Morphological identification of Lucilia sericata,Lucilia cuprina and their hybrids (Diptera,Calliphoridae)

Hybrids of Lucilia sericata and Lucilia cuprina have been shown to exist in previous studies using molecular methods, but no study has shown explicitly that these hybrids can be identified morphologically. Published morphological characters used to identify L. sericata and L. cuprina were reviewed, and then scored and tested using specimens of both species and known hybrids. Ordination by multi-dimensional scaling indicated that the species were separable, and that hybrids resembled L. cuprina, whatever their origin. Discriminant function analysis of the characters successfully separated the specimens into three unambiguous groups – L. sericata, L. cuprina and hybrids. The hybrids were morphologically similar irrespective of whether they were from an ancient introgressed lineage or more modern. This is the first evidence that hybrids of these two species can be identified from their morphology. The usefulness of the morphological characters is also discussed and photographs of several characters are included to facilitate their assessment.     

Immature stages of Polytocus costatus (Diptera: Helosciomyzidae) from The Snares islands,New Zealand

Abstract

The mature larva and puparium of Polytocus costatus Harrison are described, illustrated, and compared with immature stages of other cyclorrhaphous Diptera.     

Dispersal and Predation Behavior in Larvae of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chrysomya albiceps</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chrysomya megacephala</Emphasis> (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Chrysomya albiceps and Chrysomya megacephala are exotic blowfly species known by producing myiasis in humans and other animals and by transmitting pathogens mechanically. C. albiceps stand out by being a facultative predator of other dipteran larvae. In this paper we investigated the influence of larval predation on the dispersal of larvae of C. albiceps and C. megacephala single and double species for three photophases. An experimental acrylic channel graduated and covered with wood shavings was used to observe the larval dispersal. The results showed that C. albiceps attacks C. megacephala larvae during dispersal and keeps an aggregated pattern close to the release point, in single and double species, independently of the different photophases. Chrysomya megacephala single species exhibited the same pattern, but in double species this was changed to a random distribution.     

Semiocladius Sublette and Wirth: taxonomy and ecology of an estuarine midge (Diptera: Chironomidae: Orthocladiinae)

Abstract Semiocladius Sublette and Wirth, described from adult midges from south-western Pacific Ocean shores, has the Australian Camptocladius crassipennis Skuse as its type. Immature stages previously known only from Semiocladius kuscheli Sublette and Wirth from sub-Antarctic New Zealand were associated tentatively, by co-occurrence. For the first time, the immature stages for the Australian species are associated definitively by rearing. Larvae rear to a pupa identical to a speculatively associated exuviae of Semiocladius from Lord Howe Island. Adults conform to the described S. crassipennis . Larval Semiocladius are distinctive and previous diagnoses are confirmed. In contrast, the putatively associated pupa of S. kuscheli is indistinguishable from that of the marine intertidal Thalassosmittia Strenke and Remmert, whereas the newly associated S. crassipennis pupa is distinct. The pupa of S. kuscheli may have been misassociated. Semiocladius live in the mesohaline of the salinity gradient of the Clyde River estuary, south-east Australia and the genus appears to be a distinctive western Pacific saline/mesohaline taxon.     

Biology and morphology of the immature stages of Hermeuptychia atalanta (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae)

This paper describes the morphology of the immature stages (egg, larva and pupa) and larval behavior of the butterfly Hermeuptychia atalanta, a common and widespread species of satyrinae in South America. Eggs are white and spherical, laid singly on leaves of grasses. The first instar has a light-green body and dark-brown head; all remaining instars present body and head capsule light green. Larvae have no spines, and general morphology is similar to other species of the subtribe Euptychiina.     

北方常见刺甲族Platyscelini昆虫幼虫的鉴别(鞘翅目:拟步甲科)

本文根据对 10种刺甲族昆虫幼虫的形态研究 ,并与国外已知 5种的研究资料进行比较 ,发现在刺甲族幼虫鉴别中 ,上唇被毛虽是首选特征 ,但不能作为唯一特征 ,下唇和第 9腹节的形态、被毛是必须的辅助特征。文中描述了刺甲族幼虫的特征 ,并提供了 10种幼虫的检索表和分类特征图。     

Distribution of halophilous species of horse flies in Croatia (Diptera: Tabanidae)

In the past 20 years, fauna and ecology of horse flies (Tabanidae) were intensively studied in Croatia, especially in the Ramsar sites as wetlands of international importance. Different habitat requirements of larvae were recognised and adults of 78 species in 10 genera were recorded. The true aquatic and semiaquatic larvae are represented by several species of the genera Chrysops Meigen, 1803 Hybomitra Enderlein, 1922. Some species from this ecological group are typical inhabitants of saline biotopes. In the Croatian fauna three halophilous species were recorded: Chrysops italicus Meigen, 1804, Hybomitra acuminata (Loew, 1858) and H. expollicata (Pandellé, 1883). The distribution of these species in Croatia covers 7, 17 and 3 UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) grids, respectively. Specimens were primarily collected in habitats with brackish water along the Adriatic coast, such as Vransko Lake, the mouth of the River Cetina, the delta of the River Neretva and Mljet Island. Only specimens of H. acuminata were recorded in the continental part of Croatia. They were sporadically collected on localities along the Danube floodplain and on four localities near the river Drava. The distribution of H. acuminata in the continental part indicates otherwise rare saline habitats along the Drava and Danube rivers (1.38% of the total catch of the Hybomitra – species from the floodplain).     

