Description of the Third-Stage Larva and Puparium of Platycheirus (Carposcalis) chalconota (Philippi) (Diptera: Syrphidae) with New Information About the Trophic Interactions and Larval Habitats.

In this study, the third-stage larva and puparium of the copper-backed fly, Platycheirus (Carposcalis) chalconota (Philippi, 1865) are fully described using stereomicroscopy and scanning electron microscopy from material collected in peach orchards of central-west Argentina. The immature stages of P. chalconota were compared with the third-stage larva and puparium of the best-studied species in the genus Platycheirus scutatus (Meigen, 1822); as well as with the only known Carposcalis immature stages description available for the Neotropical region namely Platycheirus stegnus (Say, 1829). New data on trophic interactions and larval habitats are given: P. chalconota larvae were found feeding on the aphid's species Uroleucon sonchi (Linnaeus, 1767) (large sow thistle aphid) and Hyperomyzus lactucae (Linnaeus, 1758) (blackcurrant-sow thistle aphid) in low vegetation as Sonchus oleraceus (common sow thistle); the species was also found feeding on Myzus persicae (Sulzer, 1776) (green peach aphid) in high vegetation as Prunus persicae (L.) Stokes (Peach trees). The third larval stage and puparium of P. chalconota are described and illustrated for the first time improving substantially the knowledge about the immature stages and natural history of Neotropical Platycheirus, constituting also a baseline for future comparative morphological studies. Despite the efficiency of P. chalconota in the biological control of pests has not been assessed, we think that relevant data presented here can be used in pest management of peach orchards and suggest P. chalconota as an excellent candidate for future studies on the life cycle, prey consumption, efficiency, artificial rearing, and its potential importance as pollinators of Peach crops.

A world review of reported myiases caused by flower flies (Diptera: Syrphidae), including the first case of human myiasis from Palpada scutellaris (Fabricius, 1805).

Rat-tailed larvae of the syrphid species Palpada scutellaris (Fabricius, 1805) are documented causing an enteric human myiasis in Costa Rica. This is the first time that the genus Palpada is recorded as a human myiasis agent. We report a 68-year-old woman with intestinal pain and bloody diarrhea with several live Palpada larvae present in the stool. Using molecular techniques (DNA barcodes) and both electronic and optical microscopy to study the external morphology, the preimaginal stages of the fly were unambiguously identified. An identification key to all syrphid genera actually known as agents of human and animal myiases is provided for larvae, puparia, and adults. Moreover, a critical world review of more than 100 references of Syrphidae as myiasis agents is also given, with emphasis on the species with rat-tailed larvae.

Unraveling Ocyptamus and the Baccha legacy (Diptera: Syrphidae): redefinition of groups and new species descriptions.

The systematics of Ocyptamus sensu lato has been reviewed, its species groups redefined, and some taxa resurrected. These and other related taxa are diagnosed to aid in distinguishing between them. The status of the following genera is revised: Calostigma Shannon stat. rev., Hermesomyia Vockeroth stat. rev., Hybobathus Enderlein stat. rev., Mimocalla Hull stat. rev., Orphnabaccha Hull stat. rev., Pipunculosyrphus Hull stat. rev., Pseudoscaeva Vockeroth stat. rev., and Styxia Hull stat. rev. New species of the Neotropical genus Ocyptamus are described from Costa Rica and Venezuela: Ocyptamus maximus Thompson sp. nov., Ocyptamus myiophagus Thompson sp. nov., and Ocyptamus megafemur Thompson sp. nov. In addition, an identification key for the genera and species groups of Ocyptamus sensu lato is provided, as well as a redescription of Syrphus sargoides Macquart.Lectotypes are designated for Doros disjuncta Sack, Baccha placiva Williston, Baccha pulla Sack, Ocyptamus funebris Macquart, Syrphus sargoides, and Syrphus immaculatus Macquart. Moreover, Syrphus immaculatus Macquart is considered to be a species of the genus Toxomerus, and new species synonyms are also given: Baccha atypica Curran is a junior synonym of Syrphus conjunctus Wiedemann; Baccha flata Hull and Doros disjuncta Sack are jun. syn. of Syrphus sargoides Macquart; Baccha bromleyi Curran is a jun. syn. of Ocyptamus funebris Macquart; Baccha sepia Hull, Baccha danaida Hull, Baccha violacea Hull, and Baccha ursula Hull are all synonyms of Ocyptamus pullus (Sack); Baccha nerissa Hull is a jun. syn. of Pelecinobaccha hiantha (Hull); and Baccha panamensis Curran is a jun. syn. of Pelecinobaccha transatlantica (Schiner).

