New and interesting Laboulbeniales parasitic on Brazilian Diptera

Three new Laboulbeniales occurring on Brazilian Diptera are described. These are Stigmatomyces cearensis, parasitic on Guttipsilopa (Nesopsilopa) stonei (Mathis & Wirth) (Ephydridae); Stigmatmyces gratiellae, parasitic on Cressonomyia meridionalis (Cresson) (Ephydridae); and Stigmatomyces litoralis, parasitic on Glenanthe caribea Mathis and Paraglenanthe bahamensis Wirth (both Ephydridae). Fifteen other dipterophilous Laboulbeniales are reported for the first time from Brazil. The synonomy between Stigmatomyces notiphilae Thaxt. and S. leucophengae Thaxt. also is proposed.     

New species of Stigmatomyces from Asia

Four new species of Stigmatomyces (Ascomycota, Laboulbeniomycetes, Stigmatomycetinae) parasitic on flies (Diptera) are described. These are S. aphaniosomae, parasitic on an undescribed species of Aphaniosoma (Chyromyidae) from Jordan; S. deemingii, parasitic on Milichia pubescens (Milichiidae) from Yemen; S. macanus, parasitic on Phortica spp. (Drosophilidae) from Taiwan; and S. mosilli, parasitic on Mosillus subsultans (Ephydridae) from Pakistan. Chyromyidae is a new host family for Laboulbeniales, and S. aphaniosomae is the first of the Laboulbeniales to be reported from Jordan.     

The structure and behaviour of Notiphila riparia and Erioptera squalida, two root-piercing insects

Two species of root-piercing insect, Notiphila riparia (Ephydridae) and Erioptera squalida (Tipulidae) are described. The insertion of the spiracles into the plants is dependent on a firm environment which provides the main bracing element for the movements of the spiracles. The structural features of root-piercing spiracles are described. The spiracles are long enough to reach the gas spaces of the roots of the plants on which the insects are commonly found. The plant epidermis may act as a limiting factor in the respiration of the insects. The emergence of the adults of Erioptera squalida involves a change in buoyancy in the pharate adult as the adult emerges at the surface.     

External morphology of the larvae of Ephydra (Hydropyrus) hians (Diptera: Ephydridae)

Scanning electron microscopy is used to describe the ultrastructure of morphological features related to feeding, locomotion, respiration, and pigmentation in second- and third-instar larvae of Ephydra hians (Ephydridae: Diptera). Using larvae fixed with the head extended, the ultrastructural details of the mandibles, maxillary papilli, and antennae are described for the first time. The larvae possess finger-like projections at the anterior spiracle and a distensible bifurcated siphon at the posterior spiracle. Slit-like openings are found on each. The second- and third-instar larvae can be differentiated on the basis of dorsal pigmentation associated with extensive patches of spines. The larvae have regional specializations in spine distribution, particularly on the ventral and dorsal body surfaces, and the prolegs. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Tre nuove specie di Stigmatomyces (Ascomycetes,Laboulbeniales) parassite di Ditteri italiani

Abstract

New species of Stigmatomyces (Ascomycetes, Laboulbeniales) parasitic on Italian Diptera. – Three new Laboulbeniales parasitic on Italian Diptera are described: Stigmatomyces asteiae, parasitic on Asteia amoena Meig. (Asteiidae), Stigmatomyces athyroglossae, parasitic on Athyroglossa glabra (Meig.) (Ephydridae), and Stigmatomyces geomyzae, parasitic on Geomyza tripunctata Fall. (Opomyzidae).     

Foliar nitrogen and larval parasitism as determinants of leafminer distribution patterns on Spartina alterniflora

ABSTRACT, 1. In northwest Florida, Hydrellia valida hew (Diptera: Ephydridae) frequently mines the leaves of salt marsh cord, grass, Spartina alterniflora . Larvae and pupae are more commonly found in shoreline plants within 3 m of the sea than in inland plants.
2. Shoreline plants contain over twice as much total foliar nitrogen as inland plants. In transects from inland to shoreline plants, leafminer density is positively correlated with total leaf nitrogen content.
3. We experimentally increased foliar nitrogen content on inland Spartina patches to levels above those of shoreline plants. Leafminer densities on experimental centres remained far below those on control edges.
4. Larval parasitism by Opius sp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and Pteromalus sp. (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) reaches over 90%, with parasitism increasing from shoreline to inland plants. We suggest that gradients in leafminer densities are caused by differences in parasitoid abundance.     

