DOCSLIB.ORG

Insect Parasitoids

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Insect Parasitoids Insect Parasitoids Parasitoid—An animal that feeds in or on another living animal for a relavely long 4me, consuming all or most of its 4ssues and eventually killing it. Insect parasitoids account for 7% of described species. Most parasitoids are found in 3 orders: Hymenoptera (76%) 1 evolu4onary lineage Diptera (22%) 21 evolu4onary lineages Coleoptera (2%) 14 evolu4onary lineages Parasitoids of Ants Family Species Order (Tribe) Richness Natural History Strepsiptera Myrmecolacidae ~100 Males are parasitoids of adult worker ants; females are parasitoids of mantids and orthopterans Hymenoptera Braconidae 35 Parasitoids of adult worker ants (Neoneurinae) Chalicididae 6 Parasitoids of worker larvae-pupae (Smicromorphinae) Diapriidae >25 Parasitoids of worker larvae-pupae Eucharitidae ~500 Parasitoids of worker larvae-pupae Ichneumonidae 16 Parasitoids of worker larvae-pupae (Paxylommatinae) Diptera Phoridae ~900 Parasitoids of adult worker ants Tachinidae 1 Endoparasitoid of founding queens of Lasius Parasitoids of Ants Family Species Order (Tribe) Richness Natural History Strepsiptera Myrmecolacidae ~100 Males are parasitoids of adult worker ants; females are parasitoids of mantids and orthopterans Hymenoptera Braconidae 35 Parasitoids of adult worker ants (Neoneurinae) Chalicididae 6 Parasitoids of worker larvae-pupae (Smicromorphinae) Diapriidae >10 Parasitoids of worker larvae-pupae Eucharitidae ~500 Parasitoids of worker larvae-pupae Ichneumonidae 16 Parasitoids of worker larvae-pupae (Paxylommatinae) Diptera Phoridae ~900 Parasitoids of adult worker ants Tachinidae 1 Endoparasitoid of founding queens of Lasius Salient Features of the Phoridae Member of the Aschiza Muscomorpha Small flies with very diverse habits 244 genera recognized, ~4000 species described 111 genera associated with social insects 60 genera associated with ants Parasitoid lifestyle evolved numerous 4mes Lifestyles of Phorid Flies Associated with Ants Nest symbionts – all life stages found in ant nests as scavengers, predators of host ants or other guests, or on food regurgitated directly to them by host ants. Body highly modified including the reduc4on of wings, appendages and abdominal sclerites. ~40 genera, >80% of the species associated with New World army ants (Ecitoninae). Aerial parasitoids – adults are free living, larvae are obligate parasitoids of sterile worker caste(s) or reproduc4ve females. Body unmodified except for scleri4zed ovipositor. ~20 genera, 6 of 24 subfamilies of ants aacked. Lifecycles of Aerial Parasitoids The Ant-Decapitators Female aracted Larva develops to healthy host In head capsule Female uses ovipositor to lay a single egg in host New adult emerges Larva pupariates Larva eventually from head capsule In head capsule decapitates host Photos by S. D. Porter Lifecycles of Aerial Parasitoids The Scavengers Larvae develop in Female lays mul4ple Female aracted body cavity to distressed host eggs in host Larvae pupariate Larvae crawl away Larvae emerge away from host from host from host Photos by D. H. Feener Comparison of Lifestyle Attributes of the Phorid Parasitoids of Ants Characteristic Decapitators Scavengers Host vitality Healthy, mobile Moribund, immobile Host location cue Trail pheromone? Alarm pheromone? Oviposition Difficult Easy Mate on host? Some species Some species Host feeding No Yes Clutch size Single egg/host Multiple eggs/host Time to hatching 48 hrs 6 hrs Larval development Long (~14-30 days) Short (~3-5 days) Larva-host interactions Yes No Larva-larva interactions No Yes Phorid Parasitoids of Ants Are Typically Species Specific Parasitoid Hosts Cremersia Ecitoninae Parasitoid Host Neodohrniphora Ani A. feeneri P. dentata Apocephalus Poneromorphs Ecitoninae A. sp. 1 P. morrisi Myrmicinae A. brunneiventris P. hyatti Dolichoderinae P. perpilosa Formicinae A. orthocladus P. diversipilosa P. hyatti Other Apocephalus- P. tetra series species P. vallicola A. pugilis P. bicarinata Parasitoid Hosts A. sp. 26 P. titanis A. attophilus-group