Scuttle Flies: The Phoridae

Disney, R. H. L.

doi:10.1007/978-94-011-1288-8

Cited by 359 publications

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“…Known as "the scuttle fly", it is a polyphagous organism that generally acts as saprophagous, sarcophagous, and necrophagous (Costa et al, 2007). In addition, it could be a facultative parasitoid affecting different organisms such as humans (Campobasso, Disney, & Introna, 2004;Ghavami & Djalivand, 2015;James, 1947), plants (Disney, 1994;Karunaweera, Ihalamulla, & Kumarasinghe, 2002;Walter & Wene, 1951) and animals, including insects (Andreotti et al, 2003;De Gregorio & Leonide, 1980;Harrison & Gardner, 1991;Macieira et al, 1983;Ulloa & Hernandez, 1981). The aim of our investigation was to verify the prevalence of myiases affecting A. mellifera in centralsouthern Italy by two experiments in Abruzzo and Molise regions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Infestation ofApis melliferacolonies byMegaselia scalaris(Loew, 1866) in Abruzzo and Molise regions, central-southern Italy

Ricchiuti

Miranda

Venti³

et al. 2016

Journal of Apicultural Research

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Infestation ofApis melliferacolonies byMegaselia scalaris(Loew, 1866) in Abruzzo and Molise regions, central-southern Italy

Ricchiuti

Miranda

Venti³

et al. 2016

Journal of Apicultural Research

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“…In addition to causing myiasis in humans (Trape et al 1982, Singh et al 1988, Singh & Rana 1989, it has also been reported as a forensically-important fly (e.g. Barnes 1990, Disney 1994. Larvae of this species have more recently been reported from both exposed human corpses and within a tightly sealed corpse (Greenberg & Wells 1998).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Surface ultrastructure of third-instar Megaselia scalaris (Diptera: Phoridae)

Sukontason

Lertthamnongtham

et al. 2002

Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz

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We describe some ultrastructure of the third-instar Megaselia scalaris (Diptera: Phoridae) using scanning electron microscopy, with the cephalic segment, anterior spiracle and posterior spiracle being emphasized. This study provides the taxonomic information of this larval species, which may be useful to differentiate from other closelyrelated species.Key words: Megaselia scalaris -ultrastructure -third-instar -scanning electron microscopy -forensic entomology Megaselia scalaris (Loew), humpbacked fly, is an insect of medical importance worldwide. In addition to causing myiasis in humans (Trape et al. 1982, Singh et al. 1988, Singh & Rana 1989, it has also been reported as a forensically-important fly (e.g. Barnes 1990, Disney 1994. Larvae of this species have more recently been reported from both exposed human corpses and within a tightly sealed corpse (Greenberg & Wells 1998). Thus, the identification of this fly larva to species is mandatory to improve the accuracy of a forensic investigation, if this larva is present in a corpse and could be used as entomological evidence.The immature and adult stages of M. scalaris have been previously described based on light microscopy (Zumpt 1965, Tumrasvin et al. 1977, Kaneko et al. 1978, Liu & Greenberg 1989, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has been used to describe the egg (Greenberg & Wells 1998). We report, herein, some details of the surface ultrastructure of the third-instar M. scalaris with the aid of SEM. Particular attention was given to the morphology of the cephalic segment, anterior and posterior spiracles, in order to point out some taxonomic significance from the other Megaselia species.The third-instar M. scalaris, which was obtained from wild-caught females that came to lay eggs in a tray baited with fresh pork liver, was set up in the Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Thailand. The eggs were identified as M. scalaris according to the morphological features demonstrated by Greenberg and Wells (1998 from the egg, it was reared with fresh pork liver until reaching the third-instar. Some larvae were collected from the colony and washed several times with normal saline solution. They were killed by placing in hot water (≈70°C) for a few min and then fixed in a fixative agent consisting of 2.5% glutaraldehyde at 4°C for 24 h. The fixed larvae were then subjected to postfixation in 1% osmium tetroxide and dehydration in a graded alcohol series that was followed by treatment in acetone and critical-point drying. They were then mounted on stubs, sputter-coated with gold, and viewed with a JEOL-JSM840A scanning electron microscope. Photomicrographs were made using Kodak® Verichrome Panchromatic film VP 200.The third-instar M. scalaris is creamy white and ≈4 mm in length.