Fly family diversity shows evidence of livestock grazing pressure in Mongolia (Insecta: Diptera)

Members of the insect order Diptera respond differentially to environmental changes and may play an important role in understanding the effects that livestock grazing disturbances have on biodiversity. Here we examine how increasing grazing pressures on the Mongolian steppe affect Diptera diversity and abundance. Using 2334 yellow pan traps, we sampled a total of 132 sites over four years to collect 17,348 flies. We compared fly diversity and abundance at five levels of livestock grazing. We observed that fly family diversity decreased in heavily grazed sites and that diptera communities at sites with intense grazing have proportionally higher prevalence of taxa from the families Muscidae, Sepsidae, Ephydridae, Chloropidae, and Tachinidae, two of which are often associated with animal waste. Chironomidae, Ceratopogonidae, Sarcophagidae, and Sciaridae are most prevalent at sites with very little or no grazing, and Anthomyiidae, Calliphoridae, Carnidae, Cecidomyiidae, Dolichopodidae, Empididae, Scatopsidae and Sphaeroceridae are most often encountered at sites with intermediate amounts of grazing. Observing changes in a few guilds of fly families at different grazing levels is beneficial in understanding human effects on fly diversity.     

Macrozoobenthos in saline rivers in the Lake Elton basin: Spatial and temporal dynamics

The data on seasonal and interannual changes in the taxonomic, structural, and quantitative characteristics of macrozoobenthos communities in rivers with a high salinity gradient are given. A total of 91 benthic invertebrate taxa have been revealed, which were dominated by Cricotopus salinophilus, Chironomus salinarius, C. aprilinus, Tanytarsus kharaensis, Microchironomus deribae, Glyptotendipes salinus (Diptera: Chironomidae), Culicoides (M.) riethi, Palpomyia schmidti (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), Paranais simplex (Oligochaeta), and Ephydra sp. (Ephydridae) in different years. The fauna of benthic communities is mainly represented by eurybiontic halotolerant species with different ranges of resistance to salinity. The taxonomic composition and diversity of macrozoobenthos communities are closely correlated with water salinity in the range from 4 to 41 g/L; the complex of hydrological and hydrophysical factors (depth, overgrowing, water temperature, pH, etc.) control the distribution and abundance of species.     

Ecological description of the sodium chloride mineral springs in the Kirenga River basin and the upper reaches of the Lena River: 1. General characteristics of the springs and their hydrofauna

The aquatic microecosystems and their environment have been studied in 12 mineral springs located in the Cis-Baikal Depression and in the basin of the upper reaches of the Lena River (Eastern Siberia). The hydrochemical characteristics of the springs, originating from the Cambrian salt deposits, are given. Their total mineralization varies from 1.1 to 123.0 g/L and the water is sodium chloride. The soils formed under the influence of the mineral waters (“para-soils”) are described. The data on the composition and quantitative abundance of aquatic fauna are presented. Six types of macroinvertebrate communities are described. The communities where Turbellaria, Gastropoda, and Psychodidae dominate are recorded in weakly mineralized waters (<3 g/L). The communities where Chironomidae dominate are found in waters characterized both by low and high (up to 28 g/L) salinity. In springs with a water salinity of 2.5–11 g/L, communities characterized by the dominance and high biomass of amphipods Gammarus lacustris Sars. are formed. A unique type of community where Ephydridae larvae dominate (>97% of the biomass) is described for the concentrated brines in Ust’-Kutskii spring. Halophilic species of crustaceans are recorded in the meiofauna. The presence of Foraminifera (marine organisms) in the two studied springs attracts specific interest.     