Atta & Acromyrmex A. titanis P. rhea A. feeneri-group Pheidole A. uncinus P. obtusospinosa A. grandipalpis-group Ecitoninae 8 species Unknown A. miricauda-group Poneromorphs A. pergandei-group Camponotus …And OEen Caste Specific Apocephalus feeneri-group species Apocephalus colombicus aacks only aacks only the major workers of their leaf carriers of its host A8a colombica Pheidole hosts 1.1 1.0 Pl Pt 0.9 Pb 0.8 Pcr Pw 0.7 Pcu Worker Head Size (mm) 0.6 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 Parasitoid Body Size (mm) Neodohrniphora curvinervis aacks Pseudacteon species associated with only large unladen workers of its host Solenopsis fire ants specialize on workers Aa cephalotes of different sizes Photos: P. Bertner, D. H. Feener Several Parasitoid Species May Use Different Parts of the Same Caste Drawings by Jesse Cantley. From: Brown, B.V. (1999) Sociobiology 33: 95-103 …And Form Parallel Ecological Guilds in Different Hosts Drawings by Jesse Cantley. From: Brown, B.V. (1999) Sociobiology 33: 95-103 Why Are Phorid Parasitoids So Specialized? Ecological Constraint Females use ant pheromones as Males use hosts host locaon cues Encounter as the primary mang site host range Establish Maintain Ants are hard hosts Host-larvae to oviposit in interac4ons X Host-Parasitoid Coevolu4on Host Locaon Cues Ecological Constraint Cues used in host locaon Encounter host range Establish Maintain Host-Parasitoid Coevolu4on Chemical CommunicaPon in Ants Alarm pheromone A chemical substance produced and release by an individual to warn or alert nestmates of impending danger. Trail pheromone Anatomical location of the 4 major exocrine A chemical substance produced glands of ants. M = mandibular gland; D = and release by an individual to Dufour’s gland; Po = poison gland or sac; Py = pygidial gland. Modified from Hölldobler & recruit and direct nestmates to a Wilson (1990). food source. 300 Exocrine glands typical contain a mixture of N N few to many chemical compounds. 200 6 N N 5 Gas chromatogram of volale chemicals from N N Response N N 3 100 1 the mandibular gland of a single worker of N N 2 N N Odontomachus ruginodis collected from N N tridecane 8 4 7 Punta Cana (Dominican Republic). 0 11.0 13.0 15.0 17.0 18.0 19.0 Time (min) Ant Pheromones as Host LocaPon Cues • Apocephalus paraponerae is aracted to two mandibular gland components of Paraponera clavata host (Feener et al. 1996). • Pseudacteon brevicauda is aracted to Photo: A.L. Wild alarm pheromone in mandibular gland of Photo: L. Morrison Myrmica rubra host (WiVe et al. 2010). Photo: D. H. Feener • Pseudacteon formicarum is aracted to formic acid in venom glands of Lasius niger host (Maschwitz et al. 2008). Photo: A. Weissflog • Pseudacteon tricuspis is aracted to pyrazine alarm pheromone in mandibular gland and several alkaloids in the poison gland of Solenopsis invicta host (Chen et al. 2009, Sharma et al. 2011). Ant Species Currently Under Study Ant species Mandibular glands Phorid behavior Ectatomma tuberculatum ? Attracted to head Ectatomma ruidum ? Odontomachus bauri Pyrazines Attracted to head Odontomachus clarus Pyrazines? Odontomachus erythrocephalus ? Attracted to head Odontomachus hastatus Pyrazines? Attracted to head Odontomachus opaciventris ? Indiscriminate Odontomachus ruginodis Pyrazines Pachycondyla apicalis Benzaldehyde? Pachycondyla harpex ? Attracted to head Pachycondyla impressa ? ? Pachycondyla stigma ? Pachycondyla verenae ? Pachycondyla villosa Ketones, alcohols Attracted to head? Paraponera clavata Ketones, alcohols Attracted to head Use of Ant Pheromones Enforces Specificity • Ants adver4se their iden4ty and locaon through the use of specialized alarm and trail pheromones. • These specialized signals are detectable and reliable cues to the iden4ty and precise locaon of suitable hosts. Use of such specialized cues should reduce search 4me between patches of hosts. • Because ants live in colonies, detec4on of appropriate host locaon cues oken means the availability of numerous hosts. This should reduce search 4me between both oviposion events and mang events. Oviposion