DOCSLIB.ORG

Lucilia Sericata and Lucilia Cuprina

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Lucilia Sericata and Lucilia Cuprina MOLECULAR SYSTEMATICS AND BIOLOGY OF TWO CLOSELY RELATED BLOWFLIES: LUCILIA SERICATA AND LUCILIA CUPRINA A thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY of RHODES UNIVERSITY by KIRSTIN ALEXA WILLIAMS June 2014 i ABSTRACT The greenbottle blowflies, Lucilia sericata (Meigen, 1826) and Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann, 1830) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) are very difficult to distinguish on the basis of their external morphology. The literature suggests that these two species may be interbreeding. Sequencing two nuclear (28S rRNA and Period) and one mitochondrial (COI) gene indicated that there has been an ancient hybridization event and that mtDNA of L. sericata has become fixed in a lineage of L. cuprina through mtDNA introgression, possibly involving Wolbachia infection. This has implications for identifications of these species based on mtDNA alone. No study has shown explicitly that hybrids of L. sericata and L. cuprina can be identified morphologically. Morphological characters used to identify L. sericata and L. cuprina were scored and tested using specimens of both species and known hybrids. Discriminant function analysis of the characters successfully separated the specimens into three unambiguous groups – L. sericata, L. cuprina and hybrids. This is the first evidence that hybrids of these two species can be identified from physical characteristics. Lucilia sericata and L. cuprina have medical, veterinary and forensic importance. Knowing their distribution in South Africa would allow more effective management and utilisation of these flies. Their predicted geographic distributions in South Africa were modelled using maximum entropy analysis of selected climatic variables. The most important environmental variables in modelling their distributions were magnitude of monthly rainfall and the magnitude of the monthly maximum temperature for L. sericata, and the seasonal variation in monthly mean humidity and ii magnitude of monthly rainfall for L. cuprina. Both species have a widespread distribution in South Africa and one therefore cannot identify specimens of these flies by locality of capture alone. Luciliinae is a diverse and geographically widespread subfamily containing four genera - Hemipyrellia, Lucilia, Dyscritomyia and Hypopygiopsis – that all contain parasitic species ranging from saprophages to obligate parasites. The phylogenetic relationships between these genera are unclear. The 28S rRNA, COI and Period genes of 14 species of Lucilia and Hemipyrellia were partially sequenced and analysed together with 11sequences from GenBank and the Barcode of Life Database (BOLD). Lucilia sericata and L. cuprina were shown to be sister-species. Three cases of paraphylly were identified within Lucilia that affects identification of these species using mtDNA alone. Hemipyrellia consistently caused Lucilia to be paraphyletic when it was included in analyses, so Hemipyrellia should be synonymized with Lucilia. The relationships of Dyscritomyia and Hypopygiopsis to Lucilia are unclear and further studies are required. No geographic pattern was found within the different forms of parasitism within this group, but the different degrees of parasitism were phylogenetically clustered. iii To Allan, Linda, Liesl and Joanne - the best family in the world iv PUBLICACTIONS Published manuscripts Williams, K.A. and Villet, M.H. (2013). Ancient and modern hybridization between Lucilia sericata and L. cuprina (Diptera: Calliphoridae). European Journal of Entomology 110: 187-196. Williams, K.A., Richards, C.S. and Villet, M.H. (2014). Predicting the geographic distribution of Lucilia sericata and Lucilia cuprina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in southern Africa. African Invertebrates 55(1): 157 – 170. Williams, K.A. and Villet, M.H. (2014). Morphological identification of Lucilia sericata, Lucilia cuprina and their hybrids (Diptera: Calliphoridae). ZooKeys 420: 69 -85. v Table of Contents ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................... ii PUBLICACTIONS ........................................................................................................ v Published manuscripts ................................................................................................... v LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................ ix LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................... xi PREFACE .................................................................................................................... xv CHAPTER 1 .................................................................................................................. 1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................... 1 Aims ....................................................................................................................... 3 REFERENCES .............................................................................................................. 4 CHAPTER 2 .................................................................................................................. 9 ANCIENT AND MODERN HYBRIDIZATION BETWEEN LUCILIA SERICATA AND LUCILIA CUPRINA (DIPTERA: CALLIPHORIDAE) .................................................. 9 ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................... 