Natural enemies from South Africa for biological control of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lagarosiphon major</Emphasis> (Ridl.) Moss ex Wager (Hydrocharitaceae) in Europe

The non-native invasive plant, Lagarosiphon major (Hydrocharitaceae) is a submersed aquatic macrophyte that poses a significant threat to water bodies in Europe. Dense infestations prove difficult to manage using traditional methods. In order to initiate a biocontrol programme, a survey for natural enemies of Lagarosiphon was conducted in South Africa. Several phytophagous species were recorded for the first time, with at least three showing notable promise as candidate agents. Amongst these, a leaf-mining fly, Hydrellia sp. (Ephydridae) that occurred over a wide distribution causes significant leaf damage despite high levels of parasitism by braconid wasps. Another yet unidentified fly was recorded mining the stem of L. major. Two leaf-feeding and shoot boring weevils, cf. Bagous sp. (Curculionidae) were recorded damaging the shoot tips and stunting the growth of the stem. Several leaf-feeding lepidopteran species (Nymphulinae) were frequently recorded, but are expected to feed on a wide range of plant species and are not considered for importation before other candidates are assessed. The discovery of several natural enemies in the country of origin improves the biological control prospects of L. major in Europe.     

Representation of aquatic invertebrate communities in subfossil death assemblages sampled along a salinity gradient of western Uganda crater lakes

We analysed subfossil death assemblages of aquatic invertebrate communities in a salinity series of 35 western Uganda maar-crater lakes to evaluate their potential as biological indicators of past habitat conditions in paleo-environmental research. The study region encompasses the climatological and hydrological gradient between the dry floor and moist shoulders of the Edward-George branch of the East African Rift Valley, and includes mesotrophic to hyper-eutrophic, and shallow unstratified to deep meromictic lakes with a surface-water salinity range between 101 and 135 400 μS/cm. Focusing on non-chironomid aquatic invertebrates with good fossil preservation, we found that fossil larval remains of the Dipteran families Culicidae, Ephydridae, and Stratiomyidae are good indicators of saline environments. Our data further suggest that the abundances of Bryozoan statoblasts and Chaoboridae are indicative of, respectively, the fraction of the littoral zone covered by aquatic macrophytes and of lake trophic state, but a lake reference data set more specifically designed to cover variation in these environmental factors will be needed to determine the strength of these relationships. In these small, simple lake basins, recent death assemblages recovered from a single mid-lake surface-sediment sample provides a more complete inventory of local aquatic invertebrate communities and the distribution of species among lakes than exploratory live sampling of those taxa in a selection of littoral, benthic and pelagic habitats.     

大蒜-小白菜间作套种对菜田节肢动物功能团的影响

2004年9-11月于福建省琅岐岛针对大蒜与小白菜间作(CG1)套种(CG2)对节肢动物群落功能团影响进行调查和分析。结果显示:CG1提高了植食性昆虫、寄生性和捕食性天敌丰盛度,CG2可在降低植食性昆虫数量的同时提高寄生性天敌的数量;多作田寄生性天敌物种丰富度、丰盛度和多样性指数均高于单作田;优势类群动态表现为菜蚜茧蜂与蚜虫种群在CG1出现"天敌跟随现象",多作田在整个生长期都有利于提高捕食者球腹蛛的控制效能;中性昆虫在生长前期和中期是菜蚜虫茧蜂和球腹蛛的替代寄主或猎物。因此合理的间作或套种,有利于提高菜田生境的多样化,强化自然天敌对害虫的生态控制作用。     

中国凸额水蝇属一新种及两新纪录种记述(双翅目,水蝇科)

记述了中国水蝇科Ephydridae凸额水蝇属Psilopa Fallén1新种及2新纪录种,王氏凸额水蝇Psilopa wangi sp.nov.,褐缘凸额水蝇Psilopa marginella(Fallén,1823)和后斑凸额水蝇Psilopa leucostoma(Meigen,1830),并讨论了它们与近似种的区别。模式标本保存在中国农业大学昆虫博物馆。     

Temporal patterns in shore fly (Diptera, Ephydridae) community structure in a salt marsh habitat

