Phorid Newsletter #8
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Phorid Newsletter Number 8 Brian V. Brown, editor 1 May 2000 Drawing of Apocephalus sp. by Jesse Cantley This newsletter has been a long time but all are interesting and merit further coming! I have been extremely busy in the investigation. Voucher specimens of phorid last year or so, but hope to re-establish more flies are deposited in the collection of the regular publication of the Phorid Newsletter. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles In the last couple of years I County. conducted field work in Brazil, Colombia and Guyana, and visited the collection of 1) The following information was sent to me Borgmeier in São Paulo. Hopefully I can by Dr. Phil DeVries (Milwaukee Public report on these activities in more detail in Museum). Dr. DeVries found a large snail, the near future. probably of the genus Plekocheilus (family As always, I would appreciate any Bulimulidae) near Añaga, Sucumbios, contributions, large or small, to the Ecuador (0.48S, 76.38W). It had a small newsletter. swarm of phorid flies running on the surface of the shell and flying around it. He picked Five natural history notes on Neotropical up the snail and put it in a plastic bag for phorid flies further observations, noting that the animal by Brian V. Brown had withdrawn and the flies had Citation: Brown, B.V. 2000. Five natu ral history notes on disappeared. The next day, he looked in the Neotropical phorid flies. Phorid Newsletter 8: 1-2. Published 1 May, 200 0, Los Angeles , Califor nia, U.S.A. bag and found the snail alive and active, with the flies again present. He believes that The life histories of phorid flies are the flies were hidden inside the shell, extremely poorly known, especially in retreating there when the snail retracted. The relatively unstudied tropical regions. To snail itself was apparently healthy and make such information more widely known, uninjured. The flies were females of a five unusual life history notes are species of Conicera. summarized below. None of the observations represent completed studies, 2) Dr. Al Gillogly (Texas A&M University) Phorid Newsletter, 8, page 1 pointed out to me that specimens of the the way of life of this species. Female flies passalid beetle genus Vindex from landed near bees and curled their ovipositors Guatemala often have a phorid puparium anteriorly, between their legs, so that that under and near the base of the elytra. He ovipositor tip was below but in front of the demonstrated this to me with one specimen head. They then walked rapidly towards the from Volcan Zunil, Guatemala, in which I bees, attempting to oviposit in them. This is found a puparium with a pharate adult similar to the behavior shown by many specimen that keys to the genus Johowia. Melaloncha species. Like many phorids keying out to Johowia, however, this fly appears to be merely a Megaselia with extra supra-antennal setae. Some literature from the last 3 years According to Dr. Gillogly, the beetles are I have fallen behind in compiling the not harmed by the presence of the phorid, phorid literature, but below are at least some which possibly is a true parasite rather than a of the papers published in 1997, 1998 and parasitoid. 1999. As always, I appreciate receiving suggested additions or corrections to the list. 3) In 1992 when I visited Pakitza, Peru, I collected specimens of Cryptophora coeca 1997 Borgmeier and Syntermophora BrowBrown,Brown, B.V. 1997. Revision of the ApocephaluApocephalus microphthalma Seevers in a foraging attophilus-gr-grou-group-group of ant-decapitating flies column and riding on the backs of termites (Diptera:(Diptera: Phoridae).(Diptera: P horidae). Contribu tions inContributions in Science of the genus Syntermes. Reports of such 468:1-60. phoresy (transport of one species by another) in phorids are rare. Brown,Brown, B.V. 1997. Systematics andBrown, B.V. 1997. Systematics and fossil evidence of host-parasitoidhost-parasitoid rhost-parasitoid relhost-parasitoid relationships of Calamiscus BorgmBorgmeBorgmeierBorgmeier (Diptera: Phoridae). Journal of 4) I collected specimens of Pseudacteon Natural History 31:1253-59. conicornis Borgmeier attacking fire ants, Solenopsis saevissima (F. Smith) (ants Brown,Brown, B.V. 1997. The undescribedBrown, B.V. 1997. The undescribed male of Beckerina identified by Dr. Sanford Porter, Gainesville, sinefurca Borgmeier and the Borgmeier and the r Borgmeier and the recognition of NeotropicalNeotropical Beckerina (Diptera: Phoridae) (Diptera: Phoridae). Florida), in Brazil. The flies were attracted Entomological Problems 28:155-58. to aggregations of ants created by disturbing the nest mounds. At my collecting site, near Brown,Brown, B.V. 1997. Parasitic phoridBrown, B.V. 1997. Parasitic phorid flies: a p