A taxonomic review of the Palpada ruficeps species group, with the description of a new flower fly from Colombia (Diptera: Syrphidae)

A new species of flower flies, Palpada prietorum Mengual spec. nov. (Diptera: Syrphidae: Eristalinae) is described from Cali, Colombia. The new species belongs to the ruficeps subgroup in the vinetorum species group. An identification key is provided for the species of the ruficeps subgroup, as well as a comparison of morphological diagnostic characters to separate these taxa. Fragments of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, the D2-3 region of the nuclear 28S rRNA gene and the nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) are supplied for two species, Palpada prietorum spec. nov. and Palpada ruficeps (Macquart, 1842)

Species of Syrphidae (Insecta: Diptera) of the UCLA University Park, Lara State, Venezuela

Los Syrphidae constituyen una de las familias del orden Diptera con mayor abundancia y riqueza de especies en diferentes tipos de hábitats. Existen unos 202 géneros y más de 6000 especies descritas, agrupadas en las subfamilias Eristalinae, Microdontinae, Syrphinae y Pipizinae. Las larvas de la mayor parte de las especies de la subfamilia Syrphinae son depredadoras de una amplia gama de hemípteros de cuerpo blando. Las principales presas son los áfidos (Aphididae), escamas (Coccoidea) y aleuródidos (Aleyrodidae). El objetivo del trabajo fue conocer las especies de Syrphidae (Insecta: Diptera) presentes en el Parque Universitario de la Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado (UCLA) en el Estado Lara, Venezuela. En el campo, los sírfidos adultos fueron capturados con red entomológica y trampa Malaise, con una frecuencia quincenal desde enero de 2013 hasta diciembre de 2015, mientras que la obtención de los estados inmaduros se realizó cortando ramas y hojas que contenían huevos y larvas junto a sus presas (en el caso de las especies con larvas depredadoras). Todos los ejemplares fueron montados, etiquetados y depositados en el Museo de Entomología José Manuel Osorio (MJMO), Decanato de Agronomía de la UCLA. El muestreo dio como resultado la obtención de 458 individuos representantes de la familia Syrphidae agrupados en 10 géneros y 32 especies. Las especies Ocyptamus aff. arx, Ocyptamus pumilus (Austen), Palpada albifrons (Wiedemann) y P. pusio (Wiedemann) se registran por primera vez para Venezuela. Cabe destacar que se citan también por primera vez para Venezuela los géneros Lepidomyia Loew, Paragodon Thompson y Polybiomya Shannon.Syrphidae is one of the families of the order Diptera with greatest abundance and richness of species in different types of habitats. There are about 202 genera and more than 6000 described species, grouped in the subfamilies Eristalinae, Microdontinae, Syrphinae and Pipizinae. Adults are often associated with flowers from which they obtain pollen and nectar as a source of energy and food. The larvae of the Syrphidae present a very varied morphology and a great diversity of ways of life. Larvae of most species of the subfamily Syrphinae are predators of a wide range of soft-bodied Hemiptera. The main prey are aphids (Aphididae), scale insects (Coccoidea) and whiteflies (Aleyrodidae).The present research was carried out in order to survey the species of Syrphidae (Insecta: Diptera) present in the University Park of the Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado (UCLA), in the State of Lara, Venezuela. In the field, adult flower flies were collected with an entomological hand-net and with the help of Malaise traps every 15 days from January 2013 until December 2015, while the sampling of the immature stages was done by cutting branches and leaves containing eggs and larvae next to their prey (in the case of species with predatory larvae). Adult individuals were pinned, properly labeled and deposited in the Museum of Entomology José Manuel Osorio (MJMO), Deanery of Agronomy, UCLA. The study resulted in 458 specimens of Syrphidae from ten different genera, representing 32 species. Ocyptamus aff. arx, Ocyptamus pumilus (Austen), Palpada albifrons (Wiedemann) and P. pusio (Wiedemann) are species reported for the first time for Venezuela. Genera Lepidomyia Loew, Paragodon Thompson and Polybiomya Shannon are documented for Venezuela for the first time.Consejo de Desarrollo Científico, Humanístico y Tecnológico (CDCHT-UCLA) [proyecto 006-AG-2013]

Integrative taxonomy of Iberian Merodon species (Diptera, Syrphidae)

