The Turkish Agromyzidae (Diptera), with descriptions of four new species

A total of 117 agromyzid leafminers are known to occur in Turkey, among which Agromyza phylloposthia, Pseudonapomyza pyriformis, Liriomyza cardariae and Phytomyza geminata are described as new to science. A faunistic account of the Agromyzidae in Turkey is given.     

Adult experience modifies attraction of the leafminer parasitoidOpius dissitus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) to volatile semiochemicals

Oviposition-experienced females of Opius dissitus Muesebeck, a braconid parasitoid of Liriomyza sativaeBlanchard, preferentially landed on leafminer-infested rather than uninfested lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) plants in a flight tunnel assay. Both naive and oviposition-experiencedparasitoids responded strongly to odors of infested lima bean plants in a four-arm olfactometer in comparison with odors of uninfested plants, suggesting that volatile semiochemicals are used in host location. Parasitoids with an oviposition experience on lima bean (lima-experienced) spent significantly more time in the infested odor than naive individuals, however, eggplant-experienced wasps did not spend significantly more time in the infested odor field than naive wasps. When parasitoids reared on leafminers in lima bean were provided a choice between the odor of infested lima bean and the odor of infested eggplant or cotton, naive and lima-experienced wasps preferred infested lima odor. An oviposition experience on the other plant species resulted in a dramatic shift in preference. It was concluded that the experience effect was due, at least in part, to associative learning, as has been reported for other parasitoids. The parasitoids may perceive unconditioned stimuli during host contact and oviposition on an infested leaf and may associate those stimuli with volatile semiochemicals emanating from the leaf or host. Subsequently, the volatiles associated with the presence of hosts are used in directing the search for hosts.     

福建省潜蝇科昆虫属种检索表

本文根据作者于1997－2000年对福建省九个地、市的蔬菜和花卉等作物上潜蝇科昆虫的调查结果,编制了现行福建省潜蝇科昆虫属、种检索表,以供鉴定时参考。     

福建省双翅目潜蝇科昆虫的初步研究

作于1997－2000年对福建省主要蔬菜和花卉作物上潜蝇科昆虫进行了调查,经研究发现福建省现知潜蝇各类计有12属20种;其中,南美斑潜蝇Liriomyza huidobensis(Blanchard）和蒿萼潜蝇Calycomyza artemisiae(Kalt.）为福建省新记录种。本详细报道福建省潜蝇科昆虫的各类、分布和寄主,并就某些潜蝇害虫在省内的发生危害情况作一简要分析。     

The separation of Liriomyza huidobrensis (Diptera: Agromyzidae) from related indigenous and non-indigenous species encountered in the United Kingdom using cellulose acetate electrophoresis

The non-indigenous pest leaf miner Liriomyza huidobrensis and its close relatives L. bryoniae and L. strigata belong to a natural group. These species can be separated from one another by means of protein electrophoresis on a cellulose acetate membrane. The protocol for this diagnostic assay involves staining for two enzymes, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and leucine-glycine peptidase (PEP). Other leaf miner species that might also be found under glass, Chromatomyia syngenesiae, C. horticola and the non-indigenous L. trifolii and L. sativae , are clearly distinguishable from the L. huidobrensis group of species by this assay. The effect of parasitism on L. huidobrensis by Dacnusa sibirica was investigated and shown unlikely to cause misidentification of the leaf miner host. Results obtained from practical use of the assay to identify unknown specimens from ports and nurseries are compared with those obtained from flies kept in laboratory culture and used during development of the assay. No new variation was found for G6PDH. New PEP variation was found for both L. huidobrensis and L. bryoniae but this did not affect the integrity of the assay. A biochemical key to these agromyzid leaf miners is presented.     

A tritrophic analysis of host preference and performance in a polyphagous leafminer

The optimal oviposition theory predicts that oviposition preferences of phytophagous insects should correlate with host suitability for their offspring. As plant host suitability depends not only on its quality as food, but also on its provision of enemy‐free space, we examined the relationship between adult host preference and offspring performance for the leafminer Liriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard) (Diptera: Agromyzidae) on various host plants, considering also the interaction with natural enemies. Preference and offspring performance were assessed through observational field data and laboratory experiments in central Argentina. Field data suggested a positive host preference – performance linkage, as the leafminer attained larger body size on the crops where it was more abundant. Laboratory trials supported these results: Vicia faba L. (Fabaceae) was the preferred host in the laboratory as well as in the field, performance of L. huidobrensis being also best on this host, with highest survival rates and shortest development time. The actively feeding larval stage showed the largest plant‐related effects. Higher overall parasitism rates were found on plants from which smaller leafminers were reared, reinforcing the preference–performance linkage. On the other hand, the main parasitoid Phaedrotoma scabriventris Nixon (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) reached larger body size, and caused higher mortality rates on crops where the leafminer was larger. Changes in abundance of particular parasitoid species could thus modify overall parasitism trends.     

Identifying factors determining the altitudinal distribution of the invasive pest leafminers Liriomyza huidobrensis and Liriomyza sativae

Abiotic and biotic factors that change with altitude can influence the distribution of herbivorous insects. We examined factors influencing the distribution of the generalist leafminers Liriomyza sativae Blanchard and Liriomyza huidobrensis Blanchard (Diptera: Agromyzidae), two pests of agricultural crops, in the tropical Dieng mountainous area of Central Java, Indonesia. Liriomyza huidobrensis predominated at altitudes above 700 m a.s.l. and was the only species collected above 1 400 m a.s.l. In contrast, L. sativae predominated below 600 m a.s.l. and was not found above 1 200 m where the average temperature was 20.7 °C. Parasitoid diversity decreased with altitude, but parasitism did not change. The distribution of neither species was affected by parasitoids; L. huidobrensis predominant at high altitudes was preferred by Opius parasitoids common at these altitudes. Intra‐ and interspecific competition was detected in laboratory experiments where larval density was high, but led to coexistence rather than species displacement. No competition was detected in a field experiment when larval density was low. However, L. sativae failed to reproduce at the highest altitude, whereas L. huidobrensis established at all altitudes. Host composition varied with altitude and one host (faba beans) preferred by L. huidobrensis was common at high altitudes. By relating published data on the performance of the leafminer species to altitudinal temperature changes, we were partly successful in predicting the altitude at which the dominant species switched. Temperature plays an overriding influence on the altitudinal distribution of leafminers.