Abstract.  1. An ecological investigation of the shore fly community was carried out in a salt marsh in Novosedly in the Czech Republic.
2. Sampling was carried out in 1997 and 1999 at approximately 14-day intervals during the seasonally active period, using yellow water traps.
3. Altogether 14 374 specimens of the family Ephydridae were collected (6040 in 1997 and 8334 in 1999), belonging to 48 shore fly species (37 in 1997 and 41 in 1999).
4. Community structure, species richness, species diversity, evenness, and seasonal and inter-annual changes were studied. The species richness, species diversity, and evenness of the shore fly community in 1999 were higher than in 1997 but inter-annual difference in species diversity was not statistically significant. Paracoenia fumosa , Scatella tenuicosta , and Hydrellia albilabris were found to be the most abundant species in both study years.
5. Seasonal patterns and phenology of the most abundant species are discussed. Hydrellia albilabris showed similar seasonal distribution of abundance in 1997 and 1999, whereas seasonal distribution of P. fumosa and S. tenuicosta varied between the study years. Paracoenia fumosa , Hydrellia griseola , H. albilabris , Scatella paludum , S. tenuicosta , and Philotelma defecta were found to occur throughout the whole observation period from March until November while Notiphila cinerea , Hydrellia ischiaca , and Psilopa nigritella appeared in a limited period only.     

Global diversity of dipteran families (Insecta Diptera) in freshwater (excluding Simulidae, Culicidae, Chironomidae, Tipulidae and Tabanidae)

Today’s knowledge of worldwide species diversity of 19 families of aquatic Diptera in Continental Waters is presented. Nevertheless, we have to face for certain in most groups a restricted knowledge about distribution, ecology and systematic, particularly in the tropical environments. At the same time we realize a dramatically decline or even lack of specialists being able, having the time or the opportunity to extend or even secure the present information. The respective families with approximate numbers of aquatic species are: Blephariceridae (308), Deuterophlebiidae (14), Nyphomyiidae (7), Psychodidae (∼2.000), Scatopsidae (∼5), Tanyderidae (41), Ptychopteridae (69), Dixidae (173), Corethrellidae (97), Chaoboridae (∼50), Thaumaleidae (∼170), Ceratopogonidae (∼6.000), Stratiomyidae (∼43), Empididae (∼660), Lonchopteridae (2), Syrphidae (∼1.080), Sciomyzidae (∼190), Ephydridae (∼1.500), Muscidae (∼870). Numbers of aquatic species will surely increase with increased ecological and taxonomical efforts. Guest editors: E. V. Balian, C. Lévêque, H. Segers & K. Martens Freshwater Animal Diversity Assessment     

Complete development on Elodea canadensis (Hydrocharitaceae) eliminates Hydrellia egeriae (Diptera,Ephydridae) as a candidate biological control agent of Egeria densa (Hydrocharitaceae) in the U.S.A.

The leaf-mining fly Hydrellia egeriae Rodrigues-Junior (Diptera: Ephydridae) was evaluated under quarantine conditions as a candidate biological control agent of the invasive aquatic weed Egeria densa Planchon (Hydrocharitaceae) in California, U.S.A. The objective of this study was to test the fly’s feeding preference for E. densa as compared to the North American native Elodea canadensis Michaux (Hydrocharitaceae), an important benchmark species. No choice testing revealed that H. egeriae can complete development on E. canadensis and choice testing indicated the fly presents little oviposition discrimination between E. densa and E. canadensis. It is concluded that the host range of H. egeriae is too broad for use as a biological control agent of E. densa in the U.S.A.     

Influences of seasonal flooding on macroinvertebrate abundance in wetland habitats

SUMMARY. 1. We studied the effects of seasonal flooding on macro-invertebrate abundance by manipulating water regime and detrital level within three contiguous experimental marshes in Manitoba, Canada, over 2 years. One area was seasonally flooded (standing water present through midsummer) with emergent vegetation left undisturbed throughout the study, one was semipermanently flooded (standing water present through the ice-free season) with the vegetation left undisturbed, and one was seasonally flooded with the vegetation harvested at the end of the first summer.
2. Abundances of frequent macroinvertebrate taxa were compared between the seasonally flooded-undisturbed treatment area and each of the other areas.
3. Densities of total invertebrates and of the dominant taxa (Cladocera, Ostracoda and Culicidae) were reduced dramatically by a year of semipermanent flooding, despite high levels of paniculate organic food resources and low populations of predators. Densities were not reduced by lowering the availability of detritus under seasonally flooded conditions.
4. Taxa unaffected by water regime included Dytiscidae, Corixidae, Chironomidae, Ceratopogonidae and Ephydridae.
5. Semi-permanent flooding may have eliminated environmental cues necessary for oviposition, embryonic development and hatch among dominant taxa. High invertebrate densities in temporary waters may be more dependent upon life history traits of resident fauna than upon habitat features such as food availability or predation pressure.     