Behavior & Host Defense Ecological Constraint Encounter host range Establish Maintain Oviposion behavior & host defense Host-Parasitoid Coevolu4on Specialized Oviposion in Injured Hosts Specialized Oviposion in Injured Hosts Specialized Oviposion in AcPve Hosts Ants Are Hard Hosts to Oviposit In • Hard exoskeleton forces phorid parasitoids to oviposit in very specialized locaons. Photo: P. Bertner • Ants have specialized defense postures and evasive behavior that make oviposion more difficult. Photo: A. Weissflog • Some ant species use nestmates to defend against parasitoid aack. Parasitoids must evade these Photo: D. H. Feener defenses. Hitchhikers of Photos: D. H. Feener Aa colombica defend leaf-carriers against Defense posture of ApocephalusSolenopsisPhoto: L. Morrison colombicus geminata Ant Hosts as MaPng Sites Ecological Constraint Males use hosts Encounter as the primary mang site host range Establish Maintain Host-Parasitoid Coevolu4on Ant Hosts as MaPng Sites MaPng on Hosts Enforces Specificity • Males are aracted to host ant species and oken arrive before females and in larger numbers. • Males use the same host locaon cues as females, leading to posive assortave mang. • Use of hosts as the primary mang site makes a phorid parasitoid more dependent on its host. This may serve as a populaon isolang mechanism that enforces host specificity. Working Hypothesis for CoevoluPon between Ants and Phorid Parasitoids Ant Chemical Parasitoid Phylogeny Communicaon Phylogeny Signals Summary Ecological Constraint Both ant decapitators and ant Host specificity in the ant scavengers show strong host- scavengers is determined specificity, u4lizing one species primarily by processes related or a few closely related species Encounter to host encounter and site of as hosts. oviposion. Host specificity in the Phorid parasitoids ant decapitators is host of ants is a determined by a range wonderfully rich complex mixture of system to explore host encounter, host Establish Maintain general ques4ons in defense and host- the evolu4on and larvae interac4ons, ecology of host- the balance of which parasitoid must s4ll be worked interac4ons. out. Host-Parasitoid Coevolu4on .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Rediscovery and Reclassification of the Dipteran Taxon Nothomicrodon
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Rediscovery and reclassification of the dipteran taxon Nothomicrodon Wheeler, an exclusive Received: 07 November 2016 Accepted: 28 February 2017 endoparasitoid of gyne ant larvae Published: 31 March 2017 Gabriela Pérez-Lachaud1, Benoit J. B. Jahyny2,3, Gunilla Ståhls4, Graham Rotheray5, Jacques H. C. Delabie6 & Jean-Paul Lachaud1,7 The myrmecophile larva of the dipteran taxon Nothomicrodon Wheeler is rediscovered, almost a century after its original description and unique report. The systematic position of this dipteran has remained enigmatic due to the absence of reared imagos to confirm indentity. We also failed to rear imagos, but we scrutinized entire nests of the Brazilian arboreal dolichoderine ant Azteca chartifex which, combined with morphological and molecular studies, enabled us to establish beyond doubt that Nothomicrodon belongs to the Phoridae (Insecta: Diptera), not the Syrphidae where it was first placed, and that the species we studied is an endoparasitoid of the larvae of A. chartifex, exclusively attacking sexual female (gyne) larvae. Northomicrodon parasitism can exert high fitness costs to a host colony. Our discovery adds one more case to the growing number of phorid taxa known to parasitize ant larvae and suggests that many others remain to be discovered. Our findings and literature review confirm that the Phoridae is the only taxon known that parasitizes both adults and the immature stages of different castes of ants, thus threatening ants on all fronts. Ants are hosts to at least 17 orders of myrmecophilous arthropods (organisms dependent on ants), ranging from general scavengers to highly selective predators and parasitoids that attack either ants, their brood or other myr- mecophiles1–3.
