totaling six traps, installed in three physiognomies (mangrove, ombrophilous forest, and restinga) at 1.5 and 2.5 m from the ground. Nine thousand seven hundred seventy-three individuals were captured, comprising two families, five genera and 11 species. Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) was the predominant species and Mesembrinella bellardiana (Aldrich, 1922) (Diptera: Mesembrinellidae) the least representative, indicating the low preservation level of this ecosystem. There was a weak, positive correlation between abundance of Chloroprocta idioidea (Robineau Desvoidy, 1830) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), Ch. megacephala, Chrysomya putoria (Wiedemann, 1818) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), and Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann, 1830) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) with the temperature, as well as between the abundance of C. idioidea and Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann, 1819) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) with precipitation; however, there was no correlation between abundance and relative humidity. No significant influence of the trap height was observed. We stated a high influence of anthropic effects on the restinga and mangrove physiognomies, while the forest physiognomy still retains its preserved characteristics, with the dominance of forestall species.

Dating Pupae of the Blow Fly Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy 1830 (Diptera: Calliphoridae) for Post Mortem Interval-Estimation: Validation of Molecular Age Markers.

Determining the age of juvenile blow flies is one of the key tasks of forensic entomology when providing evidence for the minimum post mortem interval. While the age determination of blow fly larvae is well established using morphological parameters, the current study focuses on molecular methods for estimating the age of blow flies during the metamorphosis in the pupal stage, which lasts about half the total juvenile development. It has already been demonstrated in several studies that the intraspecific variance in expression of so far used genes in blow flies is often too high to assign a certain expression level to a distinct age, leading to an inaccurate prediction. To overcome this problem, we previously identified new markers, which show a very sharp age dependent expression course during pupal development of the forensically-important blow fly Calliphora vicina Robineau–Desvoidy 1830 (Diptera: Calliphoridae) by analyzing massive parallel sequencing (MPS) generated transcriptome data. We initially designed and validated two quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays for each of 15 defined pupal ages representing a daily progress during the total pupal development if grown at 17 °C. We also investigated whether the performance of these assays is affected by the ambient temperature, when rearing pupae of C. vicina at three different constant temperatures—namely 17 °C, 20 °C and 25 °C. A temperature dependency of the performance could not be observed, except for one marker. Hence, for each of the defined development landmarks, we can present gene expression profiles of one to two markers defining the mentioned progress in development.

Early colonisation of urban indoor carcasses by blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae): An experimental study from central Spain

Due to their ubiquity and synanthropy, blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) are generally the first colonisers of cadavers and, therefore, frequently used to estimate a minimum post-mortem interval (minPMI). Whereas in outdoor situations blow flies are expected to locate and colonise exposed cadavers within hours or even minutes after death, it is usually assumed that the colonisation of a cadaver indoors might be delayed for an uncertain period of time. This uncertainty severely limits the informativity of minPMI estimates based on entomological evidence. Moreover, these limitations are emphasised by the lack of experimental data on insect colonisation of indoor carrion and by the fact that most of the forensic cases involving entomological evidence have been reported to occur indoors. In this study we investigate the early colonisation of pig carcasses placed indoors in a building located in the centre of an urban environment in central Spain. Three carcasses were placed in three equal rooms with a window half opened during five experimental trials: summer 2013, autumn 2013, winter 2014, spring 2014 and summer 2014. The species composition and their contribution to the carrion colonisation differed among seasons. Calliphora vicina Robineau–Desvoidy was the sole coloniser of carcasses in winter and colonised the carcasses within the first 24–48h in every season, although Lucilia sericata (Meigen) was the first coloniser of most summer carcasses. On the other hand, Calliphora vomitoria (L.) and Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann) colonised the carcasses significantly later in spring and in spring and summer, respectively, with a delay of several days. In autumn, however, there were no significant differences in the colonisation times by C. vicina, L. sericata and Ch. albiceps. C. vicina and L. sericata showed a clear preference for ovipositing in the natural orifices of the carcasses, whereas Ch. albiceps oviposited more frequently on the trunk and legs.

Description of a new species of Helina Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera, Muscidae) from the Rhodope Mountains of Bulgaria.

Helina momchili spec. nov. wird als neue Art aus dem Rhodope Gebirge Bulgariens beschrieben und mit bekannten ähnlichen Arten der Palaearktischen Region verglichen.StichwörterHelina momchili spec. nov., comparison, Bulgaria.Nomenklatorische Handlungenmomchili Zielke, 2016 (Helina), spec. nov.

