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19 pages, 11648 KiB  
Article
Edge Effects on the Spatial Distribution and Diversity of Drosophilidae (Diptera) Assemblages in Deciduous Forests of Central European Russia
by Nikolai G. Gornostaev, Alexander B. Ruchin, Oleg E. Lazebny, Alex M. Kulikov and Mikhail N. Esin
Insects 2025, 16(8), 762; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16080762 - 24 Jul 2025
Viewed by 367
Abstract
In the forest ecosystems of Central European Russia, the influence of forest edges on the spatial distribution of Drosophilidae was studied for the first time. The research was conducted during the period of 2021–2022 in the Republic of Mordovia. Beer traps baited with [...] Read more.
In the forest ecosystems of Central European Russia, the influence of forest edges on the spatial distribution of Drosophilidae was studied for the first time. The research was conducted during the period of 2021–2022 in the Republic of Mordovia. Beer traps baited with fermented beer and sugar were used to collect Drosophilidae. Two study plots were selected, differing in their forest edges, tree stands, and adjacent open ecosystems. In both cases, the forest directly bordered an open ecosystem. Edges serve as transitional biotopes, where both forest and meadow (open area) faunas coexist. Knowing that many drosophilid species prefer forest habitats, we designated forest interior sites as control points. Traps were set at heights of 1.5 m (lower) and 7.5 m (upper) on trees. A total of 936 specimens representing 27 species were collected. Nine species were common across all traps, while ten species were recorded only once. At the forest edges, 23 species were captured across both heights, compared to 19 species in the forest interiors. However, the total abundance at the forest edges was 370 specimens, while it was 1.5 times higher in the forest interiors. Both abundance and species richness varied between plots. Margalef’s index was higher at the forest edges than in the forest interiors, particularly at 1.5 m height at the edge and at 7.5 m height in the forest interior. Shannon and Simpson indices showed minimal variation across traps at different horizontal and vertical positions. The highest species diversity was observed among xylosaprobionts (9 species) and mycetophages (8 species). All ecological groups were represented at the forest edges, whereas only four groups were recorded in the forest interiors, with the phytosaprophagous species Scaptomyza pallida being absent. In general, both species richness and drosophilid abundance increased in the lower strata, both at the forest edge and within the interior. Using the R package Indicspecies, we identified Gitona distigma as an indicator species for the forest edge and Scaptodrosophila rufifrons as an indicator for the forest interior in the lower tier for both plots. In addition, Drosophila testacea, D. phalerata, and Phortica semivirgo were found to be indicator species for the lower tier in both plots, while Leucophenga quinquemaculata was identified as an indicator species for the upper tier at the second plot. Full article
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15 pages, 929 KiB  
Article
Assessing Wine Grape Cultivar Susceptibility to Spotted Wing Drosophila and Melanogaster-Type Drosophila in Hungarian Vineyards: Effects of Berry Integrity and Insights into Larval Interactions
by Abir Ibn Amor, Ágnes Kukorellyné Szénási, Csaba Németh, Ferenc Deutsch and Balázs Kiss
Insects 2025, 16(5), 497; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16050497 - 5 May 2025
Viewed by 663
Abstract
The invasive spotted wing Drosophila (SWD) represents new challenges for European and North American fruit producers. The aim of our study was to examine wine grape cultivar susceptibility to this pest and melanogaster-type Drosophila (MTD) by surveying drosophilid populations using field traps and [...] Read more.