Checklist of the flower flies of Ecuador (Diptera, Syrphidae).

Syrphidae is one of the most speciose families of true flies, with more than 6,100 described species and worldwide distribution. They are important for humans acting as crucial pollinators, biological control agents, decomposers, and bioindicators. One third of its diversity is found in the Neotropical Region, but the taxonomic knowledge for this region is incomplete. Thus, taxonomic revisions and species checklists of Syrphidae in the Neotropics are the highest priority for biodiversity studies. Therefore, we present the first checklist of Syrphidae for Ecuador based on literature records, and provide as well the original reference for the first time species citations for the country. A total of 201 species were recorded for Ecuador, with more than 600 records from 24 provinces and 237 localities. Tungurahua, Pastaza, and Galápagos were the best sampled provinces. Although the reported Ecuadorian syrphid fauna only comprises 11.2 % of the described Neotropical species, Ecuador has the third highest flower fly diversity density after Costa Rica and Suriname. These data indicate the high species diversity for this country in such small geographic area.

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.

Mosquito species (Diptera, Culicidae) in three ecosystems from the Colombian Andes: identification through DNA barcoding and adult morphology.

Colombia, one of the world's megadiverse countries, has a highly diverse mosquito fauna and a high prevalence of mosquito-borne diseases. In order to provide relevant information about the diversity and taxonomy of mosquito species in Colombia and to test the usefulness of DNA barcodes, mosquito species collected at different elevations in the departments of Antioquia and Caldas were identified combining adult morphology and barcode sequences. A total of 22 mosquito species from eight genera were identified using these combined techniques. We generated 77 barcode sequences with 16 species submitted as new country records for public databases. We examined the usefulness of DNA barcodes to discriminate mosquito species from the Neotropics by compiling 1,292 sequences from a total of 133 species and using the tree-based methods of neighbor-joining and maximum likelihood. Both methodologies provided similar results by resolving 105 species of mosquitoes separated into distinct clusters. This study shows the importance of combining classic morphological methodologies with molecular tools to accurately identify mosquitoes from Colombia.

Updated list of the mosquitoes of Colombia (Diptera: Culicidae).

BACKGROUND: A revised list of the mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) known to occur in Colombia is presented. A total of 324 species from 28 genera of Culicidae are included. The species names are organized in alphabetical order according to the current generic and subgeneric classification, along with their authorship. The list is compiled in order to support mosquito research in Colombia. NEW INFORMATION: Our systematic review and literature survey found, by 16 February 2015, 13 records of culicid species previously overlooked by mosquito catalogs for Colombia: Anophelescostai da Fonseca & da Silva Ramos, 1939, An.fluminensis Root, 1927, An.malefactor Dyar & Knab, 1907, An.shannoni Davis, 1931, An.vargasi Galbadón, Cova García & Lopez, 1941, Culexmesodenticulatus Galindo & Mendez, 1961, Haemagoguscapricornii Lutz, 1904, Isostomyiaespini (Martini, 1914), Johnbelkinialeucopus (Dyar & Knab, 1906), Mansoniaindubitans Dyar & Shannon, 1925, Psorophorasaeva Dyar & Knab, 1906, Sabethesglaucodaemon (Dyar & Shannon, 1925), and Wyeomyiaintonca Dyar & Knab, 1909. Moreover, Wyeomyia (Dendromyia) luteoventralis Theobald, 1901 is recorded for Colombia for the first time. This work provides important insights into mosquito diversity in Colombia, using the current nomenclature and phylogenetic rankings.

Preimaginal morphology of the genera Salpingogaster Schiner, 1868 and Eosalpingogaster Hull, 1949 (Diptera: Syrphidae), with its systematic implications.

The puparium of Salpingogaster nigra and Eosalpingogaster umbra are described, and diagnosis and illustrations are provided. The morphology of immature stages of the genera Salpingogaster and Eosalpingogaster are studied and compared for the first time. The results are in agreement with previous molecular analyses that recognise both genera as valid. We found two different puparium morphotypes for E. umbra and discuss the improbability of immature sexual dimorphism in this species. An identification key is also provided for all species with known puparia.