A key and checklist to the Neotropical forensically important "Little House Flies" (Diptera: Fanniidae)

Fil: Grisales, Diana. Universidad de Antioquia. Instituto de Biologia. Grupo de Entomologia; Colombia

Avian Wound Myiasis Caused by Calliphora vicina Robineau–Desvoidy (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in an Immature Migrating Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila Heliaca Savigny) (Aves: Accipitridae) in Southwestern Iran

We captured an injured immature Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca Savigny) on the outskirts of the city of Alvan (south of city of Shoush) in the Iranian southwestern province of Khuzestan in February 2014. The young bird had been leg-ringed at the nestling stage in Kazakhstan in June 2013 before setting off on its migration towards southern parts of Iran. The eaglet was suffering from a deep fracture in its left wing leading to an extensive necrotic wound, which was heavily infested by maggots (fly larvae). The examination of internal cephalopharyngeal skeleton and external morphological characters of the third-instar larvae, including posterior spiracles, led to the identification of the blow fly species of Calliphora vicina Robineau–Desvoidy. This is the first report of myiasis in a vulnerable wild bird species in Iran and the first recorded infestation of an Eastern Imperial Eagle by the facultative myiasis agent C. vicina in the world.

Revision of the genus Germaria Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera, Tachinidae) from Greece, with descriptions of two new species

The Greek species of the genus Germaria are revised. Two species are described as new to science: Germaria erecta sp. n. (Greek mainland) and G. neglecta sp. n. (Greek mainland and the island of Kefalonia). A lectotype is designated for Atractochaeta graeca Brauer & Bergenstamm, 1889. Germaria ruficeps (Fallen, 1820) is deleted from the list of Greek species. The presence of Germaria graeca (Brauer & Bergenstamm, 1889) is confirmed for Greece and this species is also recorded from Turkey and Iran for the first time. A key to the reviewed species is provided and their distribution data are given. (© 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

The Genus Hydrotaea Robineau-Desvoidy in China, with a Description of Four New Species (Diptera: Muscidae)

Abstract A key to the Chinese species of Hydrotaea is given. Four new species from China are descripbed, viz. Hydrotaea unidenticulata n. sp., Hydrotaea plumitibiata n. sp., Hydrotaea subscambus n. sp., and Hydrotaea bidentipes n. sp., and Hydrotaea spinosus Ye and Ma, 1992 is given a new name, viz Hydrotaea dispilipes n. n. The type specimens are deposited in Institute of Entomology, Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China.

The use of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene (COI) to differentiate two UK blowfly species – Calliphora vicina and Calliphora vomitoria

Traditionally identification of forensically important insects has been carried out based upon morphological differences between species. However insect evidence found at a crime scene may on occasion be difficult to distinguish by morphological techniques and under these circumstances another method of accurate identification is required. This work utilises a cytochrome oxidase I partial mitochondrial gene region (COI) to distinguish the two of the main UK blowfly species – Calliphora vicina (Robineau Desvoidy) and Calliphora vomitoria (Linnaeus) (Diptera:Calliphoridae). Seventeen interspecific differences in COI sequence were located. Use of the restriction enzyme SfcI on this gene region provides a simple method for distinguishing between C. vicina and C. vomitoria.

Review of the subgenus Scatella Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 from China (Diptera: Ephydridae)

The species of the subgenus Scatella Robineau-Desvoidy from China are reviewed. One species, Scatella tenuicosta Collin, is recorded from China for the first time, and one species, Scatella henanensis sp. nov., is described. A key to the species from China is given. The distribution of the subgenus in China is discussed.

Catálogo das espécies de Fanniidae do estado do Rio de Janeiro (Brasil)

Uma lista dos dípteros da família Fanniidae assinalados no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil é apresentada. Estes são representados por dois gêneros, Euryomma Stein e Fannia Robineau Desvoidy, com 2 e 24 espécies, respectivamente.

Effects of refrigeration on the biometry and development of Protophormia terraenovae (Robineau–Desvoidy) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and its consequences in estimating post-mortem interval in forensic investigations

The aim of this study was to simulate the low temperatures that insects could experience between the time being sampled from cadavers and their arrival in the laboratory. This was in order to investigate the effect of low temperature on development of maggots. At different stages of development, individuals of Protophormia terraenovae (Robineau–Desvoidy) reared at 24 °C were submitted to a temperature of 4.0±0.5 °C for a period varying from 1 to 10 days. Independent of the stage of development at which the insects were refrigerated, the treatment induced significant changes on the duration of development. The effect of low temperature on the developmental time between the return to 24 °C to adult emergence depended on the larval stage that was refrigerated. When first instar larvae and prepupae were refrigerated, the time to emergence at 24 °C decreased with an increase of duration of the refrigeration period. Time to emergence increased under the same conditions when second instar larvae and pupae were refrigerated. These results indicate that keeping larvae of P. terraenovae at 4 °C does not just simply lead to a cessation of metabolism but disturbs the regular development. Ten days of cooling induced an error in estimating post-mortem interval (PMI) of more than 6 h.

