Key Aspects of the Biology of Snail-Killing Sciomyzidae Flies

Abstract

The biology of snail-killing flies (Diptera: Sciomyzidae) has been studied intensively over the past half-century, especially over the past decade. Today, sciomyzids are biologically the best-known group of higher Diptera. The overarching research objectives are evaluation of sciomyzids as biocontrols of disease-carrying or agriculturally important snails and slugs and as a paradigm group for the study of the evolution of diverse feeding and associated behaviors in flies. We present reviews and analyses of some key features of particular scientific and societal interest, including behavioral and phenological groups; laboratory experimental studies on behavior and development; population biology, bioindicators, ecosystem service provision, and conservation; phylogenetics, molecular studies, and evolutionary biology; and biocontrol.

Quo Vadis Venomics? A Roadmap to Neglected Venomous Invertebrates

“…Sciomyzid life histories are well studied and a wide range of larval feeding habits are known, including parasitism, saprophagy and predation on terrestrial, semi-aquatic and aquatic snails, slugs, snail eggs, clams and some freshwater oligochaete worms [ 97 , 98 , 99 , 100 ]. The sciomyzid larvae have three stages of which the third instars often become more generalized predators, while in particular in parasitoid species, the first and second instars are very host specific [ 98 , 100 ]. Sciomyzidae is divided into three subfamilies, the Huttonininae, the Salticelloinae and the Sciomyzinae.…”

“…New morphological data suggest that Sciomyzinae is monophyletic but subdivided into two tribes, the Sciomyzini and the Tetanocerini [ 98 ]. For a more detailed phylogenetic discussion see [ 100 , 101 ]. All larvae of Sciomyzini and Salticellinae are terrestrial, while some genera of Tetanocerini have also developed aquatic larval stages.…”

Challenges in Assessing Ecological Impacts of Construction and Demolition Waste on Wetlands: A Case Study

“…With this in mind, we concentrated on wetland biological groups such as plants which are sensitive to chemical changes in their environment (LaPaix et al2009;Pardo et al, 2011) and Diptera (families and morphospecies), shown to be influenced by vegetation structure (Hughes et al, 2000;King & Brazner, 1999;Whiles and Goldowitz, 2001). In particular, we identified marsh flies (Diptera: Sciomyzidae), to species level since they have been shown to reflect a range of wetland conditions (Murphy et al, 2012;Speight, 1986;Williams et al, 2009Williams et al, , 2010. While plants are frequently used in isolation to assess habitats, we included invertebrate groups in this study given that, apart from charismatic invertebrate species such as butterflies, policy makers can often be unaware of problems associated with general invertebrate conservation (Cardoso et al, 2011).…”

Observations concerning the sampling of Sciomyzidae (Diptera) in High Nature Value wet grassland habitats: caveats to consider

“…Nevertheless, knowledge of the value of different types of wet grasslands for invertebrates (as well as plants) is essential if the overall biodiversity of wet grasslands is to be recognised, protected and monitored. Sciomyzidae (Diptera) are wetland habitat specialists with sedentary adults which permit their use as both qualitative and quantitative bioindicators of wetlands (Keiper et al ., ; Knutson & Vala, ; Murphy et al ., ). Sciomyzidae have also recently been shown to be both ubiquitous and diverse in wet grassland habitats with assemblages responding to hydrological and management changes (Williams et al ., ; Maher et al ., ).…”