reviously Desengano State Park, Rio de Janeiro unrecognized cost tounrecognized cost to aggregation behaviorunrecognized cost to aggregation behavior of (21.87S, 41.80W), these flies were the male stingless bees. Biotropica 29:370-72. most common Pseudacteon species attracted Buck,Buck, M. 1997. Untersuchungen zur öBuck, M. 1997. Untersuchungen zur ökBuck, M. 1997. Untersuchungen zur ökologischen to fire ants. This is the first recorded host EinnischungEinnischung Einnischung saprophager Dipteren unter information for P. conicornis. besonderer.besonderer. Berücksichtigung der Phoridae uundund Spund Sphaeroceridae (Brachyceraund Sphaeroceridae (Brachycera/ 5) In March, 2000, Giar-Ann Kung and I Cyclorrhapha)Cyclorrhapha) thesis, University of Ulm, Germany. vi + 194 + lv pp. collected female specimens of Styletta crocea Borgmeier attacking stingless bees in Buck,Buck, M. 1997. A new genus and species of Phoridae Amacayacu National Park, Colombia (Diptera)(Diptera) from Central Eu(Diptera) from Central Euro(Diptera) from Central Europe wit(Diptera) from Central Europe with (3.82S, 70.26W). This is the first report of remarkab lyremarkab ly primitremarkab ly primitivremarkab ly primitive male genitaliaremarkably primitive male genitalia. Phorid Newsletter, 8, page 2 Entomologica scandinavica 28:351-59. assassociatassociatedassociated with termites (Isopteraassociated with termites (Isoptera: Termitidae). Sociobiology 30:1-33. DiDisney,Disney, Disney, R.H.L. 1997. A new species of Phoridae (Diptera)(Diptera) that parasitises (Diptera) that parasitisDisney,es aDisney, (Diptera) R.H.L., that parasitis G.-X. esLi aDisney, widespread R.H .L., Asia G.-X.n Li, Disney, R.H.L., G.-X. Li, and D. Li. 1997. A new ladybirdladybird beetle (Coleoptera: Cocciladybird beetle (Coleoptera:speciesspecies Coccine and ladybirdtwo new beetle records (Coleoptera: ofspecies andCoccinellidae). two new records of MeMegaselia Entomologist 116:163-68. RondaniRondani (Diptera, Phoridae) from mainland China.China. Giornale italiano di Entomologia Disney,Disney, R.H.L.Disney, R.H.L. 1997.Disney, R.H.L. 1997. Post-eclosion7:333-38. heterochrony in the maturationmaturation o f the adult females of a termitophiloustermitophilous fly (Ditermitophilous fly (DiptDisney,era,Disney,termitophilo R.H.L.us fly and (Diptera, J.M. Ritchi termitophiloe. 1997. Aus newfly (Diptera, genus of P horidtermitophilous fly (Diptera, P horidae). Bonner zoologische Beiträge 47:77-86. PhoridaePhoridae (DiptPhoridae (Dipt.) that parasitizesPhoridae (Dipt.) that parasitizes aPhoridae (Dipt.) that parasitizes an AfrotAfrotropicalAfrotropical millipede (DiplopAfrotropical millipede (DiplopodaAfrotropical millipede (Diplopoda, Disney,Disney, R.H.L. 1997. RecognitionDisney, R.H.L. 1997. RecognitiOdontopygidae).on ofDisney, R.H.L.Odon topygidae1997. Recogni). Entomtion ofologist's a sibling Mspeciesonthly ofof the Australian Eutermiphora abdominEutermiphora abdominaMagazineEuterm 133:151-56.iphora abdominalis LeaLea (Diptera: Phorid ae). BBoBonner zoologische Beiträge 47:87-94. Disney,Disney, R.H .L. and A.J. R oss. 1997 . AbaristophAbaristophorAbaristophora andand PuPulicPuliciphora (Diptera: Phoridae) from Disney,Disney, R.H .L. 1Disney, R.H.L. 199Disney, R.H .L. 1997. A newDominican species ofDominican Gymnophora amber and reviDominican amber and revisDominican amber and revisionary notes on (Di(Dipt.,(Dipt., Phoridae) from Ge(Dipt., Phoridae)modernmodern from species.Germany EEuro(Dipt.,European Pho ridae) Journal from ofGermany. Entom ologist'sEntomologist's Monthly Magazine 133:73 133:73-75Entomology 133:73-75. 93 (1996):127-35. DiDisney,Disney, R.H .L. 1997. Veruanus Schmitz (DipteraFeener, SchmitzFeener, (Diptera: D .H.J. and B .V. Brown. Feener, D.H.J. and B.V. Brown. 1997Feener, D.H.J. and B.V. Brown. 1997. Diptera as Phoridae).Phoridae). BritishBritish Journal of EntomologyBritisparasitoids.h Journal ofparasitoids Entomology. Annu and al Review of EntoAnnual Review of EntomolAnnual Review of Entomology Natural History 10:69-71. 42:73-97. DisneDisney,Disney, R.H.L. 1997. Fantastic flies and flightsGilbert, of Gilbert, L.E. andGilbert, L.E. and L.W. Morrison.Gilbert, L.E. and L.W . Morrison. 1997. Patterns of host fancy.fancy. JournalJournal of Biological Education 31:39- specificityspecificity in Pseudacteon parasit parasitoi parasitoid flies 48. (Diptera:(Diptera: Phoridae) that attack Solenopsis fire antsants ants (ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Disney,Disney, R.H.L. 1997. The mDisney, R.H.L. 1997. The micEnvironmentalrDisney, R.H.L. Entomology 1997. The 26:1149-54. micronesian Megaselia curtissima Beyer (Dipt., Phoridae) Beyer (Dipt., Phoridae) is a species ofof Woodiphora. Entomologist'Entom ologist'sEntomGreen,ologist'sGreen, M D.M.onthly 1997. A new record and a new species of Magazine