Larval morphology of the avian parasitic genus Passeromyia: playing hide and seek with a parastomal bar |
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Authors: | Kinga Walczak Krzysztof Szpila Leanne Nelson Thomas Pape Martin J. R. Hall Fernanda Alves Andrzej Grzywacz |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Ecology and Biogeography, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Toruń, Poland;2. Biosecurity Sciences Laboratory, Health and Food Sciences Precinct, Archerfield, Queensland, Australia;3. Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark;4. Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, UK;5. Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia |
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Abstract: | The enigmatic larvae of the Old World genus Passeromyia Rodhain & Villeneuve, 1915 (Diptera: Muscidae) inhabit the nests of birds as saprophages or as haematophagous agents of myiasis among nestlings. Using light microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, we provide the first morphological descriptions of the first, second and third instar of P. longicornis (Macquart, 1851) (Diptera: Muscidae), the first and third instar of P. indecora (Walker, 1858) (Diptera: Muscidae), and we revise the larval morphology of P. heterochaeta (Villenueve, 1915) (Diptera: Muscidae) and P. steini Pont, 1970 (Diptera: Muscidae). We provide a key to the third instar of examined species (excluding P. steini and P. veitchi Bezzi, 1928 (Diptera: Muscidae)). Examination of the cephaloskeleton revealed paired rod-like sclerites, named ‘rami’, between the lateral arms of the intermediate sclerite in the second and third instar larva. We reveal parastomal bars fused apically with the intermediate sclerite, the absence of which has so far been considered as apomorphic for second and third instar muscid larvae. Examination of additional material suggests that modified parastomal bars are not exclusive features of Passeromyia but occur widespread in the Muscidae, and rami may occur widespread in the Cyclorrhapha. |
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Keywords: | confocal laser scanning microscopy Diptera light microscopy Muscidae myiasis scanning electron microscopy |
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