Importance of geochemical factors in determining distribution patterns of aquatic invertebrates in mountain streams south of the Atacama Desert, Chile

The ecology of macroinvertebrate communities in arid regions is still poorly understood. Here we examined how the community structure varied at spatial and temporal scales in streams and tributaries of the Huasco River in semi-arid region of Northern Chile. We expected that macroinvertebrate distribution may be responding to natural processes of mineralization described for Chilean semiarid basins. The relationships among biotic and abiotic variables were assessed through multivariate techniques (principal component analysis, non-metric multidimensional scaling, canonical correspondence analysis), and a two-way analysis of similarity was used to evaluate differences between basins and years (2007, 2008, and 2009). Significant differences in community structure and physical–chemical variables between basins (Del Carmen and Del Tránsito) were found, but not between years. Altitude, Mn, Al, Ca, Na, HCO₃, and dissolved oxygen were the variables that best accounted for the communities distribution. In particular, high metals concentration in El Transito basin should determine low density and diversity of macroinvertebrates. Chironomidae, Ephydridae, and Glossiphoniidae were associated to waters with high metals content and acidic pH, whereas Baetidae, Hydroptilidae, and Blephariceridae were associated to sites with more favorable physical–chemical conditions. These results contribute to understand the ecological patterns of macroinvertebrates in arid regions and should lead to conservation and monitoring plans for this remote place.     

Factors influencing macroinvertebrate colonization of seasonal wetlands: responses to emergent plant cover

1. We conducted field experiments to examine factors influencing macroinvertebrate colonization of seasonally flooded marshes. Few macroinvertebrate species were found aestivating in soils within non-flooded wetlands indicating that most taxa colonize these marshes from other flooded habitats.
2. We manipulated amounts of salt grass ( Distichlis spicata ) to examine how emergent plant cover affects aerial colonization by macroinvertebrates. Areas mowed 3 weeks before flooding had low plant cover, areas mowed 5 and 9 weeks before flooding had medium and high plant cover, respectively, and non-mowed control areas had the most plant cover. Macroinvertebrate numbers and biomass were generally higher in mowed treatment areas than in control areas, but overall diversity was generally higher in high plant cover and control areas than in low plant cover areas.
3. Mosquitoes (Culicidae), brine flies (Ephydridae) and hover flies (Syrphidae) were positively correlated with amount of plant cover, and waterboatmen (Corixidae), midges (Chironomidae) and water scavenger beetles (Hydrophilidae) were negatively correlated with plant cover. Species assemblages changed seasonally among treatment areas because these taxa colonize wetlands at different times in the year.
4. These results demonstrate that invertebrate communities may be different within plant stands with heterogeneous amounts of emergent cover, and management practices that alter the structure of wetland vegetation can influence macroinvertebrate communities colonizing seasonal marshes.     

Biological Control of the Shore Fly (Scatella tenuicosta) with Steinernematid Nematodes and Bacillus thuringiensis var. thuringiensis in Peat and Rockwool

Steinernema feltiae Filipjev and S. carpocapsae Weiser (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) at rates of 1, 5 and 20 million m^-2 in peat pots and at rates of 1, 2.5 and 5 million m^-2 in rockwool cubes were tested against the shore fly Scatella tenuicosta Collin (Diptera: Ephydridae) by applying the nematodes either preventatively 2 days before or curatively 9 days after, or both 2 days before and 9 days after exposing the pots and cubes to flies. Based on cumulative fly numbers that emerged from peat pots sampled weekly for 3 weeks, all application strategies with 5 or 20 million nematodes net-m^-2, irrespective of species, reduced fly numbers by 61-96% as compared to untreated controls. High temperatures in 1 week reduced control efficacy to 30-35% in some treatments. In rockwool, maximum control efficacies of 83-84% were achieved by both species in the second week in treatments that had received two applications at the rate of 5 million m^-2, but these did not differ significantly from the 69-75% efficacies achieved with 2.5 million nematodes m^-2. The cumulative control efficacy over 4 weeks was only 46% at maximum. The lower control efficacy in rockwool compared to peat was due to rapid disappearance of nematodes from rockwool.