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“…leaf-cutting ants are parasitized by flies of the genus Neodohrniphora (Diptera: Phoridae) (Prado 1976, Disney 1994, Brown 2001. These flies pursue and attack the larger foragers walking along trails, but nearby ants are also disturbed by flies' attacking bouts.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many antparasitizing phorids are host specific (Disney 1994), but at least one Neodohrniphora species is believed to attack more than one Atta species (Brown 2001). Because nests of A. sexdens and A. laevigata occur in close proximity to each other in Viçosa as well as in many parts of southeastern Brazil, it could be possible for N. tonhascai, a species whose effects on A. sexdens are known, to utilize A. laevigata workers as host.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Parasitism characteristics of two phorid fly species in relation to their host, the leaf-cutting ant Atta laevigata (Smith) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Bragança¹,

Tonhasca²,

Moreira³

2002

Neotrop. Entomol.

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Neotropical Entomology 31(2): 241-244 (2002) ABSTRACT -The leaf-cutting ants Atta sexdens (L.) and Atta laevigata (Smith) constitute serious pests of agriculture and forestry in Brazil. These ants are parasitized by the phorids Neodohrniphora tonhascai Brown and Neodohrniphora erthali Brown (Diptera: Phoridae), respectively. The parasitic potential of N. tonhascai against its host has been previously investigated, but no equivalent information is available for N. erthali. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the oviposition behavior and some biological characteristics of N. erthali in relation to its host and to determine the parasitic potential of N. tonhascai against A. laevigata, considering that in many parts of southeastern Brazil nests of A. sexdens and A. laevigata are found in close proximity of each other. These data were obtained from female N. erthali and N. tonhascai collected in the field in Viçosa (Minas Gerais State) and released singly in an observation chamber placed between a laboratory nest of A. laevigata and its foraging arena. Neodohrniphora tonhascai took less time selecting its hosts, attacked more ants and had greater rate of parasitism in relation to N. erthali. We could not establish whether A. laevigata is parasitized by N. tonhascai in the field, but the reproductive success of N. tonhascai in the laboratory demonstrated that A. laevigata is a suitable host to this parasitoid. The types of defense displayed by A. laevigata against both phorid species were markedly different, and these results suggest that foragers take specific defensive steps in order to reduce the possibility of parasitism by phorid flies.KEY WORDS: Attini, Neodohrniphora tonhascai, Neodohrniphora erthali, parasitoid, biological control. 242Bragança et al.Throughout most of their range, Atta spp. leaf-cutting ants are parasitized by flies of the genus Neodohrniphora (Diptera: Phoridae) (Prado 1976, Disney 1994, Brown 2001. These flies pursue and attack the larger foragers walking along trails, but nearby ants are also disturbed by flies' attacking bouts. Neodohrniphora have been implicated in the diel shift of foraging activity exhibited by Atta cephalotes (L.) (Orr 1992, Feener & Brown 1993 and in the reduction of the forager force size of Atta sexdens (L.) (Bragança et al. 1998, Tonhasca & Bragança 2000. When exposed to a Neodohrniphora species, young A. sexdens colonies (less than 1-year old) stop completely their foraging activity within five minutes of initial contact with the parasitoids (D.D.O. Moreira, unpubl.). In older colonies, A. sexdens foragers react to the presence of these flies by abandoning their loads and returning to the nest (Bragança et al. 1998). Consequently, the occurrence of Neodohrniphora represents a disruptive factor in the foraging of Atta leaf-cutting ants.Atta sexdens and Atta laevigata (Smith) are two of the most common leaf-cutting ants in Brazil, and both represent serious pests of agriculture and forestry (Fowler et al. 1989 Tonhasca (1996), where it was incorrectly n...

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Scuttle Flies: The Phoridae

Cited by 359 publications

References 0 publications

Infestation ofApis melliferacolonies byMegaselia scalaris(Loew, 1866) in Abruzzo and Molise regions, central-southern Italy

Infestation ofApis melliferacolonies byMegaselia scalaris(Loew, 1866) in Abruzzo and Molise regions, central-southern Italy

Surface ultrastructure of third-instar Megaselia scalaris (Diptera: Phoridae)

Parasitism characteristics of two phorid fly species in relation to their host, the leaf-cutting ant Atta laevigata (Smith) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

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