A density-dependent model with reinvasion for estimating tsetse fly populations (Diptera: Glossinidae) through trapping.

A simple density-dependent reinvasion model is described and used to estimate tsetse fly populations on the basis of removal trapping experiments. The model was tested on Glossina fuscipes fuscipes Newstead in the Central African Republic and G. palpalis palpalis (Robineau-Desvoidy) in the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville). The density-dependence is modelled by postulating that the inflow of flies each day is proportional to the deficit relative to the equilibrium population. Non-linear least square techniques were used to estimate the following parameters: the daily capture rate, the strength of the density-dependence, and the equilibrium fly population, at the beginning and at the end of the trapping experiment. The model ignores birth and death rates of flies and is applicable only when a rapid decrease in population occurs over a short period (between 10 and 20 days). Over longer periods one could not ignore the natural growth of the populations as well as other more complex density-dependent mechanisms.

DNA typing for identification of some species of Calliphoridae: An interest in forensic entomology

To determine precisely post mortem interval, larvae and puparium species found on a corpse have to be identified. Among more than 200 cases examined at the entomology department of the Institut de Recherche Criminelle de la Gendarmerie Nationale, two-thirds concerned corpses less than one month old. Therefore, insects from first and second screwworms are the most frequently found [1]. Some species commonly found in France, such as different Lucilia and Calliphora vicina Robineau–Desvoidy, are easily identifiable at an adult stage, but are almost impossible to differentiate at immature stages when only fragments of puparium or necrosed first instar larvae are available. For this reason, an easy and objective method of identification was thus searched by genetic analysis of these insects. Sequencing of partial gene of sub unit I of cytochrome oxydase has been used to predict restriction sites. Restriction enzyme cleavage of PCR products with Dde I allowed us to differentiate these species.

Determination of the insemination time of the Glossina palpalis Robineau Desvoidy, 1830 in the forest belt of Daloa, Côte D'Ivoire

The observations on the insemination of the Glossina palpalis have been made in the forest belt of Daloa in the Côte d'Ivoire through the test of the spermathecae of females caught in different biotopes. The testing of 8342 Glossina show that the ratio of females with empty spermathecae is low, with a rate of 0.88%. Most of the captured Glossina are tenerals or tsetse flies which have not yet been fed. We did not find a single virgin female among the young parous Glossina above the age of 9 days. However out of 3841 very old Glossina, 0.08% were found with empty spermathecae. Our results suggest that the Glossina's insemination took place earlier within the G. palpalis type, a few days before the adult (between 1 and 3 days).

野鳥の巣より発生する日本新記録の Potamia littoralis R.-D. (双翅目 : イエバエ科)

野鳥の巣より発生する日本新記録の Potamia littoralis R.-D. (双翅目 : イエバエ科)

Aspects of the ecology and epizootiological/epidemiological importance of Glossina species inhabiting a peridomestic agroecosystem in the Nsukka area, Anambra State, Nigeria

A Glossina community inhabiting a peridomestic agroecosystem encircling Orie-Orba in the Nsukka area was investigated with unbaited biconical traps for species composition, population characteristics and trypanosome infections. Only Glossina tachinoides Westwood and G. palpalis (Robineau—Desvoidy) were encountered, the former comprising over 99% of all 2877 tsetse caught. G. tachinoldes occurred at a weekly mean apparent density of 8.41 ± 0.98/trap which fluctuated in a manner characterized by decrease in the wet season and increase in the dry season. Traps caught males and females in equal proportions during the wet season but during the dry season males outnumbered females in the monthly trap catches. During either season, the female samples comprised mostly old flies. Pregnancy rate was high during both seasons and abortion was the only reproductive abnormality manifested. The size of mature eggs in utero varied in a manner suggesting the occurrence of nutritional stress during both seasons. Approximately 5% of 347 G. tachuinoides examined for trypanosomes were infected with procyclic trypanosomes only. These observations, which have formed the basis of further investigations now in progress, are discussed in the light of earlier studies at this location and elsewhere, and in the context of certain peculiarities of intensively cropped agroecosystems.

Xenillus Clypeator Robineau-Desvoidy and its Identity

Xenillus Clypeator Robineau-Desvoidy and its Identity