Host and Habitat Use by Parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) of House Fly and Stable Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) Pupae

House fly and stable fly pupae were collected during the summer from a dairy farm in northern Illinois. Spalangia nigroaenea accounted for most of the parasitoids recovered from house flies. Spalangia nigra, S. endius, Muscidifurax spp., and S. nigroaenea accounted for most of the parasitoids from stable flies. The majority of flies were house flies late in the summer and stable flies early in the summer. Higher percentages of house flies tended to be in samples containing lower substrate moisture and higher substrate temperature. Parasitism of stable flies started earlier and peaked weeks before that of house flies, with overall parasitism highest from mid-to late-summer. Parasitism of house flies, but not stable flies, differed significantly among habitats, being greater in calf hutches than in edge samples. Hymenopterous parasitoids from house flies tended to include a greater percentage of S. nigroaenea (and a lower percentage of Muscidifurax spp.) in calf hutches versus drainage or edge habitats and in sub- strates consisting of mostly wood shavings versus mostly manure. Within samples, differential parasitism of fly species was not detected for S. nigroaenea, S. endius, or Muscidifurax spp.; but S. nigra preferentially parasitized stable flies

Inventario de los Calyptratae (Insecta: Diptera) saprófagos en los espacios verdes urbanos de la ciudad de Buenos Aires

El inventario de la biodiversidad es una tarea urgente para la conservación de los insectos. En particular, los espacios verdes urbanos (áreas sin edificaciones) dentro de entornos urbanos son un elemento fundamental para el mantenimiento y restauración de la biodiversidad. Se describe la biodiversidad de los Calyptratae saprófagos en tres espacios verdes urbanos: un jardín privado, un parque urbano, y una reserva natural en la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina, y se compara la presencia de especies cosmopolitas y nativas. Un total de 14.688 especímenes fueron colectados, representando 62 especies. Las moscas fueron capturadas con red de mano sobres cebos de atracción, vísceras de pollo en descomposición y heces caninas. Las tres especies más abundantes, Cochliomyia macellaria, Tricharaea (Sarcophagula) occidua, y Chrysomya albiceps, representan el 81,70 % de la muestra total. Las especies nativas representan 62,24 % de la muestra total y muestran un incremento en términos de riqueza en espacios más grandes y menos modificados. Se identificaron las especies cosmopolitas tratadas con “homogenizadores globales”.The biodiversity inventory is an urgent task for insect conservation. Particularly, the urban green spaces (non-built-up areas) within urban environments are a fundamental element to the maintenance and restoration of biodiversity. We describe the diversity of saprophagous Calyptratae in three urban green spaces: a private garden, an urban park, and a natural reserve in Buenos Aires City, Argentina, and we compare the presence of native and cosmopolitan species. A total of 14,688 specimens were collected, representing 62 species. The flies were captured by netting them on attractive baits, rotten viscerae of chicken and dog faeces. The three most abundant species, Cochliomyia macellaria, Tricharaea (Sarcophagula) occidua, and Chrysomya albiceps, represent 81.70 % of the total sample. Native species represented a 67.24 % of the total sample and presented an increase in terms of richness in larger and less modified spaces. Cosmopolitan species treated as "global homogenizers" were identified.Fil: Patitucci, Luciano Damián. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ; ArgentinaFil: Mulieri, Pablo Ricardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ; ArgentinaFil: Dominguez, Martha Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas; ArgentinaFil: Mariluis, Juan Carlos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ; Argentin

Controlling risks of pathogen transmission by flies on organic pig farms - A review

Fly prevention and control on animal production units is necessary to prevent the transmission of pathogens that could affect animal and human health and the maintenance of good hygiene. Organic farmers are often hesitant to apply insecticides for this purpose because of their farming philosophy. Organic production systems are relatively open as pigs generally have access to the outdoors. Here, we investigate the need for fly control and analyse various possibilities that organic farmers have to reduce the number of flies on their farms. We conclude that although biological control looks promising, more research should be done concerning its side effects. Currently, optimal monitoring and prevention seem to offer the best solution