The genus Merodon Meigen, 1803 (Syrphidae, Diptera), with more than 50 European species, is primarily distributed in the Mediterranean region, there being 34 species that occur in the Iberian Peninsula. The morphological variation found within some species from the Iberian Peninsula prompted us to test their taxonomic status by integrating morphological and molecular data. We generated partial sequences of the mitochondrial, protein-coding gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), the nuclear, internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) region, and the D2 region of thenuclear 28S rRNA gene. COI and ITS2 sequences were obtained for most included taxa. The variability of the COI sequences showed great differences between the studied species groups, exhibiting an interspecific range from 0.29% to 12.5% between ingroup taxa. Closely related taxa of the aureus complex (e.g. M. quercetorum and M. legionensis) presented identical COI sequences. The obtained ITS2 sequences showed low intraspecific variability, and only a few taxa presented more than one genotype. Species status and delimitation were discussed for all taxa in the light of available morphological and molecular character information. Using the obtained sequence data for COI and 28S we inferred the phylogenetic relationships of the included taxa, using parsimony analysis. Separate analysis of the COI sequences identified four, quite well supportedclades within Merodon, the desuturinus, albifrons, nigritarsis and aureus groups. Combined analysis of the COI and 28S genes produced a topology similar to the COI topology.Ministry of Science and Environmental Protection of Serbia (Grant Number 143037), the Provincial Secretariat for Science and Technological Development (Maintenance of biodiversity–“Hot spots” on the Balkan and Iberian Peninsula), the Spanish Ministerio de Medio Ambiente (MMA-040/2002), the Spanish Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (CGL2005-0713/BOS and grant number AP2003-3998) and Generalitat Valenciana (ACOMP06/063)

A conspectus of the flower fly genus Allograpta (Diptera: Syrphidae) with description of a new subgenus and species

A new subgenus [Allograpta (Costarica Mengual & Thompson), type Allograpta zumbadoi Thompson], and one new species [Allograpta (Costarica) nishida Mengual & Thompson; type-locality: Costa Rica, type-depository: Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad de Costa Rica] of flower flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) are described from the Neotropical biotic region. A checklist of the world species of Allograpta including synonyms is provided, and a key to and diagnoses of the subgenera are also supplied. The phylogenetic relationships among Allograpta species, representing all hitherto detected morphological diversity of the genus, and related genera were studied under parsimony based on morphological characters

Biological aspects of Pseudodoros clavatus (Fabricius) (Diptera: Syrphidae) fed with the black legume aphid Aphis craccivora Koch (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Se estudió en condiciones de laboratorio el ciclo de vida, la proporción sexual y la longevidad del sírfido depredador Pseudodoros clavatus (Fabricius). El áfido de las leguminosas Aphis craccivora Koch fue utilizado como presa. P. clavatus y A. craccivora fueron recolectados en las parcelas experimentales Miguel Luna Lugo, ubicadas en Tarabana (10º 01’10,52” N; 69º 16’59,48”O, 515 m), estado Lara, Venezuela. Ambos, el depredador y la presa, fueron mantenidos en salas de cría a 25 ± 1ºC, 68 ± 10% HR y 12:12 (D:N) h de fotoperiodo. Los resultados mostraron que el ciclo de vida de P. clavatus tuvo una duración promedio de 13,6 ± 0,1 días, con un ámbito de variación de entre 12 y 16 días (huevo 2,0 ± 0,0 días; larvas 6,0 ± 0,1 y pupa de 5,6 ± 0,1 días). La relación de sexo de la progenie (macho: hembra) fue 1:1. Este índice reproductivo se considera importante para obtener un alto rendimiento en la cría del depredador. La longevidad promedio de los machos y hembras de P. clavatus fue 12,8 ± 1,1 días y 14,0 ± 0,6 días, respectivamente. Esta información puede ser útil en el desarrollo de programas de control biológico del áfido de las leguminosas.The life cycle, sex ratio and longevity of the predatory syrphid fly Pseudodoros clavatus (Fabricius) were studied under laboratory conditions. The black legume aphid, Aphis craccivora Koch, was used as prey. P. clavatus and A. craccivora were collected in the experimental plots “Miguel Luna Lugo”, located in Tarabana (10º 01’10.52”N; 69º 16’59.48”W, 515 m), Lara State, Venezuela. Both the predator and the prey were kept in breeding rooms at 25 ± 1 ° C, 68 ± 10% RH and 12:12 (D:N) h of photoperiod. The results showed that the life cycle of P. clavatus had an average duration of 13.6 ± 0.1 days, with a range of variation between 12 and 16 days (egg 2.0 ± 0.0 days; larvae 6.0 ± 0.1 and pupa of 5.6 ± 0.1 days). The average longevity of males and females of P. clavatus was 12.8 ± 1.1 days and 14.0 ± 0.6 days, respectively. The sex ratio of the progeny (male:female) was 1:1. This reproductive index is considered important in order to obtain a high performance in the breeding of the predator. This information may be useful in the development of biological control programs for legume aphids.Consejo de Desarrollo Científico, Humanístico y Tecnológico (CDCHT-UCLA), proyecto 003-DAG-2007