    [Show full text]
  • Insect Orders V: Panorpida & Hymenoptera
    Insect Orders V: Panorpida & Hymenoptera • The Panorpida contain 5 orders: the Mecoptera, Siphonaptera, Diptera, Trichoptera and Lepidoptera. • Available evidence clearly indicates that the Lepidoptera and the Trichoptera are sister groups. • The Siphonaptera and Mecoptera are also closely related but it is not clear whether the Siponaptera is the sister group of all of the Mecoptera or a group (Boreidae) within the Mecoptera. If the latter is true, then the Mecoptera is paraphyletic as currently defined. • The Diptera is the sister group of the Siphonaptera + Mecoptera and together make up the Mecopteroids. • The Hymenoptera does not appear to be closely related to any of the other holometabolous orders. Mecoptera (Scorpionflies, hangingflies) • Classification. 600 species worldwide, arranged into 9 families (5 in the US). A very old group, many fossils from the Permian (260 mya) onward. • Structure. Most distinctive feature is the elongated clypeus and labrum that together form a rostrum. The order gets its common name from the gential segment of the male in the family Panorpodiae, which is bulbous and often curved forward above the abdomen, like the sting of a scorpion. Larvae are caterpillar-like or grub- like. • Natural history. Scorpionflies are most common in cool, moist habitats. They get the name “hangingflies” from their habit of hanging upside down on vegetation. Larvae and adult males are mostly predators or scavengers. Adult females are usually scavengers. Larvae and adults in some groups may feed on vegetation. Larvae of most species are terrestrial and caterpillar-like in body form. Larvae of some species are aquatic. In the family Bittacidae males attract females for mating by releasing a sex pheromone and then presenting the female with a nuptial gift.
    [Show full text]
  • An Experimental Test of Potential Host Range in the Ant Parasitoid Apocephalus Paraponerae
    Ecological Entomology (2000) 25, 332±340 An experimental test of potential host range in the ant parasitoid Apocephalus paraponerae SHELLEE A. MOREHEAD andDONALD H. FEENER JR Department of Biology, University of Utah, U.S.A. Abstract. 1. The work reported here tested experimentally whether specialisation in Apocephalus paraponerae wasdue to physiological interactionsthat limit the parasitoid to the host ant Paraponera clavata. The suitability of other ant species as hosts was tested, and behavioural traits that may promote a high degree of speci®city within this host±parasitoid system are discussed. 2. Data for development time, number of puparia, and adult eclosion success for A. paraponerae ovipositing in the regular host P. clavata are provided. A new method for testing host suitability in parasitoids of ants is described. Eggs of A. paraponerae were transferred directly into potential ant hosts. The development time, number of puparia, and adults eclosed for the eggs transferred into other ant host species are compared with comparable data from P. clavata. 3. Seven ant species within the Ponerinae are suitable for the development of A. paraponerae. The potential host range is greater than the actual host range of A. paraponerae. Flies are not limited solely by host suitability of related ant species for the development of larvae. Host location and acceptance behaviours are proposed as the primary reasons for host specialisation. The large size of the primary host P. clavata, and the ability of multiple females to raise many offspring successfully from those hosts may in¯uence the specialisation of A. paraponerae on P. clavata. Key words.