The invasive spotted wing Drosophila (SWD) represents new challenges for European and North American fruit producers. The aim of our study was to examine wine grape cultivar susceptibility to this pest and melanogaster-type Drosophila (MTD) by surveying drosophilid populations using field traps and conducting emergence tests. We assessed fly development from intact and artificially injured berries collected from four cultivars. Berries were incubated individually and in pooled samples to evaluate infestation patterns and potential larval interactions. Although grapes are generally considered less favorable hosts for SWD, the pest was consistently present across all vineyard plots. Infestation levels differed significantly among cultivars, with the Hungarian white cultivar Furmint being the most susceptible, while French-origin red cultivars Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, along with the other Hungarian cultivar Rózsakő, were less susceptible. Berry integrity played a crucial role: intact berries showed minimal infestation, whereas physical injuries led to a substantial and significant increase in infestation rates and fly emergence. In contrast to SWD-dominated trap catches and the nearly equal proportions of SWD and MTD observed in intact berries, injured berries were predominantly colonized by MTD. This dominance became even more pronounced in pooled samples, suggesting that larval competition in shared environments favors MTD over SWD. These findings underscore the importance of grape cultivar traits and berry condition in shaping Drosophila infestation dynamics. Further research into the chemical and ecological drivers of host selection and interspecific interactions is warranted to improve vineyard pest management strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Insect Behavior and Pathology)
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15 pages, 7151 KiB  
Article
The Baboon Gene Encodes Three Functionally Distinct Transforming Growth Factor β Type I Receptor Variants in Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata
by Yuxing Zhang, Feng Chen, Lin Jin and Guoqing Li
Agriculture 2024, 14(6), 915; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14060915 - 9 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1338
Abstract
The Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) cascade plays a critical role in insect metamorphosis and involves cell-surface receptors known as type I and II, respectively (TβRI and TβRII). In Drosophila melanogaster, the TβRI receptor, Baboon (Babo), consists of three variants (BaboA, BaboB, and [...] Read more.
The Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) cascade plays a critical role in insect metamorphosis and involves cell-surface receptors known as type I and II, respectively (TβRI and TβRII). In Drosophila melanogaster, the TβRI receptor, Baboon (Babo), consists of three variants (BaboA, BaboB, and BaboC), each with isoform-specific functions. However, the isoforms and functional specifications of Babo in non-Drosophilid insects have not been established. Here, we examined babo transcripts from seven coleopteran species whose genomes have been published and found that mutually exclusive alternative splicing of the third exon produces three babo isoforms, identical to the Drosophila babo gene. The same three transcript variants were accordingly recognized from the transcriptome data of a coleopteran Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata. RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated knockdown of all three babo transcripts at the fourth-instar larval stage hindered gut modeling and arrested larval development in H. vigintioctopunctata. All the resultant larvae became arrested prepupae; they were gradually dried and darkened and, eventually, died. Depletion of HvbaboA rather than HvbaboB or HvbaboC is similar to the phenotypic alterations caused by simultaneous RNAi of all three babo isoforms. Therefore, our results established diverged roles of the three Babo isoforms and highlighted the regulatory role of BaboA during larval-pupal transition in a non-Drosophilid insect species. Full article
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28 pages, 6179 KiB  
Article
Seasonal Dynamics of Fruit Flies (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in Natural Parks of Moscow City, Russia
by Nicolay G. Gornostaev, Yulia V. Lyupina, Oleg E. Lazebny and Alex M. Kulikov
Insects 2024, 15(6), 398; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15060398 - 29 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1086
Abstract
The insect fauna of natural parks in large cities has not been sufficiently studied in Russia. This study represents the first investigation of the seasonal dynamics and species diversity of Drosophilidae in Moscow city. Traps with fermenting liquid were placed on the ground [...] Read more.
The insect fauna of natural parks in large cities has not been sufficiently studied in Russia. This study represents the first investigation of the seasonal dynamics and species diversity of Drosophilidae in Moscow city. Traps with fermenting liquid were placed on the ground under trees to collect flies from four natural park sites between early May and late September from 2021 to 2023. A total of 26,420 individuals belonging to 11 genera and 33 drosophilid species were identified, with 21 species from 6 genera being new to the fauna of Moscow. Drosophila obscura Fll., D. phalerata Mg., and D. testacea Roser were the most abundant species in the traps. Peaks in the abundance of drosophilids varied between years, but the lowest abundance was always observed in May. In 2022, the highest number of flies was collected (9604 specimens), with slightly fewer in 2023 (8496 specimens), and even fewer in 2021 (8320 specimens). In 2022, the highest species diversity of drosophilids was also recorded—33 species—while 28 species were found in both 2021 and 2023. The high variability in the abundance of individual drosophila species obscures the differences between the studied years due to the effects of the “Month” and “Site” factors. The diversity metrics exhibit similar patterns among drosophila communities inhabiting comparable biotopes. Specific climatic factors, such as the temperature and precipitation, impact the species abundance and community diversity indices primarily through their effects on the preimaginal stages of drosophila development. For several species, the population dynamics in the spring, post-hibernation, are influenced by the conditions preceding winter. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Insect Ecology, Diversity and Conservation)
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13 pages, 962 KiB  
Article
Trichopria anastrephae: A Promising Neotropical-Native Parasitoid for Drosophila suzukii Control
by María Josefina Buonocore-Biancheri, Lorena del Carmen Suárez, Segundo Ricardo Núñez-Campero, Marcos Darío Ponssa, Flávio Roberto Mello Garcia, Daniel Santiago Kirschbaum and Sergio Marcelo Ovruski
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 520; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030520 - 2 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1760
Abstract
Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) is an invasive pest mainly affecting berry and stone fruit crops worldwide. In Argentina, it inhabits fruit-growing regions. An eco-friendly management strategy involves biological control by using resident natural enemies, such as the Neotropical-native pupal parasitoid Trichopria anastrephae Lima ( [...] Read more.
Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) is an invasive pest mainly affecting berry and stone fruit crops worldwide. In Argentina, it inhabits fruit-growing regions. An eco-friendly management strategy involves biological control by using resident natural enemies, such as the Neotropical-native pupal parasitoid Trichopria anastrephae Lima (Ta). The study compared the host-killing capacity and the offspring reproductive success of two Ta lineages on the puparia of both D. suzukii (Ds) and D. melanogaster (Dm) in no-choice and choice tests under laboratory conditions. The host preference and host-switching behaviors were also assessed. One parasitoid lineage was reared on Ds (TaDs), and the second on Dm (TaDm). In no-choice tests, both Ta lineages performed similarly on both hosts regarding the percentage of killed hosts and parasitoid offspring survival. The host-killing ability of TaDm was only significantly lower when Ds was offered as a host, relative to Dm. In choice tests, Ta attacked mainly Ds at a 4–9 times Ds to Dm ratio, but at a 1.5–2 times Ds to Dm ratio, the host-killing ability was similar between both drosophilids. At an equal host ratio or higher Dm ratios, Ta preferred the native host. However, it was determined that Ta has the potential to parasitize the recently-introduced pest. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Aspects as a Basis for Future Pest Integrated Management)
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19 pages, 2759 KiB  
Article
The Population Dynamics and Parasitism Rates of Ceratitis capitata, Anastrepha fraterculus, and Drosophila suzukii in Non-Crop Hosts: Implications for the Management of Pest Fruit Flies
by María Josefina Buonocore-Biancheri, Xingeng Wang, Segundo Ricardo Núñez-Campero, Lorena Suárez, Pablo Schliserman, Marcos Darío Ponssa, Daniel Santiago Kirschbaum, Flávio Roberto Mello Garcia and Sergio Marcelo Ovruski
Insects 2024, 15(1), 61; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15010061 - 15 Jan 2024
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2788
Abstract
Understanding the seasonal dynamics inherent to non-crop host–fruit fly–parasitoid interactions is vitally important for implementing eco-friendly pest control strategies. This study assessed the abundance and seasonal infestation levels of three pest fly species, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann), Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura), as [...] Read more.
Understanding the seasonal dynamics inherent to non-crop host–fruit fly–parasitoid interactions is vitally important for implementing eco-friendly pest control strategies. This study assessed the abundance and seasonal infestation levels of three pest fly species, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann), Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura), as well as the related saprophytic drosophilids, and their natural parasitism in a disturbed wild habitat characterized by non-crop hosts in northwestern Argentina over 40 months. Juglans australis Griseb (walnut), Citrus aurantium L. (sour orange), Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindley (loquat), Prunus persica (L.) Batsch (peach), and Psydium guajava L. (guava) were sampled throughout their fruiting seasons. Fruits were collected from both the tree canopies and the ground. The most abundant puparia was A. fraterculus, followed by C. capitata and D. suzukii. Drosophila species from the D. melanogaster group were highly abundant only in fallen fruits. Spatiotemporal overlaps of different host fruit availability provided suitable sources for pest proliferation throughout the year. The populations of both invasive pests peaked from December to January, and were related to the highest ripe peach availability, whereas the A. fraterculus population peaked from February to April, overlapping with the guava fruiting period. The three pest fly species were parasitized mainly by three generalist resident parasitoids, which are potential biocontrol agents to use within an integrated pest management approach. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fly Biology, Ecology, Behavior and Management)
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21 pages, 3904 KiB  
Article
Vertical Distribution of Fruit Flies (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in Deciduous Forests in the Center of European Russia
by Nikolai G. Gornostaev, Alexander B. Ruchin, Mikhail N. Esin, Oleg E. Lazebny and Alex M. Kulikov
Insects 2023, 14(10), 822; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14100822 - 18 Oct 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2040
Abstract
Research of Diptera in temperate forests has demonstrated uneven vertical distributions of insects. In this study, we examined the vertical distribution, seasonal fluctuations, and species diversity of Drosophilidae species in the Mordovia State Reserve. This research marks the first exploration of drosophilid vertical [...] Read more.