9 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 10 MATERIALS AND METHODS ................................................................................. 11 RESULTS .................................................................................................................... 13 DISCUSSION .............................................................................................................. 15 Ancient hybrids and introgression ........................................................................... 16 Modern hybrids ........................................................................................................ 17 DNA-based identification ......................................................................................... 18 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................... 19 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................ 21 CHAPTER 3 ................................................................................................................ 40 MORPHOLOGICAL IDENTIFICATION OF LUCILIA SERICATA, LUCILIA CUPRINA AND THEIR HYBRIDS (DIPTERA: CALLIPHORIDAE) ......................... 40 ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................. 40 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 41 MATERIALS AND METHODS ................................................................................. 42 RESULTS .................................................................................................................... 43 Univariate assessment of characters ....................................................................... 43 vi Multivariate assessments of characters ................................................................... 46 DISCUSSION .............................................................................................................. 46 Assessment of characters ......................................................................................... 46 Geographical variation ............................................................................................ 46 Identifying hybrids ................................................................................................... 47 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................ 47 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ........................................................................................... 47 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................ 49 CHAPTER 4 ................................................................................................................ 67 PREDICTING THE GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF LUCILIA SERICATA AND LUCILIA CUPRINA (DIPTERA: CALLIPHORIDAE) IN SOUTHERN AFRICA ...... 67 ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................. 67 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 68 MATERIALS AND METHODS ................................................................................. 69 Locality records ....................................................................................................... 69 Environmental variables .......................................................................................... 70 Model building ......................................................................................................... 71 Post hoc comparisons .............................................................................................. 71
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Diversity and Resource Choice of Flower-Visiting Insects in Relation to Pollen Nutritional Quality and Land Use
    Diversity and resource choice of flower-visiting insects in relation to pollen nutritional quality and land use Diversität und Ressourcennutzung Blüten besuchender Insekten in Abhängigkeit von Pollenqualität und Landnutzung Vom Fachbereich Biologie der Technischen Universität Darmstadt zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades eines Doctor rerum naturalium genehmigte Dissertation von Dipl. Biologin Christiane Natalie Weiner aus Köln Berichterstatter (1. Referent): Prof. Dr. Nico Blüthgen Mitberichterstatter (2. Referent): Prof. Dr. Andreas Jürgens Tag der Einreichung: 26.02.2016 Tag der mündlichen Prüfung: 29.04.2016 Darmstadt 2016 D17 2 Ehrenwörtliche Erklärung Ich erkläre hiermit ehrenwörtlich, dass ich die vorliegende Arbeit entsprechend den Regeln guter wissenschaftlicher Praxis selbständig und ohne unzulässige Hilfe Dritter angefertigt habe. Sämtliche aus fremden Quellen direkt oder indirekt übernommene Gedanken sowie sämtliche von Anderen direkt oder indirekt übernommene Daten, Techniken und Materialien sind als solche kenntlich gemacht. Die Arbeit wurde bisher keiner anderen Hochschule zu Prüfungszwecken eingereicht. Osterholz-Scharmbeck, den 24.02.2016 3 4 My doctoral thesis is based on the following manuscripts: Weiner, C.N., Werner, M., Linsenmair, K.-E., Blüthgen, N. (2011): Land-use intensity in grasslands: changes in biodiversity, species composition and specialization in flower-visitor networks. Basic and Applied Ecology 12 (4), 292-299. Weiner, C.N., Werner, M., Linsenmair, K.-E., Blüthgen, N. (2014): Land-use impacts on plant-pollinator networks: interaction strength and specialization predict pollinator declines. Ecology 95, 466–474. Weiner, C.N., Werner, M , Blüthgen, N. (in prep.): Land-use intensification triggers diversity loss in pollination networks: Regional distinctions between three different German bioregions Weiner, C.N., Hilpert, A., Werner, M., Linsenmair, K.-E., Blüthgen, N.