    [Show full text]
  • Implications for Host Range Tests
    ___________________________________________________ Local Populations and Host Range Testing GENETICS: RELATION OF LOCAL POPULATIONS TO THE WHOLE “SPECIES” – IMPLICATIONS FOR HOST RANGE TESTS Keith R. HOPPER1, Angela M. I. DE FARIAS2, James B.WOOLLEY3, John M. HERATY4, and Seth C. BRITCH1 1Beneficial Insect Introductions Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service United States Department of Agriculture Newark, DE 19736, U.S.A. [email protected] 2Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Departamento de Zoologia, Cidade Universitaria 50.670-420 Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil [email protected] 3Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University College Station, TX 77843, U.S.A. [email protected] 4 Department of Entomology, University of California 665 Riverside, CA 92521, U.S.A. [email protected] ABSTRACT Populations of parasitoids collected from different host species or geographical regions can differ in host specificity. Where the necessary research has been done, such populations have usually been found to represent various stages of speciation. Here, we review the literature on variation in host specificity among populations and sibling species of parasitoids. We then summarize our results on the evolution and genetics of host specificity in Aphelinus varipes Foerster and Aphelinus albipodus Hayat and Fatima (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae). Popula- tions of A. varipes/albipodus from Diuraphis noxia (Mordvilko), Ropalosiphum padi (L.), and Aphis glycines Matsumura (Homoptera: Aphididae) collected in France, Georgia, Israel, China, Korea, and Japan differed in parasitism of seven aphid species in five genera and two tribes on four host plant species in no-choice laboratory experiments. Some populations showed nar- row to monospecific host use, others attacked most or all host species tested.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 13. Assessing Host Specificity and Field Release Potential of Fire Ant Decapitating Flies (Phoridae: Pseudacteon)
    ASSESSING HOST RANGES OF PARASITOIDS AND PREDATORS _________________________________ CHAPTER 13. ASSESSING HOST SPECIFICITY AND FIELD RELEASE POTENTIAL OF FIRE ANT DECAPITATING FLIES (PHORIDAE: PSEUDACTEON) S. D. Porter1 and L. E. Gilbert2 1USDA-ARS, Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, P.O. Box 14565, Gainesville, Florida 32604 USA [email protected] 2Brackenridge Field Laboratory and Section of Integrative Biology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712 USA BACKGROUND OF SYSTEM Fire ant populations in their South American homeland are about 1/5 to 1/10 as dense as popu- lations in North America (Porter et al., 1992; Porter et al., 1997a). This intercontinental differ- ence in fire ant densities was not explained by differences in climate, habitat, soil type, land use, plant cover, or sampling protocols (Porter et al., 1997a). Escape from numerous natural en- emies left behind in South America is the most apparent explanation for the intercontinental population differences. Natural enemies left behind in South America include two species of microsporidian pathogens, three species of nematodes, about 20 species of phorid decapitating flies, a eucharitid wasp, a parasitic ant, and numerous other microbes and arthropods of uncer- tain relationship to fire ants (Porter et al., 1997a). Escape from coevolved ant communities may also have been important. Ants in Brazil and Argentina, however, do not appear to be any more abundant than those in the United States, at least as indicated by their ability to find and occupy baits (Porter et al., 1997a). Classical or self-sustaining biological control agents are currently the only potential means for achieving permanent regional control of fire ants.