Research of Diptera in temperate forests has demonstrated uneven vertical distributions of insects. In this study, we examined the vertical distribution, seasonal fluctuations, and species diversity of Drosophilidae species in the Mordovia State Reserve. This research marks the first exploration of drosophilid vertical stratification in the European part of Russia. Using traps, we collected flies in four deciduous forest sites between early June and mid-September in 2020. A total of 27,151 individuals from 10 genera and 34 drosophilid species were identified, with 6 species from 4 genera being new to the Republic of Mordovia. Drosophila obscura Fll. and Scaptodrosophila rufifrons Lw. were the most abundant species in traps. The total highest number of drosophilid flies (10,429 individuals) was captured at a height of 1.5 m, while the lowest number (5086 individuals) was recorded at 12 m. The average number of flies was 6240 and 5387 individuals at heights of 7.5 m and 3.5 m, respectively. However, the prevalence of drosophilid numbers at the 1.5-m height was not constant during the season. We found that in the second part of July the total fly counts at heights of 7.5 m and 12 m exceeded those at 1.5 m. We have described five different types of vertical distribution of drosophilids throughout the season, which differs markedly in mycetobionts and xylosaprobionts ecological groups. Species diversity demonstrated variations across different sites and tiers during the season, with peak diversity observed in June and September. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Arthropod Biodiversity: Ecological and Functional Aspects)
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10 pages, 1381 KiB  
Article
Preliminary Studies on the Predation of the Mite Blattisocius mali (Acari: Blattisociidae) on Various Life Stages of Spider Mite, Thrips and Fruit Fly
by Katarzyna Michalska, Manoj Kumar Jena, Agnieszka Mrowińska, Piotr Nowakowski, Daria Maciejewska, Klaudia Ziółkowska, Marcin Studnicki and Marcin Wit
Insects 2023, 14(9), 747; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14090747 - 6 Sep 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2012
Abstract
Research in recent years has shown that some species of predatory mites, considered to be typically associated with soil and litter, can also be found on plants. Such species include Blattisocius mali, which is an effective predator of acarid mites, nematodes and [...] Read more.
Research in recent years has shown that some species of predatory mites, considered to be typically associated with soil and litter, can also be found on plants. Such species include Blattisocius mali, which is an effective predator of acarid mites, nematodes and the eggs of moths and which can disperse by means of drosophilid fruit flies. Apart from soil and litter or storage, it has also been recorded on the bark of apple trees and the leaves of strawberries, thus suggesting its possible predation of/feeding on herbivorous mites and insects. Our goal was to examine whether B. mali could consume different development stages of two polyphagous herbivores, the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, and the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, as well as the drosophilid fruit fly Drosophila hydei. In 24 h cage tests, single, starved B. mali females consumed all types of prey offered, i.e., the eggs, males and females of spider mites; the first-instar larvae and prepupae of thrips; and the eggs and first-instar larvae of fruit flies. The potential for B. mali to prey upon these insects and mites was confirmed. However, to estimate whether it can also effectively reduce their population, additional tests on the predator’s survival, fecundity and prey preference are needed. Full article
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23 pages, 1230 KiB  
Article
The Transmission Patterns of the Endosymbiont Wolbachia within the Hawaiian Drosophilidae Adaptive Radiation
by Renée L. Corpuz, M. Renee Bellinger, Anne Veillet, Karl N. Magnacca and Donald K. Price
Genes 2023, 14(8), 1545; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes14081545 - 27 Jul 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2056
Abstract
The evolution of endosymbionts and their hosts can lead to highly dynamic interactions with varying fitness effects for both the endosymbiont and host species. Wolbachia, a ubiquitous endosymbiont of arthropods and nematodes, can have both beneficial and detrimental effects on host fitness. [...] Read more.
