Evolutionary profile of the family Calliphoridae, with notes on the origin of myiasis

Abstract

The family Calliphoridae is a group of heterogenous calyptrate flies with a worldwide distribution including species of ecological, veterinary, medical, and forensic importance. Notorious for their parasitic habits, the larvae of many blowflies are characterised – like some other dipteran larvae – by their ability to develop in animal flesh. When parasitism affects a living host, it is termed “myiasis”. This has led the Calliphoridae to be considered as a pivotal family in its relationship with a man. Nevertheless, even after more than 50 years of research, the phylogenetic relationships among calliphorid subfamilies together with the evolutionary origin of myiasis remain unclear. In order to elucidate these problems, we constructed three phylogenetic trees by using nucleotide sequence data from cytochrome oxidase subunit one ( COI ), representing a mitochondrial conservative gene, and nuclear 28S subunit of ribosomal RNA gene ( 28S rRNA ) in order to interpret the evolutionary profile of myiasis in the family Calliphoridae. The sequenced data represented species associated with ectoparasitic life-styles, either saprophagy or facultative and obligate parasitism. A total number of 50 accessions were collected for 28S rRNA , 56 for COI, and 38 for combined sequences phylogeny. Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis (MEGA) software was used to align 2197 nucleotide positions of 28S rRNA and 1500 nucleotide positions of COI with a gap opening penalties and gap extension penalties equalling 20 and 0.1 respectively. The results reveal the non-monophyly of the family Calliphoridae despite the stable monophyletic status of the Chrysomyinae, Luciliinae, and Auchmeromyiinae. Also, our findings recommend ranking the Toxotarsinae as a separate family. Furthermore, comparative analysis of the phylogenetic trees shows that the habit of obligatory myiasis originated independently more than five times. This strengthens our hypothesis that the origin of eating fresh meat is a case of convergent evolution that has taken place after speciation events millions of years ago. Finally, estimating the divergence dates between lineages from molecular sequences provides a better chance of understanding their evolutionary biology.

Environmental and evolutionary factors favouring the coexistence of sarcosaprophagous Calliphoridae species competing for animal necromass

“…This is consistent with other studies that documented a preference for the summer season in Luciliinae and a preference for the spring and autumn seasons in Calliphorinae (Hwang & Turner, 2005; Arias‐Robledo et al ., 2019). From this emerges the evolutionary proposition that the primary underlying mechanism of speciation from a common ancestor in these phylogenetically distinct subfamilies (Stevens & Wall, 2001; Nelson et al ., 2012; Nasser et al ., 2021) may have been the apparent temporal differentiation in activity cycles. Other selective forces such as spatial differentiation (e.g., synanthropy, latitude) and differential adaptability to environmental factors could have appeared further down the evolutionary timeline since these are present to varying degrees within the same subfamily.…”

“…As the only dominant species of the subfamily Chrysomyiinae, we can assume that it has different adaptations from the other two common subfamilies (Luciliinae and Calliphorinae), thereby allowing for their coexistence. Chrysomyinae is also further distant phylogenetically to these two other subfamilies than they are to each other (Nelson et al ., 2012; Nasser et al ., 2021), thus suggesting that its adaptations may also differ more than those present among Luciliinae and Calliphorinae. These mechanisms, as well as several other mechanisms that are not mutually exclusive, will require further studies to be elucidated.…”

Calliphoridae (Review)

“…Сравнительный анализ филогенетических деревьев показывает, что привычка к обязательному миазу возникала независимо более чем в пяти случаях среди различных таксонов каллифорид в ходе эволюционной истории. Включение в исследование других семейств, вызывающих миаз (Oestridae, Gastrophilidae и Sarcophagidae), в дополнение к филогенетическому анализу, могло бы дать более точный ответ о происхождении миаза [4]. С. П. Гапонов путем исследований особенностей экологии синих мясных мух, их адаптации к различным средам обитания выяснил, что переход к факультативному паразитизму на стадии личинки мог происходить несколькими путями, и сопровождалось становлением живорождения [1].…”

Evaluation of Climate Change Impacts on the Global Distribution of the Calliphorid Fly Chrysomya albiceps Using GIS

“…Its flies are familiar as blowflies, bluebottles, and greenbottles; with about 1500 species, the family comprises almost 8% of the calyptrate flies that occupy all continents except Antarctica [8]. Moreover, it includes a variety of lifestyle species classified throughout several subfamilies, such as the Calliphorinae, Chrysomyinae, Luciliinae, Ameniinae, Bengaliinae, Helicoboscinae, Polleniinae, Melanomyinae, Rhiniinae, Mesembrinellinae, and Toxotarsinae [9]. Most Calliphorid adults are oviparous, and some are larviparous, and either unilarviparous or multilarviparous.…”