Dipteran Species Research Articles

Lessons from long‐term research: Diptera species turnover and dominance shifts with respect to climate‐driven changes

Abstract The diverse pressures of climate change have influenced many habitats, especially freshwater ones, due to their greater sensitivity to stressors. Aquatic Diptera make up more than 50% off all aquatic insect species described, which makes them an ideal group to monitor changing climate as their diverse assemblages can reflect functions within the entire community. The aim of this research was to identify variations in the aquatic dipteran community during a 15‐year period at a tufa barrier in a karst barrage lake system and to determine the environmental factors that have the highest influence on this community. We analysed monthly data collected between 2007 and 2021, when we collected adult specimens using 6 pyramid‐type emergence traps. In total, 167 taxa from 13 different families were gathered. NMDS based on Bray–Curtis similarity analysis amongst assemblages revealed the segregation of samples based on different current velocities and substrates, indicating the importance of microhabitats in dipteran community structuring. Dipteran taxa indicative of specific 5‐year time periods within the research were identified and were associated with changes in environmental conditions especially discharge. The threshold indicator taxa analysis revealed specific species' responses to changing discharge rates. The study shows that discharge rate, not water temperature, is the critical factor shaping dipteran composition, whether by removing or adding taxa to the community. Species turnover showed an overall decrease in species numbers, that is, species richness, throughout the research period. We conclude that changes in the dipteran community, because of the vast functional traits, niches, adaptations and species diversity of the group, are not visible when analysing just the diversity indices. When determining environmental influence on the community in long‐term research, they should be combined with other data such as the overall abundance, the total number of species, as well as the species turnover.

Post-mortem interval determinations using insects collected from illegally hunted and dehorned rhinoceros in the Republic of South Africa from 2014 to 2021.

Wildlife forensic science is a growing research field globally with application in criminal cases of illegal hunting requiring an estimate of time of death based on insect fauna. The techniques and procedures of forensic entomology acquired over the last 40 years, used in legal cases relating to human remains, can be adapted to decomposing wildlife. Research on carrion utilising the rate of development of insect immatures provides a biological clock from which a minimum post-mortem interval (minPMI) can be derived. The following study concerns 19 rhinoceros that were illegally killed and dehorned in the Republic of South Africa between 2014 and 2021. The paper details 74 samples of insect evidence collected from these rhinoceros remains from which an accurate estimate of their PMI was calculated. The specimens comprised 18 species from 12 families belonging to three insect orders. Many Dipteran and Coleopteran species were found on and around each carcass. The species of fly larvae (family Calliphoridae) used in each case to estimate the PMI are as follows: Chrysomya marginalis (Wiedemann) (13 cases), Chrysomya chloropyga (Wiedemann) (2 cases), Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann) (1 case) and Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) (1 case). Two species of Coleoptera from the family Dermestidae and Silphidae involved Dermestes maculatus (DeGeer) and Thanatophilus micans (Fabricius), respectively, also were involved in one PMI estimation each. The paper highlights opportunities for improving our global understanding of gaps in procedures and training related to wildlife criminal cases.

Death, flies and environments: Towards a qualitative assessment of insect (Diptera) colonization of human cadavers retrieved from sites of death in Brazil