    [Show full text]
  • Terry Whitworth 3707 96Th ST E, Tacoma, WA 98446
    Terry Whitworth 3707 96th ST E, Tacoma, WA 98446 Washington State University E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] Published in Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington Vol. 108 (3), 2006, pp 689–725 Websites blowflies.net and birdblowfly.com KEYS TO THE GENERA AND SPECIES OF BLOW FLIES (DIPTERA: CALLIPHORIDAE) OF AMERICA, NORTH OF MEXICO UPDATES AND EDITS AS OF SPRING 2017 Table of Contents Abstract .......................................................................................................................... 3 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 3 Materials and Methods ................................................................................................... 5 Separating families ....................................................................................................... 10 Key to subfamilies and genera of Calliphoridae ........................................................... 13 See Table 1 for page number for each species Table 1. Species in order they are discussed and comparison of names used in the current paper with names used by Hall (1948). Whitworth (2006) Hall (1948) Page Number Calliphorinae (18 species) .......................................................................................... 16 Bellardia bayeri Onesia townsendi ................................................... 18 Bellardia vulgaris Onesia bisetosa .....................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Evolution of Myiasis in Blowflies (Calliphoridae)
    International Journal for Parasitology 33 (2003) 1105–1113 www.parasitology-online.com The evolution of myiasis in blowflies (Calliphoridae) Jamie R. Stevens* School of Biological Sciences, University of Exeter, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter EX4 4PS, UK Received 31 March 2003; received in revised form 8 May 2003; accepted 23 May 2003 Abstract Blowflies (Calliphoridae) are characterised by the ability of their larvae to develop in animal flesh. Where the host is a living vertebrate, such parasitism by dipterous larvae is known as myiasis. However, the evolutionary origins of the myiasis habit in the Calliphoridae, a family which includes the blowflies and screwworm flies, remain unclear. Species associated with an ectoparasitic lifestyle can be divided generally into three groups based on their larval feeding habits: saprophagy, facultative ectoparasitism, and obligate parasitism, and it has been proposed that this functional division may reflect the progressive evolution of parasitism in the Calliphoridae. In order to evaluate this hypothesis, phylogenetic analysis of 32 blowfly species displaying a range of forms of ectoparasitism from key subfamilies, i.e. Calliphorinae, Luciliinae, Chrysomyinae, Auchmeromyiinae and Polleniinae, was undertaken using likelihood and parsimony methods. Phylogenies were constructed from the nuclear 28S large subunit ribosomal RNA gene (28S rRNA), sequenced from each of the 32 calliphorid species, together with suitable outgroup taxa, and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I and II (COI þ II) sequences, derived primarily from published data. Phylogenies derived from each of the two markers (28S rRNA, COI þ II) were largely (though not completely) congruent, as determined by incongruence-length difference and Kishino-Hasegawa tests.
    [Show full text]
  • The Toad Fly Lucilia Bufonivora
    Medical and Veterinary Entomology (2018), doi: 10.1111/mve.12328 The toad fly Lucilia bufonivora: its evolutionary status and molecular identification G. ARIAS-ROBLEDO1,2, T.STARK3,R.L.WALL1 and J. R. STEVENS2 1School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, U.K., 2Department of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, U.K. and 3Reptile, Amphibian and Fish Conservation the Netherlands (RAVON), Nijmegen, The Netherlands Abstract. The blow fly genus Lucilia is composed largely of saprophages and facultative myasis agents, including the economically important species Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and Lucilia sericata (Meigen). Only one species is generally recognized as an obligate agent of myiasis, Lucilia bufonivora Moniez, and this is an obligate parasite of toads. Lucilia silvarum (Meigen), a sister species, behaves mainly as a carrion breeder; however, it has also been reported as a facultative parasite of amphibians. Morphologically, these species are almost identical, and historically this has led to misidentification, taxonomic ambiguity and a paucity of studies of L. bufonivora. In this study, dipterous larvae were analysed from toad myiasis cases from the U.K., The Netherlands and Switzerland, together with adult specimens of fly species implicated in amphibian parasitism: L. bufonivora, L. silvarum and Lucilia elongata Shannon (from North America). Partial sequences of two genes, cox1 and ef1, were amplified. Seven additional blow fly species were analysed as outgroups. Bayesian inference treesof cox1, ef1 and a combined-gene dataset were constructed. All larvae isolated from toads were identified as L. bufonivora and no specimens of L. silvarum were implicated in amphibian myiasis. This study confirms L.
