Genetic variability in the parasitic fly, Sarcophaga villeneuveana, in south-western Europe and Morocco

Jourdan, M.; Thomann, Thierry; Richet, René; Fendane, Yassine; Ghamizi, Mohamed; Bon, Marie‐Claude; Sheppard, Andy; Baker, Geoff

doi:10.1007/s10526-019-09985-7

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 32 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Cochlicella acuta in Australia belong to a genetic lineage derived from southern Iberia (Spain and Portugal) and Morocco [28]. Two common S. villeneuveana CO1 haplotypes from southern Portugal, Spain and Morocco are not known to occur in Australian flies, which were sourced from the Montpellier region in France [29]. Due to different geographic sources of the fly and snail hosts, it was argued that a genetic mismatch may have contributed to low parasitism success of S. villeneuveana in Australia [28,29].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The impact of the biological control agent, S. villeneuveana, on populations of invasive conical snails in South Australia after 20 years is limited. Factors inhibiting success may include single-fly releases with relatively few individuals, variation in abundance and distribution of host snails, cryptic snail aestivation habitats that are inaccessible to flies, a lack of floral resources for flies in agricultural areas, the use of broad-spectrum insecticides on farms that are harmful to flies, possible genetic or ecological differences between host and parasitoid populations [28,29], or a loss of genetic variability due to laboratory inbreeding [37,38]. However, evidence of substantially higher parasitism in localised environments with favourable habitat for the fly indicates the potential to improve biological control of both conical snail species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Biocontrol of Invasive Conical Snails by the Parasitoid Fly Sarcophaga villeneuveana in South Australia 20 Years after Release

Muirhead

Perry

2021

Insects

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Two conical snail species introduced to Australia from the Mediterranean region during the 20th century are major pests of pastures and grain crops. In 2000, a parasitoid fly, Sarcophaga villeneuveana, was introduced into South Australia for biocontrol of the conical snail, Cochlicella acuta. The fly successfully established in the region but assessments of its impact in different snail aestivation microhabitats were limited. Twenty years on, field surveys were conducted to assess the geographic distribution and parasitism rates of S. villeneuveana on conical snails in the Yorke Peninsula region. Nineteen sites were sampled on four occasions in January and April of both 2019 and 2020. In total, >85,600 C. acuta and >2400 C. barbara were collected from cryptic (ground or plant refuge) and exposed (open ground or elevated substrate) aestivation habitats and assessed for parasitism. The fly was detected at 13 of 19 sampled sites up to 34 km from nursery release sites. Total parasitism rates of suitably sized snails (≥5 mm shell height) were 2.9% for C. acuta and 3.4% for C. barbara. Maximum parasitism rates of 48% for C. acuta and 29% for C. barbara were found at sites adjacent to spring- and summer-flowering native vegetation. Across 13 sites, parasitism rates were higher for C. acuta (5.4%) and C. barbara (15.2%) in exposed habitats above ground level. However, only 34% of C. acuta and 14% of C. barbara were found in elevated habitats as most snails were found in cryptic refuges. There was a seasonal decline in abundance of C. acuta (66%) and C. barbara (45%) between January and April, suggesting natural mortality. Although the overall impact of the fly is limited, high parasitism rates in local environments with flowering resources indicates the potential to enhance biocontrol of both invasive conical snail species.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biocontrol of Invasive Conical Snails by the Parasitoid Fly Sarcophaga villeneuveana in South Australia 20 Years after Release

Muirhead

Perry

2021

Insects

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…acuta in its native range showed that there are three main mitochondrial lineages and that the C . acuta that was introduced in Australia is part of the same lineage encompassing Morocco and the Iberian Peninsula (Jourdan et al, 2020). However, S .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While S. villeneuveana established successfully in Australia, parasitism remains low (Thomann et al, 2020). A molecular study of C. acuta in its native range showed that there are three main mitochondrial lineages and that the C. acuta that was introduced in Australia is part of the same lineage encompassing Morocco and the Iberian Peninsula (Jourdan et al, 2020).…”

Section: Study Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection of a cryptic terrestrial insect using novel eDNA collection techniques