Where Is My Food? Brazilian Flower Fly Steals Prey from Carnivorous Sundews in a Newly Discovered Plant-Animal Interaction

A new interaction between insects and carnivorous plants is reported from Brazil. Larvae of the predatory flower fly Toxomerus basalis (Diptera: Syrphidae: Syrphinae) have been found scavenging on the sticky leaves of several carnivorous sundew species (Drosera, Droseraceae) in Minas Gerais and São Paulo states, SE Brazil. This syrphid apparently spends its whole larval stage feeding on prey trapped by Drosera leaves. The nature of this plant-animal relationship is discussed, as well as the Drosera species involved, and locations where T. basalis was observed. 180 years after the discovery of this flower fly species, its biology now has been revealed. This is (1) the first record of kleptoparasitism in the Syrphidae, (2) a new larval feeding mode for this family, and (3) the first report of a dipteran that shows a kleptoparasitic relationship with a carnivorous plant with adhesive flypaper traps. The first descriptions of the third instar larva and puparium of T. basalis based on Scanning Electron Microscope analysis are provided

Life table and predation rates of the syrphid fly Allograpta exotica, a control agent of the cowpea aphid Aphis craccivora

Larvae of Allograpta exotica (Wiedemann, 1830) (Diptera: Syrphidae) are important natural enemies of common agricultural pests such as aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Life history, life table and functional response of A. exotica were determined using the cowpea aphid Aphis craccivora Koch, 1854 as prey under controlled conditions of temperature, humidity and light. The average recorded duration of A. exotica development was 2.0, 7.4 and 5.7 days for eggs, larvae and pupae respectively, and 15.04 days from egg to adult emergence. The adult longevity was not significantly sex dependent, but imagoes lived longer than in previous studies. The offspring sex ratio was favorable to males. The mortality and survival rate were recorded on a daily basis for all immature stages and adults. The age specific survival rate was determined and the highest mortality occurred in eggs followed by mortality in 1st and 2nd instar larva. Moreover, in the present study different levels of aphid densities 10, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and 100 were used to calculate the functional response. Based on logistic regression analyses the three instar larvae and the whole larval stage (first to third instar) exhibited a type II functional response. Handling time was shortest for the third larval instar followed by second and first instars. Potential use of A. exotica in augmentative biological control is discussed.Consejo de Desarrollo Científico, Humanístico y Tecnológico (CDCHT-UCLA, Venezuela) for funding support for the PhD thesis project 003-DAG-2007 granted to E. Arcaya

First records of Chrysotoxum volaticum Séguy, 1961 from Europe and Platycheirus marokkanus Kassebeer, 1998 from Spain (Diptera: Syrphidae) together with additional records of Spanish Chrysotoxum Meigen, 1803

The first European records of Chrysotoxum volaticum Séguy, 1961 from Spain and France, and Platycheirus marokkanus Kassebeer, 1998 from Spain are provided. These are further examples of North African species also present in the Iberian Peninsula. Diagnostic characters are given to separate C. volaticum and the similar Chrysotoxum bicinctum (Linnaeus, 1758), and additional records of other Chrysotoxum Meigen, 1803 hoverflies from Spain are also reported. We also provide DNA barcodes for C. volaticum and discuss the utility of DNA barcoding to identify species in the genus Chrysotoxum.The study of the material of Chrysotoxum in the NHM was made possible by receiving support from the SYNTHESYS project http://www.synthesys.info/ which is financed by European Community Research Infrastructure Action under the FP6 “Structuring the European Research Area” Programme. Financial support was also provided by the Spanish Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (projects CGL2005-07213/BOS and CGL2006-13847-C02-01). Antonio Ricarte’s position (Ref. UATAL05) at the University of Alicante is funded by the ‘Vicerrectorado de Investigación y Transferencia de Conocimiento’

New information about the pre-imaginal morphology of genus Graptomyza (Diptera, Syrphidae, Volucellini): description of third-instar larva and re-description of puparium of G. signata (Walker, 1860)

Pre-imaginal morphology of the flower fly species Graptomyza signata (Walker) is described and figured in detail based on specimens collected on a decomposed Aloe-like plant in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. Third-instar larva is described for the first time and the puparium morphology is re-described using both light (optical) and electron microscopy. The present work represents the second larval description for a species of the genus Graptomyza, after the description of the larva of G. alabeta Séguy. The immatures of these two Graptomyza species were examined and compared to the pre-imaginal stages of the other members of the tribe Volucellini, pointing out the possible diagnostic characters of the genus Graptomyza. Moreover, new DNA barcodes are provided for G. signata and deposited in the NCBI GenBank.The study was funded by the project of the European Union: Horizon 2020, Marie Skłodowska-Curie action, Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE) Programme: FlyHigh – “Insect-plant relationships: insights into biodiversity and new applications”