    [Show full text]
  • Probables Casos De Parasitismo De Lucilia Bufonivora (Diptera: Calliphoridae) En Anuros Del Norte Ibérico
    112 Bol. Asoc. Herpetol. Esp. (2009) 20 rrado para estivar o para realizar una puesta. En cerca de 500 de esos jumbos cada día durante los cualquier caso lo indudable es que el animal fue más de 40 años que lleva dedicándose a esta acti- levantado por la cosechadora automática y ensa- vidad, nos indican la excepcionalidad de este cado para su transporte junto con las patatas y que transporte accidental en un saco de patatas. aparentemente no sufrió daños durante el proce- so. En la empresa donde se nos dieron estos datos AGRADECIMIENTOS: Los autores agradecen a no se ha producido nunca otro acontecimiento T. Almenar los datos aportados para la realización de como el que hemos descrito. Un movimiento de la presente nota. REFERENCIAS Blasco, M., Miguel, E. & Antúnez, A. 1979. La introducción Coruña. A Coruña. artificial de Chamaeleo chamaeleon (L.) en Andalucía. Gómez de Berrazueta, J.M. 2006. Salamanquesas canarias Doñana, Acta Vertebrata, 6: 113-117. (Tarentola delalandii) en Cantabria. Boletín de la Ficetola, G.F. & Padoa-Schioppa, E. 2009. Human activities alter Asociación Herpetológica Española, 17: 80-81. biogeographical patterns of reptiles on Mediterranean islands. Lever, C. 2003. Naturalized amphibians and reptiles of the Global Ecology and Biogeography, 18: 214-222. world. Oxford University Press, New York. Galán, P. 1999. Salamanquesa Común. Tarentola mauritanica Selcer, K.W. 1986. Life history of a successful colonizer: the (Linneaus, 1758). 182-184. In: Galán Regalado, P. (eds.). mediterranean gecko, Hemidactylus turcicus, in southern Conservación de la Herpetofauna Gallega. Universidade da Texas. Copeia, 1986: 956-962. Probables casos de parasitismo de Lucilia bufonivora (Diptera: Calliphoridae) en anuros del norte ibérico Alberto Gosá1, Xabier Rubio1, Mikel Etxaniz2, Alberto Luengo2, Luis García-Cardenete3 & Manuel Océn1 1 Sociedad de Ciencias Aranzadi, Observatorio de Herpetología.
    [Show full text]
  • Test Key to British Blowflies (Calliphoridae) And
    Draft key to British Calliphoridae and Rhinophoridae Steven Falk 2016 BRITISH BLOWFLIES (CALLIPHORIDAE) AND WOODLOUSE FLIES (RHINOPHORIDAE) DRAFT KEY March 2016 Steven Falk Feedback to [email protected] 1 Draft key to British Calliphoridae and Rhinophoridae Steven Falk 2016 PREFACE This informal publication attempts to update the resources currently available for identifying the families Calliphoridae and Rhinophoridae. Prior to this, British dipterists have struggled because unless you have a copy of the Fauna Ent. Scand. volume for blowflies (Rognes, 1991), you will have been largely reliant on Van Emden's 1954 RES Handbook, which does not include all the British species (notably the common Pollenia pediculata), has very outdated nomenclature, and very outdated classification - with several calliphorids and tachinids placed within the Rhinophoridae and Eurychaeta palpalis placed in the Sarcophagidae. As well as updating keys, I have also taken the opportunity to produce new species accounts which summarise what I know of each species and act as an invitation and challenge to others to update, correct or clarify what I have written. As a result of my recent experience of producing an attractive and fairly user-friendly new guide to British bees, I have tried to replicate that approach here, incorporating lots of photos and clear, conveniently positioned diagrams. Presentation of identification literature can have a big impact on the popularity of an insect group and the accuracy of the records that result. Calliphorids and rhinophorids are fascinating flies, sometimes of considerable economic and medicinal value and deserve to be well recorded. What is more, many gaps still remain in our knowledge.
    [Show full text]
  • Three Species of Insects Collected from an Adult Human Corpse Above 3300 M in Elevation: a Review of a Case from Colorado
    J Forensic Sci, September 2006, Vol. 51, No. 5 doi:10.1111/j.1556-4029.2006.00236.x CASE REPORT Available online at: www.blackwell-synergy.com Thomas W. Adair,1 M.S. and Boris C. Kondratieff,2 Ph.D. Three Species of Insects Collected from an Adult Human Corpse Above 3300 m in Elevation: A Review of a Case from Colorado ABSTRACT: We report on the colonization of an adult human corpse by three insect species at 3350 m (11,000 ft) in elevation. The adult silphid Thanatophilus coloradensis (Wickham), adults of the blow fly Calliphora coloradensis (Hough), and larvae and adults of Lucilia silvarum (Meigen) were all collected from the victim’s body which had been wrapped in plastic. The victim was found in late June in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. This paper provides additional confirmation of the taxa utilizing a human corpse at high elevations in Colorado. KEYWORDS: forensic science, forensic entomology, death investigation, Thanatophilus coloradensis, Lucilia silvarum, Calliphora color- adensis, high elevation Human corpses found at high mountainous elevations in Colo- sub-alpine fir (Abes lasiocarpa Hook) trees and small boulders on rado may be colonized by a variety of saprophagous and a steep slope. The victim had substantial perimortem head trauma. necrophagous insects under various environmental conditions The corpse was completely wrapped in plastic but there was a (1–4). Generally, habitats above tree line experience harsh and small tear in the plastic near the head area giving access to insects. dynamic environmental conditions, much like the arctic, during Evidence from the body and scene indicated that the victim had much of the year limiting the opportunities for insect colonization been deposited the previous winter when deep snow was present.