    [Show full text]
  • Sistemática Y Ecología De Las Hormigas Predadoras (Formicidae: Ponerinae) De La Argentina
    UNIVERSIDAD DE BUENOS AIRES Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales Sistemática y ecología de las hormigas predadoras (Formicidae: Ponerinae) de la Argentina Tesis presentada para optar al título de Doctor de la Universidad de Buenos Aires en el área CIENCIAS BIOLÓGICAS PRISCILA ELENA HANISCH Directores de tesis: Dr. Andrew Suarez y Dr. Pablo L. Tubaro Consejero de estudios: Dr. Daniel Roccatagliata Lugar de trabajo: División de Ornitología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia” Buenos Aires, Marzo 2018 Fecha de defensa: 27 de Marzo de 2018 Sistemática y ecología de las hormigas predadoras (Formicidae: Ponerinae) de la Argentina Resumen Las hormigas son uno de los grupos de insectos más abundantes en los ecosistemas terrestres, siendo sus actividades, muy importantes para el ecosistema. En esta tesis se estudiaron de forma integral la sistemática y ecología de una subfamilia de hormigas, las ponerinas. Esta subfamilia predomina en regiones tropicales y neotropicales, estando presente en Argentina desde el norte hasta la provincia de Buenos Aires. Se utilizó un enfoque integrador, combinando análisis genéticos con morfológicos para estudiar su diversidad, en combinación con estudios ecológicos y comportamentales para estudiar la dominancia, estructura de la comunidad y posición trófica de las Ponerinas. Los resultados sugieren que la diversidad es más alta de lo que se creía, tanto por que se encontraron nuevos registros durante la colecta de nuevo material, como porque nuestros análisis sugieren la presencia de especies crípticas. Adicionalmente, demostramos que en el PN Iguazú, dos ponerinas: Dinoponera australis y Pachycondyla striata son componentes dominantes en la comunidad de hormigas. Análisis de isótopos estables revelaron que la mayoría de las Ponerinas ocupan niveles tróficos altos, con excepción de algunas especies arborícolas del género Neoponera que dependerían de néctar u otros recursos vegetales.
    [Show full text]
  • Species-Specific Behavioral Differences in Tsetse Fly Genital
    Chapter 15 Species-Specific Behavioral Differences in Tsetse Fly Genital Morphology and Probable Cryptic Female Choice R.D. Briceño and W.G. Eberhard Abstract A long-standing mystery in morphological evolution is why male geni- talia tend to diverge more rapidly than other structures. One possible explana- tion of this trend is that male genitalia function as “internal courtship devices,” and are under sexual selection by cryptic female choice (CFC) to induce female responses that improve the male’s chances of fathering her offspring. Males of closely related species, which have species-specific genital structures, are thought to provide divergent stimulation. Testing this hypothesis has been difficult; the pre- sumed genital courtship behavior is hidden from view inside the female; appropri- ate experimental manipulations of male and female genitalia are often technically difficult and seldom performed; and most studies of how the male’s genitalia inter- act with those of the female are limited to a single species in a given group, thus limiting opportunities for comparisons of species-specific structures. In this chap- ter, we summarize data from morphological, behavioral, and experimental studies of six species in the tsetse fly genus Glossina, including new X-ray recordings that allowed visualization of events inside the female during real time. Species-specific male genital structures perform dramatic, stereotyped, rhythmic movements, some on the external surface of the female’s abdomen and others within her reproduc- tive tract. Counting conservatively, a female Glossina may sense stimuli from the male’s genitalia at up to 8 sites on her body during some stages of copulation.