Empirical data on decomposition ecology have long established blowflies (Calliphoridae) and flesh flies (Sarcophagidae) (Diptera) as the most frequent colonizers of carrion, especially at early stages of decomposition. However, the scarcity of studies based on human cadavers has hindered inferences about colonization of homicide victims in real case scenarios. We describe here a survey of insects associated with cadavers retrieved from the site of death in Northeastern Brazil, with emphasis on the association between species diversity and the surrounding environment. We examined 81 cadavers, most of which were of men and resulting from violent death. Twelve cadavers (14.8 %) contained insect larvae, which were reared in the laboratory until adult emergence and identification. Ten species of Diptera effectively colonized the cadavers; seven of Family Calliphoridae – Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann, 1819), Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794), Chrysomya putoria (Wiedemann, 1830), Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius, 1775), Hemilucilia segmentaria (Fabricius, 1805), Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann, 1830), Lucilia eximia (Wiedemann, 1819) and three of Family Sarcophagidae, Blaesoxipha (Gigantotheca) stallengi (Lahille, 1907), Microcerella halli (Engel, 1931) and Peckia (Sarcodexia) lambens (Wiedemann, 1830). The species C. albiceps and C. macellaria were the most frequent colonizers, while Sarcophagidae was reported in only four cases. Insects were present on cadavers found in urban (n = 8) and rural (n = 4) sites, outdoors (n = 6) and inside (n = 6) residences. Presence of larvae was more frequent in the natural orifices in the head (n = 11). Clothing did not prevent from ovi/larviposition for most species. We present the first register of B. stallengi colonizing human corpses and expand the knowledge on the geographical distribution of necrophagous insects. Our protocol may contribute to forensic entomology in areas exposed to fast decomposition, such as the Neotropical Region.

A preliminary study on decomposition and seasonality of insect succession of decomposing rabbit carcasses at El-Sharkia Governorate, Egypt

BackgroundStudying insect succession on carcasses is important in estimating the postmortem interval. This study aims to identify the decomposition stages of decomposing rabbit carcasses and to find out the relationship between seasonal variations and abundance of insects colonizing rabbit carcasses at El-Sharkia Governorate, Egypt.MethodsThree domestic rabbits (weighing 1300 g each) were killed by a sharp knife. The carcasses were exposed to the sun, left to decompose and inspected twice daily at 6-h intervals to collect insects. Maggots were collected and reared.ResultsThe rabbit carcasses underwent four decomposition stages: fresh, bloat, decay and dry stages. The identified families and their respective collected species included three dipteran families: Calliphoridae (Lucilia sericata, Chrysomya megacephala, and Chrysomya albiceps), Sarcophagidae (Sarcophaga argyrostoma) and Muscidae (Musca domestica and Synthesiomyia nudiseta), three coleopteran families. Histeridae (Saprinus semistriatus), Cleridae (Necrobia rufipes) and Dermestidae (Dermestes frischii and Attagenus gloriosus) and three hymenopteran families: Chalcididae (Brachymeria femorata), Vespidae (Vespa orientalis) and Formicidae (Monomorium sp.). Carrion fauna was dominated by dipteran and coleopteran species, with calliphorid and sarcophagid flies found to play a significant role in carrion consumption process.ConclusionThe succession pattern and decomposition rate were season dependent. The information collected may help establish the basic database for entomological forensic investigations in the future.Graphical abstract

Effect of trap bait and colours, and number of entry holes in monitoring of Drosophilidae (Diptera) species in a fig orchard

The study's objective was to evaluate how the capture rate of bottle traps is influenced by their color, number of entry holes, and bait liquids.For this purpose, yellow, blue, green, red, black, white, and transparent (colourless) traps were tested. Apple cider vinegar, grape vinegar, white wine, yeast, and water (control) were used as bait liquids. The number of entry holes was 2, 4, 6, and 8 holes per trap on the side of the bottle traps. The experiments were conducted in a randomised block design with three replicates in a fig orchard (variety Bursa Siyahı) with 437 trees in Aydın province from September 2018 to March 2019. In total, 48 traps were mounted on the experimental trees (1 trap per 1 tree), and counting of the drosophilid individuals in the traps was performed weekly. Red-coloured traps attracted the highest number of drosophilid individuals, followed by yellow-coloured. Regarding different baits, grape vinegar attracted the most drosophilid individuals, followed by white wine. Concerning the number of trap entry holes, the highest number of individuals were caught in traps with the highest number of holes, 8. In all traps, Zaprionus tuberculatus Malloch, 1932 was the species caught in the highest numbers, followed by Drosophila subobscura Collin, 1936 and Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura, 1931). Z. tuberculatus was mostly caught in traps containing grape vinegar, while D. subobscura and D. suzukii were mainly caught in traps containing white wine. In our study, the red-coloured traps containing vinegar with 8 entry holes were the most effective in monitoring drosophilid populations.

