An annotated checklist of the Diptera of the Galápagos Archipelago (Ecuador)

Abstract

The Diptera fauna of the Galápagos Archipelago is updated and an annotated checklist is presented. Currently 50 families, 207 genera, and a minimum of 324 species are recorded from the islands. Approximately 107 species are considered to have arrived on the Galápagos Islands through human introductions, an estimated 101 species are considered endemic, 42 species have naturally colonized the islands from mainland Americas, 21 species are either introduced or arrived naturally and 53 species remain unidentified. The following new combination is proposed: Chrysanthrax primitivus (Walker) is moved to Hemipenthes Loew as H. primitivus (Walker) comb. nov. All references to the Galápagos taxonomic literature are included, known island species distributions listed and general remarks on the biology of many species are provided.

Undetection of vector-borne viruses in equids of Galapagos Islands

“…The Galapagos Islands fill the climatic conditions favorable for the circulation of flaviviruses or EIAV provided the presence of competent vectors. The islands has three mosquito vectors capable of transmitting WNV and USUV ( Culex quinquefasciatus, Aedes aegypti, and Aedes taeniorhynchus ) ( 19 , 20 ), bird species related to competent avian hosts ( Dendroica petechia , Mimus spp) ( 21 ) and horseflies that can transmit EIAV ( 20 ). Since the climatic and vector conditions are filled, it could be argued that the prevalence viruses could be <1% in the equid population.…”

“…They found that mosquitoes transported on airplanes carrying tourists represented the highest risk of WNV reaching the Galapagos Islands by a vector pathway and that the risk of introduction through migratory birds was lower but non-negligible. Moreover, it has been estimated that 107 Diptera species have arrived on the Galapagos Islands through human introductions and that 42 species have naturally colonized the islands from mainland Americas ( 20 ). Bataille et al ( 30 ) showed from the monitoring of aeroplanes and genetic analysis that C. quinquefasciatus was regularly introduced via aircraft into the Galapagos islands.…”

Competition among invasive and endemic carrion fly species in the Galapagos Islands with implications for biological control risk assessment

“…It is also possible that these species are specialised on carrion originating in Galapagos, and that they are reluctant to colonize our baits, three of which were sourced from introduced species (beef, chicken and eggs). Such a scenario is possible for G. inoa, the larvae of which have been reported feeding on eggs of native sea turtles and eggs and carcasses of endemic land tortoises and sea lions (Román et al, 2023;Sinclair, 2023;S. Aguirre, unpublished).…”

“…The effects of biological invasions can be especially strong in island ecosystems where invasive species may outcompete resident species (Causton et al, 2006;Simberloff, 2010;Spatz et al, 2017). The Galapagos Archipelago, located 1000 km from mainland Ecuador, supports at least nine endemic and two native species belonging to the most common necrophagous Diptera families Sarcophagidae, Calliphoridae and Muscidae, in addition to 21 introduced, two cryptogenic (i.e., possibly native or introduced) and three taxonomically undetermined species from these same families (Sinclair, 2023). The role of endemic and native fly species as carcass decomposers in Galapagos is understudied, with little information on larval feeding habits, but at least eight species are suspected carrion feeders: Lucilia pionia (Walker), L. setosa (James) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), Blaesoxipha insularis (Townsend), B. isla (Curran), B. violenta (Walker), B. williamsi (Curran), Sarothromyiops dasycnemis (Thomson) and Galopagomyia inoa (Walker) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae).…”

“…In addition to these species, at least 12 of the 21 species of flies from these families that have been introduced to Galapagos are known or suspected to be part of the local necrobiome (Sinclair, 2023). Studies are needed to better understand the fly fauna associated with the Galapagos necrobiome and any interspecific relationships that exist between them.…”