No Intersexual Differences in Host Size and Species Usage in \u3ci\u3eSpalangia Endius\u3c/i\u3e (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae)

Spalangia endius were collected from fly pupae, primarily house fly and stable fly, from a poultry house in Indiana. Male and female wasps did not differ within and across host species in host size usage. Also, despite stable fly pupae being significantly smaller than house fly pupae, the proportion of male wasps emerging from the two host species was similar

The Muscidae (Diptera) from the Atlantic Forest of Serra de Paranapiacaba, southestern Brazil

A first survey of Muscidae in the State of São Paulo (Southeastern Brazil) is presented here with a one-year of Malaise trap collecting from August 2010 to July 2011 at the Biological Reserve Alto da Serra de Paranapiacaba (23°46′00″-23°47′10″S, 46°18′20″-46°20′40″W, 750-891 m of altitude). A total of 1,284 individuals of muscids were collected, and 15 genera and 39 species of Muscidae were identified. So far, only one muscid species had been recorded to the Reserve, which now has its Muscidae diversity increased to 40 species. Thirteen species are new records for the State of São Paulo. With this, the number of species of Muscidae species known to occur in the State of São Paulo is increased to 169. The interval between November and February was higher in number of individuals and number of species. Muscidae presented a seasonal pattern, with more abundance and diversity in that interval. The study area is covered by secondary forest and very close to São Paulo metropolitan area, and the composition of the fauna of Muscidae signalizes this environment changing and anthropic stress with nine species with synanthropic habits, two of them are typically synanthropic species

The Insects of Treeholes of Northern Indiana With Special Reference to \u3ci\u3eMegaselia Scalaris\u3c/i\u3e (Diptera: Phoridae) and \u3ci\u3eSpilomyia Longicornis\u3c/i\u3e (Diptera: Syrphidae)

The aquatic insect community of treeholes in northern Indiana was surveyed from 1983-1986. Twenty-three species, representing three orders and nine families, were found. Megaselia scalaris (Diptera: Phoridae) was collected on several occasions from rotholes, the first member of this family from treeholes. Examination of puparia of Spilomyia longicornis (Diptera: Syrphidae) indicated that the larva of this species has been previously described, but incorrectly associated with the genus Xylata

Comparative Behavior of \u3ci\u3ePyrellia Cyanicolor\u3c/i\u3e (Diptera: Muscidae) on the Moss \u3ci\u3eSplachnum Ampullaceum\u3c/i\u3e and on Substrates of Nutritional Value

(excerpt) Entomophily is commonly associated with flowering plants and their pollen vectors, but also occurs in other groups of plants. Among fungi, several genera of Phallaceae offer food rewards to calliphorid and muscid flies, which inadvertently disperse the fungal spores (Ingold 1964). Bryhn (1897) first noted a relationship between various species ofDiptera and members of the moss family Splachnaceae. The nature of this interaction has been the subject of much speculation (Bequaert 1921, Erlanson 1935, Crum et aI. 1972, Koponen and Koponen 1977), but no experimental evidence has been collected

Factors Affecting Capture Rates of Insect Taxa by Retail Electrocutors and Eliminators in Northern Lower Michigan

We compare the abundance and types of insects captured at several locations, with and without a chemical attractant and in varying weather conditions using two different devices advertised to kill biting insects. Using both an insect electrocutor that uses ultraviolet light as an attractant, with and without octenol as an added attractant, and an insect eliminator that uses carbon dioxide, heat and octenol as attractants, more non-biting than biting insects were captured. Numerous harmless and beneficial insects were killed with electrocutors. Although eliminators were more target-specific, they captured fewer insects overall compared to electrocutors. The numbers and types of insects captured also varied by location and temperature conditions. More insects were killed by electrocutors located next to a lake compared to those located in an inland forested area and more were killed at lower compared to higher heights above the ground. More insects were also killed by electrocutors on warmer than on cooler nights. More non-biting insects were killed with electrocutors baited with octenol than without octenol