Brief Review of Morphological Characters in the Identification of Muscomorpha (Diptera) of Sanitary and Forensic Importance

With more than 125,000 described species, Diptera are considered a megadiverse order. However, immatures display great morphological homogeneity, making few species of Diptera from the Cyclorrhaphan group easy to identify. The main species of medical, sanitary, and forensic importance are found in this group, highlighting the relevance of their description. The uniformity of the group limits sensitive techniques for identifying immatures; therefore, this study reports characters that can be used to identify these insects using scanning electron microscopy. Based on an investigation and analysis of the relevant scientific literature, we suggest combining techniques for accurate morphological identifications of flies.

Simultaneous Silencing of Gut Nucleases and a Vital Target Gene by Adult dsRNA Feeding Enhances RNAi Efficiency and Mortality in Ceratitis capitata.

Ceratitis capitata, known as the Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly), is a major dipteran pest significantly impacting fruit and vegetable farming. Currently, its control heavily relies mainly on chemical insecticides, which pose health risks and have effects on pollinators. A more sustainable and species-specific alternative strategy may be based on double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) delivery through feeding to disrupt essential functions in pest insects, which is poorly reported in dipteran species. Previous reports in Orthoptera and Coleoptera species suggested that dsRNA degradation by specific nucleases in the intestinal lumen is among the major obstacles to feeding-mediated RNAi in insects. In our study, we experimented with three-day adult feeding using a combination of dsRNA molecules that target the expression of the ATPase vital gene and two intestinal dsRNA nucleases. These dsRNA molecules were recently tested separately in two Tephritidae species, showing limited effectiveness. In contrast, by simultaneously feeding dsRNA against the CcVha68-1, CcdsRNase1, and CcdsRNase2 genes, we observed 79% mortality over seven days, which was associated with a decrease in mRNA levels of the three targeted genes. As expected, we also observed a reduction in dsRNA degradation following RNAi against nucleases. This research illustrates the potential of utilizing molecules as pesticides to achieve mortality rates in Medfly adults by targeting crucial genes and intestinal nucleases. Furthermore, it underscores the importance of exploring RNAi-based approaches for pest management.

Insects on Decomposing Pigs and their Forensic Importance at a University in Nigeria

The use of insects to estimate post-mortem interval (PMI) of cadavers by forensic entomologists, is an innovative science enshrined in the medico-criminal system of the developed world. The science is dependent on the biology of insect species that are found in decomposing cadavers. Thus, insect species that are found on decomposing pigs as model to human cadaver, was studied during the rainy and dry seasons of 2021 in a University forest in Nigeria. The decomposition stages (fresh through skeletonization) of the pig cadavers were monitored, and insects found on them were collected with a sweep net, visually observed, and handpicked. They were identified morphologically using insect identification keys with the aid of a dissecting microscope. The tissues of the pig cadavers decomposed completely in 14 and 10 days, respectively, for dry and rainy seasons. Twenty-seven insect species belonging to the orders; Diptera, Coleoptera, and Hymenoptera were identified. The dipterans consist of the families Calliphoridae, Muscidae, Ulidiidae, and Stratiomyidae. The coleopteran families are the Carabidae, Chrysomelidae, Cleridae, Dermestidae, Histeridae, Scarabaeidae, and Staphylinidae, while Formicidae is the only family for the hymenopteran. The dipteran species were the first group to visit the cadavers during fresh, bloated, and wet decay stages while the coleopterans visited during wet and dry decay stages thus, creating a succession pattern on the cadavers. The insect species that aided the cadaver decomposition at different stages are discussed as forensic indicators, which could be useful as PMI estimators of the study area.

