First detection of Megaselia scalaris (Loew) (Diptera: Phoridae) as a facultative endoparasitoid of Nezara viridula (L.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

Abstract

Background The phorid fly Megaselia scalaris (Loew) (Diptera: Phoridae) is an omnivorous species, capable of exploring a large variety of environments and ecological niches. It is known as an important detritivore species with maggots feeding on a variety of food of both animal and plant origin. Results The present study reports M. scalaris as an endoparasitoid attacking colonies of the southern green stink bug Nezara viridula (L.) for the first time. This case of parasitism was observed inside rearing cages of N. viridula at the Plant Protection Research Institute, Dokki, Egypt in August 2020. We firstly identified adult individuals of M. scalaris which were found moving erratically within the cages using relevant identification keys. To verify that N. viridula individuals are parasitized by the same parasitoid and they are not infected with other parasitoids, some of the parasitized bugs were transferred to a separate cage at the same laboratory conditions and the developmental stages of the dipteran parasitoid were observed until the adult emergence. Conclusion The present investigation revealed that M. scalaris could be included to the recorded parasitoid species of N. viridula, and further studies should be carried out to assess the efficacy of this fly as a biocontrol agent.

The Scuttle Fly, Megaselia scalaris (Loew, 1866) (Diptera: Phoridae): A New Threat on Laboratory Mass Production of Fruit Flies

“…Results of Souza et al (2020) confirmed parasitic and frugivorous habits of Megaselia larvae indicating that M. scalaris behaved as primary parasitoid of Isognathus caricae larvae under laboratory conditions. El-Hawagry et al (2021) recorded M. scalaris as an endoparasitoid attacking colonies of southern green stink bug Nezara viridula for the first time inside rearing cages in Egypt. Tang et al (2021) identified M. scalaris as parasitic flies from Spodoptera frugiperda collected in four regions of China attacking pest larvae and pupae.…”

First record of Megaselia scalaris (Loew, 1866) (Diptera: Phoridae) as a facultative parasite to Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) at Menoufia Governorate, Egypt

“…Several authors indicated that Megaselia scalaris acting as a parasitoid of insects of agronomic importance (Costa et al, 2007). They are also known as "humpbacked flies" due to their humpbacked appearance, and "coffin flies" because adult females are known to dig down two meters deep in order to reach buried corpses and penetrate closed containers such as coffins to lay their eggs (El-Hawagry et al, 2021).…”

“…Pupa of M. scalaris has a pair of long and slender pupal respiratory horns at the end of the fifth dorsal segment. There is an cephalic segment with a pair of antennae at the ventral part (El-Hawagry et al, 2021). After 5-7 days from starting pupation period most dipterans adults started to emergence and were photographed (Fig.…”

Scuttle fly Megaselia scalaris (Loew) (Diptera: Phoridae) endoparasitoid as a novel biocontrol agent against adult American cockroaches (Periplaneta americana)

“…Furthermore, M. scalaris can be utilized as an experimental model species 18 . Furthermore, M. scalaris previously reported as parasitoid of the desert scorpion Mesobuthus eupeus (Scorpiones: Buthidae) 17 , mantids Parastagmatoptera tessellate (Mantodea: Saussure) 14 , honey bees Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) 19 , soldiers of the termite Macrotermes gilvus (Blattodea: Termitidae) 20 , the southern green stink bug Nezara viridula (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) 21 , and the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) 22 , 23 . Previous reports showed that M. scalaris my attack cockroach nymphs 14 , 18 .…”