The scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) of Iran with the description of Mahabadphora aesthesphora as a new genus and species

Abstract

Scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) are mega-diverse and often synanthropic insects that play superb roles in various ecosystems. Identification of this group of insects is challenging due to their small size, morphological identification difficulties, niche diversity, and lack of taxonomic keys. To pave the way, an in-depth investigation was directed toward the scuttle flies in Iran using morphological and molecular data. A dichotomous key was also developed to identify the genus and species of the phorids reported in the country. The faunistic findings revealed the presence of about 22,000 (13,903 male and 8,097 female) phorid materials organized into 11 genera. Megaselia species (n = 13768), made up about 99% of the specimens studied. Moreover, 71 morphologically defined species belonging to nine genera were molecularly characterized using COI, 28S rRNA, and Arginine kinase datasets. Excluding four Megaselia Rondani, 1856 species, our results specified that morphologically delimited species were in agreement with the molecular analyses inferred from the COI/28S rRNA and COI/Arginine kinase sequences with genetic distances and phylogenetic trees. According to the results of the present study and previously published data, the Phoridae recorded for Iran are a total of 97 species that are ordered in 13 genera and three subfamilies, including Chonocephalinae, Metopininae and Phorinae. By comparing the known world phorid genera, a new monotypic genus of scuttle flies, Mahabadphora aesthesphora gen. nov., sp. nov., was identified based on its morphological and molecular characteristics and included in an updated key. Our results could comprehensively determine the taxonomic status of scuttle flies in Iran, scrutinize their phylogenetic structures and facilitate their identification.

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

“…Upon sampling and morphological analysis, it was determined that these insects belong to the order Diptera, specifically to the family Phoridae. The Phoridae family of flies is characterized by its larval predatory behavior toward various organisms, including insects and small invertebrates 29 , 30 . As a result of the identification of Phoridae as aggressors toward American cockroaches, we could gain pivotal insights into the cause of death.…”

“…Furthermore, this suggests that the insect targeted the cockroach's head to consume its contents. Moreover, this parasitoid insect utilizes cockroaches as a host to complete its life cycle, which involves four stages, including the egg, the larval, the pupal, and adult stages 18 , 30 . These findings are in line with those of Sánchez-Restrepo et al 32 , who reported other dipteran phorid flies from the genus Pseudacteon (Diptera: Phoridae), demonstrating their ability to decapitate South American fire ants, including Solenopsis invicta and Solenopsis richteri (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).…”

The structure and diversity of microbial communities in Paederus fuscipes (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae): from ecological paradigm to pathobiome

“…Insects are the most abundant and diverse class of animals and one of the most successful groups of living organisms that occupy a variety of ecosystems on earth [ 1 – 4 ]. The key factor in the success of insects is undoubtedly their close relationships with microorganisms, especially bacteria, which frequently affect their adaptability.…”

Técnicas de controle de forídeo: o estado da arte

“…Estas moscas exploram uma ampla gama de habitats e exibem diversos padrões de alimentação desde saprófagos, polífagos e fungívoros até predadores especializados e verdadeiros parasitas ou parasitoides (POLIDORI; DISNEY; ANDRIETTI, 2001;SMITH, Kenneth G V;OTHERS, 1989).. A família Phoridae foi atualmente classificada em quatro subfamílias (Sciadocerinae, Chonocephalinae, Metopininae e Phorinae), 260 gêneros, mais de 4.000 espécies descritas e muitas outras ainda precisam ser descritas (AMENT; BROWN, 2016;MOSTOVSKI, 2018). Apesar de ser uma das maiores famílias de insetos em número de espécies conhecidas, Phoridae tem sido pouca estudada em comparação com outras devido ao seu tamanho relativamente pequeno e dificuldades de identificação morfológica (NAMAKI-KHAMENEH et al, 2021).…”