Diversity and Relative Abundance of Different Pollinators in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

The study on insect pollinator diversity and their abundance on cucumber flowers was conducted at the Vegetable Research Station, Agricultural Research Institute, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad during 2023 - 2024. A total of 25 species, including 13 species of Hymenoptera, five species of Diptera, five species of Lepidoptera and two species of Coleoptera were documented. Of which, Hymenoptera was found to be most abundant, accounting for 72.17% followed by Diptera at 16.49%. Among the families, Apidae was observed as most dominant, with a high abundance and species diversity at 49.48% followed by Syrphidae at 9.28%. The families Sphecidae, Hesperiidae, and Calliphoridae each had the least abundance at 1.03%. Apis dorsata Fabricius was reported as most abundant species at 12.37% followed by Apis cerana indica, Ceratina binghami Cockerell and Camponotus compressus Fab. each at 8.25%. The species Acraea terpsicore (0.82%) had the lowest abundance. In recent years due to urbanization and fragmentation a decreased trend in pollinator activity had been observed so this research provides the base line data about the existing pollinator species diversity in the study area which offer insights for taking appropriate management practices to conserve the pollinator species.

Comparative Population Biology and Related Gene Expression in the Beta-Cypermethrin-Resistant Strains of Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel).

Diptera and Lepidoptera species have the highest levels of insecticide resistance, and the mechanism of drug resistance has been studied in detoxification metabolism genes such as P450, GST, EST, and ABC. Since Bactrocera dorsalis are resistant to a variety of chemicals, the pattern and mechanism of resistance in Bactrocera dorsalis have been investigated from a variety of aspects such as detoxification metabolism genes, detoxification enzymes, intestinal symbiotic bacteria, and synergists in the world. In this study, 51 species and 149 detoxification metabolism genes were annotated in the Suppression Subtractive Hybridization (SSH) library, and 12 candidate genes related to beta-cypermethrin resistance were screened and quantitatively expressed in this library. Two genes were found to be upregulated in the egg stage, three genes in the larval stage, one gene in the pupal stage, and five genes in the adult stage, and four genes were found to be upregulated in the midgut and the malacca ducts in the midgut. The expression of cyp6g1, cyp6a22, GST-Epsilon9, and Trypsin-4 genes was upregulated in resistant strains, with the most obvious upregulation occurring in the midgut and the Malpighian tubules. These results provide new insights into the study of pesticide resistance in quarantine insects.

Ultrasound features of cutaneous myiasis: a rare case in a child.

Cutaneous myiasis is an infestation of the skin with larvae of some dipteran species. Among humans, Dermatobia hominis is the most frequently encountered dipteran responsible for cutaneous myiasis. This insect is endemic to tropical and subtropical regions, consequently, individuals travelling from non-endemic areas are most susceptible to infection due to a lack of prior exposure. Three clinical variants of myiasis are distinguished: furuncular, migratory, and wound myiasis. Furuncular myiasis represents the most common form among travelers, yet it is a rare cause of pediatric skin manifestations in developed countries. Limited awareness of this condition in non-endemic regions contributes to diagnostic challenges. In this scenario, ultrasound is useful in the diagnostic workup, enabling the identification of the viable larva.

Positive selection analysis of Cyt proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis: A conservative trend driven by negative (purifying) selection

Bacillus thuringiensis is a Gram-positive entomopathogenic bacterium that produces different pesticidal proteins: vegetative insecticidal proteins (Vpb1/Vpa2, Vip3, and Vpb4) during vegetative growth, which are secreted to the culture medium, and δ–endotoxins (Cry and Cyt) during sporulation, which accumulate into parasporal crystals. Cyt proteins are the smaller subset of δ–endotoxins targeting Diptera species. While Cry and Vip3 proteins undergo positive selection, our analysis suggests that Cyt proteins evolve following a conservative trend driven negative (purifying) selection.

