No abstract

The black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus, 1758), is a saprophagous species used to decompose organic matter. This study proposes a distribution model of H. illucens to illustrate its current and future distribution. The methodology includes data collection from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), complemented with iNaturalist, manual expert curation of occurrence records, six species distribution models algorithms and one ensemble model. The average temperature of the driest annual quarter and the precipitation of the coldest annual quarter were the key variables influencing the potential distribution of H. illucens. The distribution range is estimated to decrease progressively and their suitable habitats could change dramatically in the future due to global warming. On the other hand, current optimal habitats would become uninhabitable for the species, mainly at low latitudes. Under this scenario, the species is projected to move to higher latitudes and elevations in the future. The results of this study provide data on the distribution of H. illucens, facilitating its location, management and sustainable use in current and future scenarios.

The discovery of the first case of gynandromorphism in Eulaema meriana (Olivier) is described and illustrated. A specimen from Los Ríos, western Ecuador, discovered in the Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (MECN) collection, exhibits mostly male features on the left and female features on the right, except for the jugal comb of the hind wing and terminalia. This finding is compared to other reported cases in orchid bees.

We record Aristosyrphus carpenteri (Hull, 1945) for the first time from South America. This species was previously known from Panama and Costa Rica. New specimens, collected in Pichincha Province of Ecuador, represent the first reported occurrence of this flower fly genus from the country. Images, diagnosis, and DNA barcodes are provided to help with the identification of this species.

Horse flies from the Neotropical region include many endemic and rarely collected groups. In this study, we describe a new species of a poorly known genus, Acanthocera (Querbetia) buestani, from Napo, Ecuador. The Querbetia subgenus is underrepresented in entomological collections by scarce historical specimens, still this group is one of the most easily recognizable and peculiar Tabanidae thanks to its inflated antennomere. This new species can be distinguished by its proboscis and palpi, longer than the other species of the subgenus Querbetia and body coloration pattern. We included an illustrative key to identify this subgenus and its species. Additionally, we report for the first time A. inopinata from Ecuador.