Dolichopodidae abundance in different cover crop species

Abstract

This study evaluated the Dolichopodidae abundance in different cover crop species. For this, the following species were used in treatments: Crotalaria (Crotalaria spectabilis), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), castor bean (Ricinus communis) and buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum). The survey was carried out in a field during two seasons 2012/2013 (November/December to March) and 2013/2014 (October/November to February). The Dolichopodidae abundance were evaluated weekly using a sweep net and Moericke traps. In addition, the phytophagous abundance (Thysanoptera: Thripidae; Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae and Hemiptera: Aphididae) was quantified, to allow for an inference about density-dependence. In total, 13,987 long-legged flies (96.5% in Moericke traps) were captured, represented only by the species Condylostylus erectus Becker, 1922 (Diptera: Dolichopodidae). In general, the higher abundance of C. erectus was observed in buckwheat and cowpea. Regarding the phytophagous species, 48,371 individuals [Thripidae (77.5%), Aleyrodidae (20.2%), and Aphididae (2.5%)] were quantified and a clear correlation with the C. erectus population was not evidenced. Thus, these results suggested that buckwheat and cowpea make resources available to long-legged flies, as discussed in our research. Finally, the buckwheat and cowpea sowing are options to increase the abundance of C. erectus predator populations in agroecosystems.

A new species of Chrysotus Meigen (Diptera, Dolichopodidae) from soybean fields in South Dakota, USA

“…For example, aphids are a frequently reported prey of adult Dolichopodidae ( Ulrich 2004 ) and could contribute to the management of the soybean aphid ( Aphis glycines Matsumura), the most important arthropod pest of soybeans in North America ( Ragsdale et al 2011 ). It is estimated that some adult Dolichopodidae could consume one aphid per minute ( Rathman et al 1988 ) and have the capacity to reduce aphid populations by 50% in wheat fields in Brazil ( Bortolotto et al 2022 ). Moreover, adult dolichopodids are reported to prey on other insects of economic importance, including caterpillars, leafhoppers, leaf miners, and thrips ( Ulrich 2004 ).…”

First Records of Condylostylus purpureus (Aldrich, 1901) (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) in the Nearctic Region

“…These metallic flies are the dominant Dolichopodidae in lowland regions of the temperate and tropical New World (Robinson 1964). Adults prey on other flies, as well as spiders, aphids, whiteflies, leaf-hoppers, and thrips, and are of possible use for biological control (Ulrich 2004, Cicero et al 2017, Bortolotto et al 2022).…”