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Sensitive detection techniques are key to inform management practices for invasive and pest species by identifying the pest species’ distribution or identifying the presence of biological control agents that may negate the need for chemical control. Environmental DNA (eDNA) can be detected to infer the presence of rare, cryptic, and invasive species. This study provides a method that expands the application of eDNA techniques within terrestrial systems. Our study is focused on a cryptic biological control agent of the pointed snail Cochlicella acuta, the fly parasitoid Sarcophaga villeneuveana, which remains within the snail shell for most of its lifecycle, making it difficult to detect. Three sites were sampled using traditional surveys and three types of eDNA sampling 1/ crushing live snails, 2/ water washing live snails, old snail shells or vegetation, and 3/ vacuuming live snails or vegetation. An assay was developed to amplify a 129 bp fragment of S. villeneuveana, with positive detections recorded in crushed snail samples, water washed live snail, water washed vegetation, and laboratory vacuumed vegetation. Presence of the endoparasitoid was validated by traditional survey techniques conducted at the same time, indicating that all techniques tested are comparable for detection of the parasitoid. The new technique which only requires a small vegetation sample from the field post‐harvest and a portable vacuum has great potential to be applied to other insects and environments, particularly cryptic species, pests, and biological control agents in crops.

show abstract

“…Nearly two decades later, it was determined that biocontrol using French S. villeneuveana had failed [ 107 ]. Genetic studies of Australian populations of C. acuta , were undertaken, and it was determined that the Australian snails were most closely related to source populations in Morocco and the Iberian Peninsula, not France [ 106 ], and studies were begun to determine whether S. villeneuveana from the Iberian Peninsula or Morocco might be more effective in controlling C. acuta [ 106 , 107 , 108 ], and Moroccan S. villeneuveana have been brought to Australia for further testing and potential release [ 109 ]. The initial uncertainty as to the identity of the sarcophagids under study highlights the fact that, as was the case with Euglandina spp., even modern biological controls that are touted as not being ‘classic biocontrol’ are still based on inadequate evaluation of the biology and even identity of appropriate predators and parasitoids.…”

Section: Current Best Practices Sarcophagid Flies and Phasmarhabditismentioning

confidence: 99%

Biological Control of Pest Non-Marine Molluscs: A Pacific Perspective on Risks to Non-Target Organisms

Christensen

Cowie

Yeung

et al. 2021

Insects

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Classic biological control of pest non-marine mollusks has a long history of disastrous outcomes, and despite claims to the contrary, few advances have been made to ensure that contemporary biocontrol efforts targeting mollusks are safe and effective. For more than half a century, malacologists have warned of the dangers in applying practices developed in the field of insect biological control, where biocontrol agents are often highly host-specific, to the use of generalist predators and parasites against non-marine mollusk pests. Unfortunately, many of the lessons that should have been learned from these failed biocontrol programs have not been rigorously applied to contemporary efforts. Here, we briefly review the failures of past non-marine mollusk biocontrol efforts in the Pacific islands and their adverse environmental impacts that continue to reverberate across ecosystems. We highlight the fact that none of these past programs has ever been demonstrated to be effective against targeted species, and at least two (the snails Euglandina spp. and the flatworm Platydemus manokwari) are implicated in the extinction of hundreds of snail species endemic to Pacific islands. We also highlight other recent efforts, including the proposed use of sarcophagid flies and nematodes in the genus Phasmarhabditis, that clearly illustrate the false claims that past bad practices are not being repeated. We are not making the claim that biocontrol programs can never be safe and effective. Instead, we hope that in highlighting the need for robust controls, clear and measurable definitions of success, and a broader understanding of ecosystem level interactions within a rigorous scientific framework are all necessary before claims of success can be made by biocontrol advocates. Without such amendments to contemporary biocontrol programs, it will be impossible to avoid repeating the failures of non-marine mollusk biocontrol programs to date.

show abstract

Genetic variability in the parasitic fly, Sarcophaga villeneuveana, in south-western Europe and Morocco

Cited by 6 publications

References 32 publications

Biocontrol of Invasive Conical Snails by the Parasitoid Fly Sarcophaga villeneuveana in South Australia 20 Years after Release

Biocontrol of Invasive Conical Snails by the Parasitoid Fly Sarcophaga villeneuveana in South Australia 20 Years after Release

Detection of a cryptic terrestrial insect using novel eDNA collection techniques

Biological Control of Pest Non-Marine Molluscs: A Pacific Perspective on Risks to Non-Target Organisms

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About