Description of third instar larvae of Ceratitis fasciventris,C. anonae,C. rosa (FAR complex) and C. capitata (Diptera,Tephritidae)

Third instar larvae of members of the Ceratitis FAR complex, including Ceratitisfasciventris (Bezzi), Ceratitisanonae Graham, and Ceratitisrosa Karsch are described and compared with those of Ceratitiscapitata (Wiedemann). Diagnostic characters, such as presence vs. absence of a secondary tooth on the mandibles, previously used to separate Ceratitiscapitata from Ceratitisrosa, are shown to vary in each species. Significant variation in diagnostic morphological characters among populations of Ceratitisrosa from east and south Africa is documented; however, the differences are not simply congruent with the R1 and R2 designations based on other studies. Quantitative measures of numerous morphological characters are consistently smaller in the larvae of Ceratitisfasciventris and distinguish them from other species of the FAR complex. Larvae of Ceratitiscapitata can be distinguished from those of the FAR complex by characters such as absence of accessory plates of the oral ridges, the shape of the anterior spiracle, and the pattern of dorsal spinules. Previous studies indicated that absence of accessory lobes separate the genus Ceratitis from Bactrocera, but this is shown to be incorrect, as accessory lobes are in fact present in several species of Ceratitis.     

Variations in the life-history parameters of Hemipyrellia ligurriens (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in response to larval competition for food

Abstract. 1. Larval rearing densities of Hemipyrellia ligurriens (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in standardized carrion were manipulated in order to investigate changes in life-history parameters in response to larval competition for food.
2. Competition was of the typical scramble type. Survivorship remained high at densities up to 32 larvae g liver^-1 but decreased rapidly as larval density increased further.
3. Emergent adults were undersized with reduced fecundity and longevity. Variations in adult body size apparently reduced the effects of competition on larval mortality.
4. Females of dry weight corresponding to only 10.4% of the potential maximum emerged at the highest rearing densities of 128 larvae g liver-1. However, these females had a nearly four-fold increase in reproductive investment (per unit weight) when compared to the largest individuals.
5. The duration of larval development declined when competition was intense (i.e. at high larval densities).
6. The short adult life of H.ligurriens, combined with the unpredictability of larval habitat availability, may reduce the value of long-range dispersal so that females 'do better' by maintaining reproductive investment despite a concomitant decline in dispersal ability.     

A simple, sterile food source for rearing the larvae of Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

arvae of the sheep blowfly Lucilia sericata (Meigen) were reared on various mixtures of puréed liver, agar, brewer's yeast and trypsin, in order to develop a simple, sterile, tissue-based diet. Growth and survival rates of larvae reared on a sterile 1:1 mixture of puréed liver with 3% Bacto agar equalled or exceeded those of larvae reared on raw liver. The addition of yeast and/or trypsin to the medium was of no additional benefit. This sterile, homogenous, tissue-based substrate offers a simple, convenient, inexpensive growth medium for rearing larvae for maggot therapy, and for testing the effects of various chemicals and dietary constituents on necrophagous insect larvae. It may be useful, therefore, in studies of myiasis, forensic entomology, and toxicology. This rearing medium also has the advantage that it can be stored for many months at room temperature without progressive decomposition or offensive odour.     

青藏高原丽蝇科昆虫物种多样性初探

本文从种数、特有物种和区系构成等角度分析了青藏高原丽蝇科昆虫的物种多样性。青藏高原已知丽蝇5亚科35属120种,占中国已知种数的44.28%,其中特有种55种,占该地区总种数的45.83%;区系构成以特有种、古北界 东洋界共同种及典型的东洋界种和古北界种为主,但澳洲界、新北界、非洲界和新热带界共同种也占一定比例。文中讨论了该地区特有种丰富的原因及地质历史环境对其的影响,分析了区系构成中各种区系成分的比例及形成原因。     

Faeces feeding by adult Phormia regina (Diptera: Calliphoridae): impact on reproduction

resh beef liver, sugar, and five different types of faeces were evaluated as supportive diets for egg development in the blowfly Phormia regina . Females on a sugar diet were unable to develop follicles beyond stage 3, whereas liver proved to be the best diet for complete egg maturation. Some faecal diets were unable to support egg maturation when fed upon for a short period of time; however, longer periods of feeding produced complete egg maturation. The necessity to feed for longer periods of time in order to produce eggs on most of these diets was attributed to their low protein content. Males, in a shorter period of time than females, obtained enough protein from faeces to activate the neuroendocrine system involved in mating.     

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.     

New diagnosis for genus Austrothaumalea,and redescription of A. neozealandica (Diptera: Thaumaleidae)

Abstract

A new diagnosis of Austrothaumalea Tonnoir is given. The male and female of A. neozealandica are redescribed, and the larva and pupa are described for the first time.