Leaf gall diversity in the neotropical plant Coccoloba barbadensis (Polygonaceae) and its associated insect species richness

Galls are an abnormal growth of plant tissue in response to the presence generally of an inducing insect, which ensures food and protection during specific periods of its life. Besides gall formers, a vast community of arthropods are associated with galls, including inquilines and parasitoids. Few studies have assessed the gall diversity and its associated insect community in Neotropical vascular plants. Here, we characterised the leaf gall diversity of Coccoloba barbadensis Jacq. (Polygonaceae) in a Mexican tropical dry forest, as well as their associated entomofauna based on morphology and DNA barcoding. Five different gall morphotypes were observed during both dry (April-June) and rainy (November) seasons. A total of 34 and 38 species of Diptera, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, and Lepidoptera were delimited with the 2% divergence criterion and the GMYC model, respectively. Based on our rearing observations and literature, Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) species might induce all leaf gall morphotypes, whereas hymenopterans are represented by parasitoid and probably inquiline species of the families Braconidae, Eulophidae, Eupelmidae, Platygastridae and Torymidae. Our results highlight the importance of performing integrative species delineation studies of arthropods present in galls to have an accurate knowledge of their diversity and trophic interactions.

All-you-can-eat buffet: A spider-specialized bat species (Myotis emarginatus) turns into a pest fly eater around cattle.

Determining the dietary spectrum of European insectivorous bats over time is the cornerstone of their conservation, as it will aid our understanding of foraging behavior plasticity in response to plummeting insect populations. Despite the global decline in insects, a restricted number of arthropod pest species thrive. Yet past research has overlooked the potential of European bats to suppress pests harmful to woodlands or livestock, in spite of their economic relevance. Here we investigated the diet composition, its breeding season variations and pest consumption of an insectivorous bat species (Myotis emarginatus), at the northern edge of its range (Wallonia, Belgium). We also explored the prey ecology to gain insight into the hunting strategies and foraging habitats of this bat species. We used DNA metabarcoding to amplify two COI markers within 195 bat droppings collected in June, July and August, thereby identifying 512 prey taxa predominated by Diptera, Araneae and Lepidoptera. Overall, in 97% of the samples we detected at least one of the 58 potential pest taxa, 41 of which targeting trees. The June samples were marked by a diet rich in orb-weaver spiders, in accordance with the archetypal diet of M. emarginatus bats. However, during the highly energy demanding July-August parturition and lactation period, roughly 55% of the dropping samples contained two cattle fly pests (Stomoxys calcitrans and Musca domestica). Moreover, among the 88 Diptera species preyed upon by M. emarginatus in July and August, these flies accounted for around 50% of the taxa occurrences. This plasticity-the switch from a spider-rich to a fly-rich diet-seems providential considering the dramatic ongoing drop in insect populations but this involves ensuring bat-friendly cattle farming. Our results revealed that bats widely consume pest entomofauna, thereby highlighting their potential role as allies of forest managers and farmers.

Effects of ivermectin on development of Calliphora vicina, Robineau-Desvoidy 1830 (Diptera, Calliphoridae).

Ivermectin is one of the most widely used drugs for parasite control. Previous studies have shown a reduction in the abundance and diversity of "non-target" coprophilous organisms due to the presence of ivermectin (IVM) in bovine faecal matter (FM). Due to its breadth of behavioural habits, Calliphora vicina is a suitable dipteran species to evaluate the effects of IVM in FM. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of five concentrations of IVM in FM (3000, 300, 100, 30, and 3ng/g) on the development of C. vicina. The following endpoints were evaluated: survival (between the first larval stage and emergence of new adults), larval development times to pupation and pupation times to adult, and adult emergence (% sex) and LC50. Sampling was performed from larval hatching at 60 and 120min and at 3, 4, 5, and 12h, and every 24h specimens were weighed until pupae were observed. Data were analysed by ANOVA using a non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test and as a function of elapsed development time and accumulated degree hours (ADH). Mortality at 3000 and 300ng/g was 100% and 97%, respectively. There were statistically significant delays in adult emergence time (p = 0.0216) and in the ADH (p = 0.0431) between the control group (C) and 100ng/g. The LC50 was determined at 5.6ng/g. These results demonstrate the lethal and sub-lethal effects of IVM on C. vicina, while highlighting the usefulness of this species as a bioindicator for ecotoxicological studies.