The evolution of endosymbionts and their hosts can lead to highly dynamic interactions with varying fitness effects for both the endosymbiont and host species. Wolbachia, a ubiquitous endosymbiont of arthropods and nematodes, can have both beneficial and detrimental effects on host fitness. We documented the occurrence and patterns of transmission of Wolbachia within the Hawaiian Drosophilidae and examined the potential contributions of Wolbachia to the rapid diversification of their hosts. Screens for Wolbachia infections across a minimum of 140 species of Hawaiian Drosophila and Scaptomyza revealed species-level infections of 20.0%, and across all 399 samples, a general infection rate of 10.3%. Among the 44 Wolbachia strains we identified using a modified Wolbachia multi-locus strain typing scheme, 30 (68.18%) belonged to supergroup B, five (11.36%) belonged to supergroup A, and nine (20.45%) had alleles with conflicting supergroup assignments. Co-phylogenetic reconciliation analysis indicated that Wolbachia strain diversity within their endemic Hawaiian Drosophilidae hosts can be explained by vertical (e.g., co-speciation) and horizontal (e.g., host switch) modes of transmission. Results from stochastic character trait mapping suggest that horizontal transmission is associated with the preferred oviposition substrate of the host, but not the host’s plant family or island of occurrence. For Hawaiian Drosophilid species of conservation concern, with 13 species listed as endangered and 1 listed as threatened, knowledge of Wolbachia strain types, infection status, and potential for superinfection could assist with conservation breeding programs designed to bolster population sizes, especially when wild populations are supplemented with laboratory-reared, translocated individuals. Future research aimed at improving the understanding of the mechanisms of Wolbachia transmission in nature, their impact on the host, and their role in host species formation may shed light on the influence of Wolbachia as an evolutionary driver, especially in Hawaiian ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetics, Phylogeny, and Evolution of Insects)
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14 pages, 1965 KiB  
Article
Feeding Behaviour of the Mite Blattisocius mali on Eggs of the Fruit Flies Drosophila melanogaster and D. hydei
by Katarzyna Michalska, Agnieszka Mrowińska, Marcin Studnicki and Manoj Kumar Jena
Diversity 2023, 15(5), 652; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15050652 - 11 May 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4319
Abstract
Many predatory mites use insects for dispersal; however, their possible negative effects on insect hosts during transportation and on insect offspring while preying in the hosts’ habitats are still poorly understood. A recent study has revealed that the predatory mite Blattisocius mali can [...] Read more.
Many predatory mites use insects for dispersal; however, their possible negative effects on insect hosts during transportation and on insect offspring while preying in the hosts’ habitats are still poorly understood. A recent study has revealed that the predatory mite Blattisocius mali can not only spread by means of drosophilid fruit flies but also feed on their bodies during dispersal. The aim of this study was to examine the capability of B. mali to prey upon the eggs of their fruit fly hosts and determine the effect of the egg’s age on the voracity of this predator. Drosophila melanogaster oviposited on agar media for 1 h and D. hydei for 8 or 16 h. During 10-h experiments with fifteen fly eggs per cage, a single female predator totally consumed on average 3.62 ± 0.673 “1-h” D. melanogaster eggs and 3.00 ± 0.612 “8-h” eggs of D. hydei, while it partially consumed 2.75 ± 0.586 and 3.00 ± 0.612 eggs of each fly species. In the experiments involving D. hydei, the predator totally destroyed a similar number of “8-h” and “16-h” eggs, but it partially consumed significantly more younger eggs than older eggs. Ethological observations showed that mites returned to some partially fed eggs, usually from the side where the first puncture was made, and only then did they consume them whole. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Host-Parasitic Mite Interactions and Co-evolution)
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13 pages, 950 KiB  
Article
Host Preferences Shown by Drosophilids (Diptera) in a Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Distribution Center Follow the Wild Neotropical Pattern
by Laís Barbosa Ribeiro, Carolyn Elinore Barnes Proença and Rosana Tidon
Insects 2023, 14(4), 375; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14040375 - 11 Apr 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2364
Abstract
Although drosophilids have been extensively studied in laboratories worldwide, their ecology is still relatively poorly understood. This is unfortunate because some species are currently expanding their geographic distribution and infesting fruit crops. Here, we investigated the relationship between drosophilids and potential plant hosts [...] Read more.
