Taxonomic exploration of Neotropical Microdontinae (Diptera: Syrphidae) mimicking stingless bees

Reemer, Menno

doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3697.1.1

Cited by 13 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…) were reared from puparia found inside ant cocoons. In the taxonomic key of Reemer (), specimens run to Hypselosyrphus trigonus Hull, , a Neotropical microdontine species that phenotypically resembles stingless bees (Apidae: Apinae: Meliponini). Specimens were also compared with pictures of the holotype (Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, MA, USA), and with an additional specimen from Belize in the RMNH collection (Leiden, The Netherlands), with which the Mexican specimens agree well.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An unusual, but not unexpected, evolutionary step taken by syrphid flies: the first record of true primary parasitoidism of ants by Microdontinae

Pérez‐Lachaud

Jervis

Reemer

et al. 2013

Biol J Linn Soc Lond

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Parasitoidism of ants by flies is known only for Phoridae and Tachinidae. We report the first record of a hoverfly (Syrphidae, Microdontinae, Hypselosyrphus) acting as a true primary parasitoid of ants. Previously, larvae of Microdontinae were known only as obligate predators of ant brood. This is also the first host record for any Hypselosyrphus species, the first reliable record of an association between a syrphid fly and a ponerine ant, and the first record of a dipteran parasitoid developing upon the immature stages of ants. We reared adults of Hypselosyrphus trigonus from cocoons of the arboreal ponerine ant, Pachycondyla villosa, nesting in Aechmea bracteata bromeliads in southern Quintana Roo, Mexico, and we succeeded in determining various aspects of the parasitoid's life history. The findings obtained in the present study provide novel insights into the evolutionary transformation and diversification of the feeding habits of microdontine syrphid larvae, from an obligatory, specific predatory association with the ant brood, to parasitoidism of ant prepupae. We also highlight the need for more detailed studies of the interactions of arboreal ants and their parasites. We conclude with an overview of the evolutionary transitions and diversification of larval feeding habits that have taken place within the family Syrphidae. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 111, 462–472.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An unusual, but not unexpected, evolutionary step taken by syrphid flies: the first record of true primary parasitoidism of ants by Microdontinae

Pérez‐Lachaud

Jervis

Reemer

et al. 2013

Biol J Linn Soc Lond

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“…Few microdontine hosts have been identified in Neotropical regions so far, and only four of them belong to the genus Crematogaster ( Wheeler 1924 ; Mann 1928 ; Longino 2003a ; present study). Regarding the high number of microdontine species in the Neotropics (202; Reemer and Ståhls 2013 ; Reemer 2013b ), there are certainly many more microdontine-ant associations waiting to be discovered, probably many involving Crematogaster (100 Neotropical species; Fernández and Sendoya 2004 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Natural history and morphology of the hoverfly Pseudomicrodon biluminiferus and its parasitic relationship with ants nesting in bromeliads

Schmid

Morales

Marinoni

et al. 2014

Journal of Insect Science

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The syrphid subfamily Microdontinae is characterized by myrmecophily of their immature stages, i.e., they develop in ant nests. Data on natural history of microdontines are scarce, especially in the Neotropics. Based on fieldwork in southern Brazil, this study provided new data on development and ecology of the hoverfly Pseudomicrodon biluminiferus (Hull) (Diptera: Syrphidae) as well as the first morphological descriptions of male genitalia, larvae, and pupa. Immature specimens were specifically found in colonies of the ant species Crematogaster limata Smith (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) found in rosettes of the bromeliad species Aechmea lindenii (E. Morren) Baker (Poales: Bromeliaceae) and A. nudicaulis (L.) Grisebach. Third instar larvae were observed preying on ant larvae, revealing the parasitic nature of P. biluminiferus . In this and several other aspects, the natural history of P. biluminiferus is similar to that of Holarctic microdontine species. Exceptions include: (i) indications that adults of P. biluminiferus outlast the winter months (in contrast to 3 rd instar larvae in Holarctic species) and (ii) P. biluminiferus ’ relationship with bromeliads. The importance of bromeliads for this host-parasite system is evaluated in this paper. The single occurrence of another, unidentified microdontine species’ pupae in a nest of the ant species Camponotus melanoticus Emery (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) is reported.

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“…However, C. flava differs from C. jatai sp. n. in having a basoflagellomere with a conspicuous median protuberance just distal of the insertion of the arista; frons with two separated brown spots, one on each side of the antennal fossa, and vertex and scutellum covered with yellow pile (see Reemer (2013) for a detailed redescription of the species). In C. jatai sp.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Until recently, species identification of Microdontinae was a difficult task, as many species were poorly characterized or simply not included in existing identification keys. Fortunately, the revisionary works of Cheng & Thompson (2008), Reemer (2013Reemer ( , 2014, and Reemer and Ståhls (2013a) have provided identifications tools, such as taxonomic keys and photographs of the specimens, that facilitate the identification of the genera and species of this subfamily.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Description of new species of Surimyia Reemer and Carreramyia Doesburg (Diptera: Syrphidae) from the Brazilian Amazon

Carvalho-Filho

2014

Zootaxa

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Surimyia reemeri sp. n. and Carreramyia jatai sp. n. are described from the Brazilian Amazon. The diagnosis of Surimyia Reemer is emended to include S. reemeri sp. n. that differs from other species of the genus mainly by the shape of male terminalia and basoflagellomere length. In addition, S. rolanderi Reemer is recorded for Brazil for the first time. The key to species of Carreramyia Doesburg by Reemer (2008) is modified to include C. jatai sp. n., and a key to species of Surimyia is provided.

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Taxonomic exploration of Neotropical Microdontinae (Diptera: Syrphidae) mimicking stingless bees

Abstract: MENNO REEMER Taxonomic exploration of Neotropical Microdontinae (Diptera: Syrphidae) mimicking stingless bees (Zootaxa 3697) 88 pp.; 30 cm.

Cited by 13 publications

References 13 publications

An unusual, but not unexpected, evolutionary step taken by syrphid flies: the first record of true primary parasitoidism of ants by Microdontinae

An unusual, but not unexpected, evolutionary step taken by syrphid flies: the first record of true primary parasitoidism of ants by Microdontinae

Natural history and morphology of the hoverfly Pseudomicrodon biluminiferus and its parasitic relationship with ants nesting in bromeliads

Description of new species of Surimyia Reemer and Carreramyia Doesburg (Diptera: Syrphidae) from the Brazilian Amazon

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