Foraging Behaviour of Sunflower Pollinators

A field experiment was carried out to gather data on the diversity and foraging activity of sunflower pollinators. The result revealed that distinct patterns among the various pollinators. Apis dorsata exhibited strong preference for evening foraging with highest visit rate observed at 18.00 hr, reaching an impressive visit of 28.96/ m2/ min followed by 12.00 hr (4.33/ m2/ min). Apis florea also displayed preference for evening foraging, with its peak visit rate of 0.40/ m2/ min occurring at 18.00 hrs. In case of Trigona iridipennis maximum visit noticed at 12.00 hr (1.43/ m2/ min) which was at par with visits at 14.00 hr (1.40/ m2/ min). Xylocopa fenestrata exhibited its peak foraging activity at 12.00 hr (0.10/ m2/ min). In case of lepidoptera, butterfly and skipper were visiting at morning session while moth preferred evening hours. More visits of Cheilomenes sexmaculata (0.14/ m2/ min) were recorded at 16.00 hrs. The diptera species, Ischiodon scutallaris exhibited higher activity level at 12.00 hr, with a visit rate of 0.08/ m2/ min.

Different Sensitivity of Flower-Visiting Diptera to a Neonicotinoid Insecticide: Expanding the Base for a Multiple-Species Risk Assessment Approach.

Insects play an essential role as pollinators of wild flowers and crops. At the same time, pollinators in agricultural environments are commonly exposed to pesticides, compromising their survival and the provision of pollination services. Although pollinators include a wide range of species from several insect orders, information on pesticide sensitivity is mostly restricted to bees. In addition, the disparity of methodological procedures used for different insect groups hinders the comparison of toxicity data between bees and other pollinators. Dipterans are a highly diverse insect order that includes some important pollinators. Therefore, in this study, we assessed the sensitivity of two hoverflies (Sphaerophoria rueppellii, Eristalinus aeneus) and one tachinid fly (Exorista larvarum) to a neonicotinoid insecticide (Confidor®, imidacloprid) following a comparative approach. We adapted the standardized methodology of acute contact exposure in honey bees to build dose-response curves and calculate median lethal doses (LD50) for the three species. The methodology consisted in applying 1 µL of the test solution on the thorax of each insect. Sphaerophoria rueppelli was the most sensitive species (LD50 = 10.23 ng/insect), and E. aeneus (LD50 = 18,176 ng/insect) the least. We then compared our results with those available in the literature for other pollinator species using species sensitivity distribution (SSD). Based on the SSD curve, the 95th percentile of pollinator species would be protected by a safety factor of 100 times the Apis mellifera endpoint. Overall, dipterans were less sensitive to imidacloprid than most bee species. As opposed to most bee species, oviposition and fecundity of many dipteran species can be reliably assessed in the laboratory. We measured the number of eggs laid following exposure to different insecticide doses and assessed the potential trade-off between oviposition and survival through the sublethal sensitivity index (SSI). Exposure to imidacloprid had a significant effect on fecundity, and SSI values indicated that oviposition is a sensitive endpoint for the three dipteran species tested. Future studies should integrate this information related to population dynamics in simulation models for environmental risk assessment.

Conserved and novel enhancers in the Aedes aegypti single-minded locus recapitulate embryonic ventral midline gene expression.