Although drosophilids have been extensively studied in laboratories worldwide, their ecology is still relatively poorly understood. This is unfortunate because some species are currently expanding their geographic distribution and infesting fruit crops. Here, we investigated the relationship between drosophilids and potential plant hosts in a commercial fruit and vegetable distribution center in the Neotropical region. We collected discarded fruits and vegetables from this commercial center during two time periods (2007–2008 and 2017–2018). Resources were weighted and individually monitored in the laboratory. The drosophilids that emerged were identified, and the relationship between them and their resources was explored. From the 99,478 kg of potential hosts collected, we identified 48 plant taxa, from which 48,894 drosophilids of 16 species emerged. On both collecting occasions, drosophilid assemblages were strongly dominated by basically the same exotic species, which explore a broader range of resources, especially those of exotic origin, when compared to neotropical drosophilids. These results are concerning because the studied site, Along with other urban markets around the world, might be acting as sources of generalist widespread species that disperse to surrounding natural vegetation and contribute to biotic homogenization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fly Biology, Ecology, Behavior and Management)
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19 pages, 3025 KiB  
Article
Implications of the Niche Partitioning and Coexistence of Two Resident Parasitoids for Drosophila suzukii Management in Non-Crop Areas
by María Josefina Buonocore Biancheri, Segundo Ricardo Núñez-Campero, Lorena Suárez, Marcos Darío Ponssa, Daniel Santiago Kirschbaum, Flávio Roberto Mello Garcia and Sergio Marcelo Ovruski
Insects 2023, 14(3), 222; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14030222 - 23 Feb 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3817
Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms associated with the coexistence of competing parasitoid species is critical in approaching any biological control strategy against the globally invasive pest spotted-wing drosophila (=SWD), Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura). This study assessed the coexistence of two resident pupal parasitoids, Trichopria anastrephae Lima [...] Read more.
Understanding the mechanisms associated with the coexistence of competing parasitoid species is critical in approaching any biological control strategy against the globally invasive pest spotted-wing drosophila (=SWD), Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura). This study assessed the coexistence of two resident pupal parasitoids, Trichopria anastrephae Lima and Pachycrepoideus vindemiae Rondani, in SWD-infested fruit, in disturbed wild vegetation areas of Tucumán, northwestern Argentina, based on niche segregation. Drosophilid puparia were collected between December/2016 and April/2017 from three different pupation microhabitats in fallen feral peach and guava. These microhabitats were “inside flesh (mesocarp)”, “outside flesh”, but associated with the fruit, and “soil”, i.e., puparia buried close to fruit. Saprophytic drosophilid puparia (=SD) belonging to the Drosophila melanogaster group and SWD were found in all tested microhabitats. SD predominated in both inside and outside flesh, whereas SWD in soil. Both parasitoids attacked SWD puparia. However, T. anastrephae emerged mainly from SD puparia primarily in the inside flesh, whereas P. vindemiae mostly foraged SWD puparia in less competitive microhabitats, such as in the soil or outside the flesh. Divergence in host choice and spatial patterns of same-resource preferences between both parasitoids may mediate their coexistence in non-crop environments. Given this scenario, both parasitoids have potential as SWD biocontrol agents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fly Biology, Ecology, Behavior and Management)
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18 pages, 1804 KiB  
Article
Ectoparasitism of the Flightless Drosophila melanogaster and D. hydei by the Mite Blattisocius mali (Acari: Blattisociidae)
by Katarzyna Michalska, Agnieszka Mrowińska and Marcin Studnicki
Insects 2023, 14(2), 146; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14020146 - 31 Jan 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4815
Abstract
Predatory mites dispersing by means of insects are often ectoparasites and may use various tactics to get onto the host, counteract its defenses, and diminish its survival. Blattisocius mali is a promising biological control agent which has been reported as transported by several [...] Read more.