    [Show full text]
  • July to December 2019 (Pdf)
    2019 Journal Publications July Adelizzi, R. Portmann, J. van Meter, R. (2019). Effect of Individual and Combined Treatments of Pesticide, Fertilizer, and Salt on Growth and Corticosterone Levels of Larval Southern Leopard Frogs (Lithobates sphenocephala). Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 77(1), pp.29-39. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31020372 Albecker, M. A. McCoy, M. W. (2019). Local adaptation for enhanced salt tolerance reduces non‐ adaptive plasticity caused by osmotic stress. Evolution, Early View. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/evo.13798 Alvarez, M. D. V. Fernandez, C. Cove, M. V. (2019). Assessing the role of habitat and species interactions in the population decline and detection bias of Neotropical leaf litter frogs in and around La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. Neotropical Biology and Conservation 14(2), pp.143– 156, e37526. https://neotropical.pensoft.net/article/37526/list/11/ Amat, F. Rivera, X. Romano, A. Sotgiu, G. (2019). Sexual dimorphism in the endemic Sardinian cave salamander (Atylodes genei). Folia Zoologica, 68(2), p.61-65. https://bioone.org/journals/Folia-Zoologica/volume-68/issue-2/fozo.047.2019/Sexual-dimorphism- in-the-endemic-Sardinian-cave-salamander-Atylodes-genei/10.25225/fozo.047.2019.short Amézquita, A, Suárez, G. Palacios-Rodríguez, P. Beltrán, I. Rodríguez, C. Barrientos, L. S. Daza, J. M. Mazariegos, L. (2019). A new species of Pristimantis (Anura: Craugastoridae) from the cloud forests of Colombian western Andes. Zootaxa, 4648(3). https://www.biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.4648.3.8 Arrivillaga, C. Oakley, J. Ebiner, S. (2019). Predation of Scinax ruber (Anura: Hylidae) tadpoles by a fishing spider of the genus Thaumisia (Araneae: Pisauridae) in south-east Peru.
    [Show full text]
  • 9Th International Congress of Dipterology
    9th International Congress of Dipterology Abstracts Volume 25–30 November 2018 Windhoek Namibia Organising Committee: Ashley H. Kirk-Spriggs (Chair) Burgert Muller Mary Kirk-Spriggs Gillian Maggs-Kölling Kenneth Uiseb Seth Eiseb Michael Osae Sunday Ekesi Candice-Lee Lyons Edited by: Ashley H. Kirk-Spriggs Burgert Muller 9th International Congress of Dipterology 25–30 November 2018 Windhoek, Namibia Abstract Volume Edited by: Ashley H. Kirk-Spriggs & Burgert S. Muller Namibian Ministry of Environment and Tourism Organising Committee Ashley H. Kirk-Spriggs (Chair) Burgert Muller Mary Kirk-Spriggs Gillian Maggs-Kölling Kenneth Uiseb Seth Eiseb Michael Osae Sunday Ekesi Candice-Lee Lyons Published by the International Congresses of Dipterology, © 2018. Printed by John Meinert Printers, Windhoek, Namibia. ISBN: 978-1-86847-181-2 Suggested citation: Adams, Z.J. & Pont, A.C. 2018. In celebration of Roger Ward Crosskey (1930–2017) – a life well spent. In: Kirk-Spriggs, A.H. & Muller, B.S., eds, Abstracts volume. 9th International Congress of Dipterology, 25–30 November 2018, Windhoek, Namibia. International Congresses of Dipterology, Windhoek, p. 2. [Abstract]. Front cover image: Tray of micro-pinned flies from the Democratic Republic of Congo (photograph © K. Panne coucke). Cover design: Craig Barlow (previously National Museum, Bloemfontein). Disclaimer: Following recommendations of the various nomenclatorial codes, this volume is not issued for the purposes of the public and scientific record, or for the purposes of taxonomic nomenclature, and as such, is not published in the meaning of the various codes. Thus, any nomenclatural act contained herein (e.g., new combinations, new names, etc.), does not enter biological nomenclature or pre-empt publication in another work.