    [Show full text]
  • Insecta Diptera) in Freshwater (Excluding Simulidae, Culicidae, Chironomidae, Tipulidae and Tabanidae) Rüdiger Wagner University of Kassel
    Entomology Publications Entomology 2008 Global diversity of dipteran families (Insecta Diptera) in freshwater (excluding Simulidae, Culicidae, Chironomidae, Tipulidae and Tabanidae) Rüdiger Wagner University of Kassel Miroslav Barták Czech University of Agriculture Art Borkent Salmon Arm Gregory W. Courtney Iowa State University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/ent_pubs BoudewPart ofijn the GoBddeeiodivrisersity Commons, Biology Commons, Entomology Commons, and the TRoyerarle Bestrlgiialan a Indnstit Aquaute of Nticat uErcaol Scienlogyce Cs ommons TheSee nex tompc page forle addte bitioniblaiol agruthorapshic information for this item can be found at http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/ ent_pubs/41. For information on how to cite this item, please visit http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/ howtocite.html. This Book Chapter is brought to you for free and open access by the Entomology at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Entomology Publications by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Global diversity of dipteran families (Insecta Diptera) in freshwater (excluding Simulidae, Culicidae, Chironomidae, Tipulidae and Tabanidae) Abstract Today’s knowledge of worldwide species diversity of 19 families of aquatic Diptera in Continental Waters is presented. Nevertheless, we have to face for certain in most groups a restricted knowledge about distribution, ecology and systematic,
    [Show full text]
  • Flies) Benjamin Kongyeli Badii
    Chapter Phylogeny and Functional Morphology of Diptera (Flies) Benjamin Kongyeli Badii Abstract The order Diptera includes all true flies. Members of this order are the most ecologically diverse and probably have a greater economic impact on humans than any other group of insects. The application of explicit methods of phylogenetic and morphological analysis has revealed weaknesses in the traditional classification of dipteran insects, but little progress has been made to achieve a robust, stable clas- sification that reflects evolutionary relationships and morphological adaptations for a more precise understanding of their developmental biology and behavioral ecol- ogy. The current status of Diptera phylogenetics is reviewed in this chapter. Also, key aspects of the morphology of the different life stages of the flies, particularly characters useful for taxonomic purposes and for an understanding of the group’s biology have been described with an emphasis on newer contributions and progress in understanding this important group of insects. Keywords: Tephritoidea, Diptera flies, Nematocera, Brachycera metamorphosis, larva 1. Introduction Phylogeny refers to the evolutionary history of a taxonomic group of organisms. Phylogeny is essential in understanding the biodiversity, genetics, evolution, and ecology among groups of organisms [1, 2]. Functional morphology involves the study of the relationships between the structure of an organism and the function of the various parts of an organism. The old adage “form follows function” is a guiding principle of functional morphology. It helps in understanding the ways in which body structures can be used to produce a wide variety of different behaviors, including moving, feeding, fighting, and reproducing. It thus, integrates concepts from physiology, evolution, anatomy and development, and synthesizes the diverse ways that biological and physical factors interact in the lives of organisms [3].
    [Show full text]
  • Episodic Radiations in the Fly Tree of Life
    Episodic radiations in the fly tree of life Brian M. Wiegmanna,1, Michelle D. Trautweina, Isaac S. Winklera, Norman B. Barra,b, Jung-Wook Kima, Christine Lambkinc,d, Matthew A. Bertonea, Brian K. Cassela, Keith M. Baylessa, Alysha M. Heimberge, Benjamin M. Wheelerf, Kevin J. Petersone, Thomas Papeg, Bradley J. Sinclairh, Jeffrey H. Skevingtoni, Vladimir Blagoderovj, Jason Caravask, Sujatha Narayanan Kuttyl, Urs Schmidt-Ottm, Gail E. Kampmeiern, F. Christian Thompsono, David A. Grimaldip, Andrew T. Beckenbachq, Gregory W. Courtneyr, Markus Friedrichk, Rudolf Meierl,s, and David K. Yeatesd Departments of aEntomology and fComputer Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695; bCenter for Plant Health Science and Technology, Mission Laboratory, US Department of Agriculture-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Moore Air Base, Edinburg, TX 78541; cQueensland Museum, South Bank, Brisbane, Queensland 4101, Australia; eDepartment of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755; gNatural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark; hCanadian National Collection of Insects, Ottawa Plant Laboratory-Entomology, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1A 0C6; iInvertebrate Biodiversity, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1A 0C6; jDepartment of Entomology, Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom; kDepartment of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202; lDepartment of Biological Sciences and sUniversity Scholars Programme,