Predatory mites dispersing by means of insects are often ectoparasites and may use various tactics to get onto the host, counteract its defenses, and diminish its survival. Blattisocius mali is a promising biological control agent which has been reported as transported by several drosophilid species. Our goal was to determine the type of relationship between this mite and fruit flies. We used flightless females of Drosophila melanogaster and D. hydei, which were commercially raised as live pet food. The predatory females mostly attacked the tarsi of the flies and then preferentially moved to the cervix or close to coxa III, where they eventually drilled their chelicerae and started feeding. Although both fly species used similar defensive tactics, more B. mali females did not attack D. hydei or did so with a delay, and a higher percentage of mites fell off the D. hydei tarsi during the first hour of observation. After 24 h, we noted the increased mortality of flies exposed to the presence of mites. Our study indicates the ectoparasitic relationship of B. mali with drosophilids. However, further research is needed to confirm the transport of this mite on wild D. hydei and D. melanogaster, both in the laboratory and under natural conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Insect Behavior and Pathology)
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17 pages, 981 KiB  
Article
Seasonal Dynamics of Fruit Flies (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in Forests of the European Russia
by Nikolai G. Gornostaev, Alexander B. Ruchin, Mikhail N. Esin and Aleksei M. Kulikov
Insects 2022, 13(8), 751; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13080751 - 20 Aug 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3618
Abstract
(1) Background: Seasonal dynamics of the abundance and species diversity of various insect groups is of great importance for understanding their life cycles; (2) Methods: In our study, Drosophilidae species and their seasonal changes in Mordovia State Nature Reserve were explored. We collected [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Seasonal dynamics of the abundance and species diversity of various insect groups is of great importance for understanding their life cycles; (2) Methods: In our study, Drosophilidae species and their seasonal changes in Mordovia State Nature Reserve were explored. We collected the flies by crown fermental traps in five types of forests (birch, aspen, linden, pine and oak) since May to October in 2019. (3) Results: A total of 4725 individuals belonging to 9 genera and 30 species of drosophilid flies were identified, among them 15 species in 3 genera are new to the Republic of Mordovia. Drosophila obscura and D. histrio were the most abundant species in traps, the other mass species are D. kuntzei, D. testacea, D. phalerata, S. rufifrons, D. bifasciata, A. semivirgo, and L. quinquemaculata. (4) Conclusions: We found three groups of mass species with significant correlation of seasonal dynamics, e.g., D.obscura and D. bifasciata; D. histrio, D. kuntzei, D. phalerata, and D. testacea, and, finally, A. semivirgo and S. rufifrons. Apparently, the similarity observed in the seasonal dynamics of these drosophilid species is influenced at a high degree by their food preferences and rearing sites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Advances in Diptera Biology)
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20 pages, 7568 KiB  
Article
The Floral Signals of the Inconspicuous Orchid Malaxis monophyllos: How to Lure Small Pollinators in an Abundant Environment
by Edyta Jermakowicz, Joanna Leśniewska, Marcin Stocki, Aleksandra M. Naczk, Agata Kostro-Ambroziak and Artur Pliszko
Biology 2022, 11(5), 640; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11050640 - 21 Apr 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3440
Abstract
Many orchid species have evolved complex floral signals to ensure pollination efficiency. Here, the authors combined analyses of anatomical flower structure with analyses of the volatile composition and flower-visiting insects’ behaviour, as well as characterised features that can attract pollinators of the inconspicuous [...] Read more.
Many orchid species have evolved complex floral signals to ensure pollination efficiency. Here, the authors combined analyses of anatomical flower structure with analyses of the volatile composition and flower-visiting insects’ behaviour, as well as characterised features that can attract pollinators of the inconspicuous orchid Malaxis monophyllos. During field observations, the authors found that only small Diptera (e.g., mosquitos, drosophilids, fungus gnats) visit and are interested in the flowers of M. monophyllos, which was reflected in the characterised flower features that combine well with the pollination system, which engages dipterans. Analyses of the M. monophyllos floral scent revealed substantial concentrations of aliphatic compounds, e.g., 1-octen-3-ol and 1-octanol, which condition the mushroom-like scent and a substantial fraction of alkanes, some of which have been previously described as sex mimicry and aggregation pheromones in orchids’ deceptive systems. The labellum anatomical structure exhibits a highly diverse cell cuticle surface and pronounced metabolic and secretory activity of the epidermal and subepidermal cells from all parts of the labellum. Moreover, our study provides evidence for the subsequent decoys of M. monophyllos flowers, including visual signals, such as raphides located on the labellum margin and the rewarding ones connected with lipid secretion limited to the area behind the column. Taking an integrative approach to studying M. monophyllos pollination biology, the authors provide new insight into its previously vague pollination strategies and provide evidence for complex floral signal operation in luring potential pollinators. The synergistic effect of M. monophyllos flowers’ volatile and visual signals, together with additional rewarding for nectar/fungus/microbe-feeding pollinators, requires further detailed investigation that will be invaluable in explaining the evolution of Diptera-specific pollination systems in orchids. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Plant Science)
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