    [Show full text]
  • Ecological and Geographical Speciation in Luciliabufonivora
    IJP: Parasites and Wildlife 10 (2019) 218–230 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect IJP: Parasites and Wildlife journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ijppaw Ecological and geographical speciation in Lucilia bufonivora: The evolution T of amphibian obligate parasitism ∗ G. Arias-Robledoa,b, , R. Wallb, K. Szpilac, D. Shpeleyd, T. Whitworthe, T. Starkf, R.A. Kinga, J.R. Stevensa a Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, UK b School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, UK c Department of Ecology and Biogeography, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Poland d E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Canada e Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, USA f Reptile, Amphibian and Fish Conservation Netherlands (RAVON), Nijmegen, the Netherlands ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Keywords: Lucilia (Diptera: Calliphoridae) is a genus of blowflies comprised largely of saprophagous and facultative Obligate parasitism parasites of livestock. Lucilia bufonivora, however, exhibits a unique form of obligate parasitism of amphibians, Amphibian parasitism typically affecting wild hosts. The evolutionary route by which amphibian myiasis arose, however, isnotwell Myiasis understood due to the low phylogenetic resolution in existing nuclear DNA phylogenies. Furthermore, the timing Lucilia of when specificity for amphibian hosts arose in L. bufonivora is also unknown. In addition, this species was Host specialisation recently reported for the first time in North America (Canada) and, to date, no molecular studies have analysed Blowfly the evolutionary relationships between individuals from Eastern and Western hemispheres. To provide broader insights into the evolution of the amphibian parasitic life history trait and to estimate when the trait first arose, a time-scaled phylogeny was inferred from a concatenated data set comprising mtDNA, nDNA and non-coding rDNA (COX1, per and ITS2 respectively).
    [Show full text]
  • Fly Times Issue 64
    FLY TIMES ISSUE 64, Spring, 2020 Stephen D. Gaimari, editor Plant Pest Diagnostics Branch California Department of Food & Agriculture 3294 Meadowview Road Sacramento, California 95832, USA Tel: (916) 738-6671 FAX: (916) 262-1190 Email: [email protected] Welcome to the latest issue of Fly Times! This issue is brought to you during the Covid-19 pandemic, with many of you likely cooped up at home, with insect collections worldwide closed for business! Perhaps for this reason this issue is pretty heavy, not just with articles but with images. There were many submissions to the Flies are Amazing! section and the Dipterists Lairs! I hope you enjoy them! Just to touch on an error I made in the Fall issue’s introduction… In outlining the change to “Spring” and “Fall” issues, instead of April and October issues, I said “But rest assured, I WILL NOT produce Fall issues after 20 December! Nor Spring issues after 20 March!” But of course I meant no Spring issues after 20 June! Instead of hitting the end of spring, I used the beginning. Oh well… Thank you to everyone for sending in such interesting articles! I encourage all of you to consider contributing articles that may be of interest to the Diptera community, or for larger manuscripts, the Fly Times Supplement series. Fly Times offers a great forum to report on research activities, to make specimen requests, to report interesting observations about flies or new and improved methods, to advertise opportunities for dipterists, to report on or announce meetings relevant to the community, etc., with all the digital images you wish to provide.
    [Show full text]
  • Promoting Pollinators Along the Area 9 Road Network
    Inspiring change for Important Invertebrate Areas in the UK 11th September 2014 Susan Thompson - Grants & Trusts Officer Saving the small things that run the planet Steven Falk March 2017 1 Contents Contents .................................................................................................................................... 1 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................... 3 Introduction and background .................................................................................................... 4 Site selection ............................................................................................................................. 4 Methods .................................................................................................................................. 10 Results ..................................................................................................................................... 16 Total number of pollinators recorded ............................................................................ 16 Most frequent pollinators .............................................................................................. 17 Most abundant pollinators ............................................................................................. 18 Total flowers recorded ................................................................................................... 18 Most frequent flowers ...................................................................................................
    [Show full text]