Transcriptional cis-regulatory modules, e.g., enhancers, control the time and location of metazoan gene expression. While changes in enhancers can provide a powerful force for evolution, there is also significant deep conservation of enhancers for developmentally important genes, with function and sequence characteristics maintained over hundreds of millions of years of divergence. Not well understood, however, is how the overall regulatory composition of a locus evolves, with important outstanding questions such as how many enhancers are conserved vs. novel, and to what extent are the locations of conserved enhancers within a locus maintained? We begin here to address these questions with a comparison of the respective single-minded (sim) loci in the two dipteran species Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) and Aedes aegypti (mosquito). sim encodes a highly conserved transcription factor that mediates development of the arthropod embryonic ventral midline. We identify two enhancers in the A. aegypti sim locus and demonstrate that they function equivalently in both transgenic flies and transgenic mosquitoes. One A. aegypti enhancer is highly similar to known Drosophila counterparts in its activity, location, and autoregulatory capability. The other differs from any known Drosophila sim enhancers with a novel location, failure to autoregulate, and regulation of expression in a unique subset of midline cells. Our results suggest that the conserved pattern of sim expression in the two species is the result of both conserved and novel regulatory sequences. Further examination of this locus will help to illuminate how the overall regulatory landscape of a conserved developmental gene evolves.

Diversity of fruit fly species in agricultural area Chott Zahrez Chergui (Djel-fa): First record of Trupanea amoena (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Algeria

Fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) are cosmopolitan, species-rich, and yet poorly studied in Algeria, particularly in the agro area of Djelfa. We sampled fruit flies in orchard containing three types of trees apricot, fig and grapes at each site, using the yellow traps. Results show that the orchard differed significantly in species richness, abundance, diversity and evenness. A total of 956 individuals distributed by nine species of Diptera, including four species of fruit flies are collected. The results revealed that most abundant species are Drosophila melanogaster at the apricot fruit site (RA%=28.32%), Zaprionus indianus at fig fruit site (RA%=34.74 %) and Tephritis praecox at the grapes fruit site with (RA%= 51.61 %). The orchard selected a greater number of species and individuals, and higher diversity indices H′=2.40 bits; 2.32 bits and 2.02 bits. Statistically, the result of stepwise multiple regressions revealed a very strong correlation between the number of fruit fly species and the temperatures with (r=93.1%) and (Sig .000**). Thus, fruit flies appear to have rather arrow with the host plant requirements and their phenology was correlated with environmental differences. Our study highlighted for; the first time; the presence of Trupanea amoena in Algeria. This important and substantial preliminary work on this new species in Algeria provides a solid basis for future research and extension of the study in particular for monitoring and control of this dreaded agricultural pest.

Rapid on‐ground assessment after the 2019–2020 megafires reveals new information on rare and threatened plants in northern New South Wales, Australia

AbstractLack of ecological knowledge is a major challenge for effective conservation of threatened plant species in Australia as disturbance events, such as wildfire, increase in frequency and magnitude. Rapid on‐ground surveys are increasingly important to inform recovery strategies for rare and threatened plants in response to extreme wildfire events, yet resources are rarely available to deploy time‐sensitive surveys. Here, we utilize a rapid on‐ground survey and monitoring program to document basic biological and ecological information for 21 rare and threatened plant species from the New England bioregion in northern New South Wales, which were affected by the catastrophic 2019–2020 megafires. Our results fill an important knowledge gap of ecology, population size, distribution and response to fire for these taxa, document for the first time a species distribution pattern within the Torrington State Conservation Area and reveal previously undocumented plant–insect interactions for nine species, including likely pollination of Persoonia terminalis ssp. terminalis and Monotaxis macrophylla by native bee (Hymenoptera) and fly (Diptera) species. Our findings reveal that two species (Cassinia heleniae and Hakea macrorrhyncha) have scarce distribution and low population sizes, despite neither having a conservation listing and their threat status should be urgently assessed. Simple rapid on‐ground surveys can be more cost effective for delivering long‐term conservation outcomes for rare and threatened taxa and we advocate that future funding and prioritisation processes must support the immediate delivery of such surveys in response to disturbance events.