Trichocera maculipennis (Diptera)—an invasive species in Maritime Antarctica

Abstract

Antarctica, with its severe conditions, is poor in terrestrial fauna species. However, an increase in human presence together with climate change may cause an influx of non-native species. Here we report a significant increase in colonized area of one of the few known invasive species to date in Antarctica. Non-native flies of Trichocera maculipennis have been recently observed in the Admiralty Bay area on King George Island, South Shetlands Islands, West Antarctica, 10 years after its first record in Maritime Antarctica (Maxwell Bay, King George Island). Its rapid spread across the island, despite geographic barriers such as glaciers, indicates successful adaptation to local environmental conditions and suggests this species is invasive. The mode of life of T. maculipennis, observed in natural and anthropogenous habitat and in laboratory conditions, is reported. The following adaptations enabled its invasion and existence within the sewage system in Antarctic scientific stations: the ability to survive in complete darkness, male ability to mate on the substrate surface without prior swarming in flight, and adaptation of terrestrial larvae to survive in semi-liquid food. Possible routes of introduction to Antarctica and between two bays on King George Island are discussed, as well as further research leading to the containment and eradication of this species.

Invasive non‐native species likely to threaten biodiversity and ecosystems in the Antarctic Peninsula region

“…For instance, detritivore species such as Protaphorura fimata (Table ) or other Collembola species might cause a great impact in the nutrient cycling of terrestrial ecosystems. The introduction of Eretmoptera murphyi already provides an example of this, being a detritivore capable of a greater magnitude of peat recycling than the entire native invertebrate community where it occurs (Hughes et al, ), while the same is also likely to be the case with the boreal trichocerid Trichocera maculipennis on the South Shetland Islands (Potocka & Krzemińska, ; Volonterio et al, ). At present, no climate matching modelling studies have been attempted, but there must be concern that major new predatory guilds such as carabid beetles (introduced to and expanding rapidly on sub‐Antarctic South Georgia and Îles Kerguelen) and earwigs may be capable of making the jump to more benign areas of the APR, such as parts of the South Orkney and South Shetland Islands, or indeed to the fragile geothermal habitats represented in the South Shetlands by Deception Island.…”

“…A particular concern relates to the possibility of introduction of (Hughes et al, 2013), while the same is also likely to be the case with the boreal trichocerid Trichocera maculipennis on the South Shetland Islands (Potocka & Krzemińska, 2018;Volonterio et al, 2013). At present, no climate matching modelling studies have been attempted, but there must be concern that major new predatory guilds such as carabid beetles (introduced to and expanding rapidly on sub-Antarctic South Georgia and Îles Kerguelen) and earwigs may be capable of making the jump to more benign areas of the APR, such as parts of the South Orkney and South Shetland Islands, or indeed to the fragile geothermal habitats represented in the South Shetlands by Deception Island.…”

Molecular identification of Trichocera maculipennis, an invasive fly species in the Maritime Antarctic

“…Most of these species are not adapted to survive in the Antarctic environment, but some have already shown good adaptation to harsh conditions and have now become invasive. Known examples are: a grass, Poa annua [8], a chironomiid midge Eretmoptera murphyi [3], and a tipulomorph fly, Trichocera maculipennis [9,10]. Invasive species may cause serious threats for ecosystem structure and function [3].…”

The first record of Trichocera (Saltrichocera) annulata (Diptera: Trichoceridae) in Romania, with additional data on Trichocera (Saltrichocera) maculipennis

“…Pintilioaie Alexandru; 2♂ România: Harghita county: Ditrău, 26.12.2017, 46.807155°N/25.504679°E, leg. Kolcsár L.-P. Later specimens were collected by hand from the wall of a cellar together with Trichocera (Saltrichocera) maculipennis Meigen, 1818. T. (S.) maculipennis shows similar distribution pattern as T. (S.) annulata (Dahl andAlexander 1976, Potocka andKrzemińska 2018). The species is characterized by spotted wings, with uniform or banded abdomen (Volonterio et al 2013, Petrašiūnas andPodenas 2017).…”

“…The species is characterized by spotted wings, with uniform or banded abdomen (Volonterio et al 2013, Petrašiūnas andPodenas 2017). It also tolerates warmer temperatures and occurs from Arctic to the Mediterranean region, from Greenland to Japan and was also introduced to some Southern Hemisphere Islands (Dahl and Alexander 1976, Volonterio et al 2013, Driauach et al 2015, Petrašiūnas and Podenas 2017, Potocka and Krzemińska 2018. The only known record from Romania is from Tășnad (Tasnád), reported 120 years ago by Thalhammer (1900).…”