    [Show full text]
  • Evidence for a Cryptic Species Complex in the Ant Parasitoid Apocephalus Paraponerae (Diptera: Phoridae)
    Evolutionary Ecology Research, 2001, 3: 273–284 Evidence for a cryptic species complex in the ant parasitoid Apocephalus paraponerae (Diptera: Phoridae) Shellee A. Morehead,1* Jon Seger,1 Donald H. Feener, Jr.1 and Brian V. Brown2 1Department of Biology, University of Utah, 247 South, 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112 and 2Entomology Section, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA ABSTRACT Cryptic species complexes occur in many taxa, in particular in the insect order Diptera. Here we describe a possible new cryptic species complex in the family Phoridae. Three lines of evidence suggest that Apocephalus paraponerae, an ant parasitoid, is actually a complex of at least four genetically distinct but morphologically almost indistinguishable populations attacking at least three different ant hosts. First, the host-location cues used by A. paraponerae to locate two of the host species differ. Second, A. paraponerae attracted to these two ant host species differ consistently in average hind femur length and costal vein length, two measures of body size. Finally, mtDNA sequence comparisons of individuals from a variety of locations and host ant species indicate high sequence divergence between populations and low sequence divergence within populations. We discuss aspects of host location behaviour that may be important in cryptic species formation, and we speculate that many such cryptic complexes may exist in this family and others with similar mechanisms of host location and exploitation. Keywords: Ants, Apocephalus, cryptic species, Ectatomma, host location, parasitoids, phorids, Paraponera. INTRODUCTION Cryptic species, morphologically indistinguishable but genetically distinct populations, have been found in a wide variety of taxa (Mayr and Ashlock, 1991).
    [Show full text]
  • Insecta, Diptera) 213 Doi: 10.3897/Zookeys.441.7197 CHECKLIST Launched to Accelerate Biodiversity Research
    A peer-reviewed open-access journal ZooKeys 441:Checklist 213–223 (2014) of the families Lonchopteridae and Phoridae of Finland (Insecta, Diptera) 213 doi: 10.3897/zookeys.441.7197 CHECKLIST www.zookeys.org Launched to accelerate biodiversity research Checklist of the families Lonchopteridae and Phoridae of Finland (Insecta, Diptera) Jere Kahanpää1 1 Finnish Museum of Natural History, Zoology Unit, P.O. Box 17, FI-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland Corresponding author: Jere Kahanpää ([email protected]) Academic editor: J. Salmela | Received 5 February 2014 | Accepted 26 March 2014 | Published 19 September 2014 http://zoobank.org/0C0D4F58-4F6C-488B-B3F0-ECFDF449FEF1 Citation: Kahanpää J (2014) Checklist of the families Lonchopteridae and Phoridae of Finland (Insecta, Diptera). In: Kahanpää J, Salmela J (Eds) Checklist of the Diptera of Finland. ZooKeys 441: 213–223. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.441.7197 Abstract A checklist of the Lonchopteridae and Phoridae recorded from Finland is presented. Keywords Checklist, Finland, Diptera, Lonchopteridae, Phoridae Introduction The superfamily Phoroidea includes at least the fly families Phoridae, Lonchopteridae, and the small family Ironomyiidae known only from Australia. The flat-footed fly families Platypezidae and Opetiidae, treated in a separate paper in this volume, are placed either in their own basal superfamily Platypezoidea or included in Phoroidea (see Cumming et al. 1995, Woodley et al. 2009 and Wiegmann et al. 2011). Lonchoptera Meigen, 1803 is the only currently recognized genus in Lonchopteri- dae. Five Lonchoptera species have been added to the Finnish fauna after the checklist of Hackman (1980) (Andersson 1991, Kahanpää 2013). The scuttle flies (family Phoridae) may be the largest single family in Diptera.
    [Show full text]