1,721,119 research outputs found
I Tachinidi nella conservazione della natura e nella lotta biologica
No full textVengono illustrati i risultati raggiunti e le prospettive di impiego dei parassitoidi ditteri appartenenti alla famiglia dei tachinidi in lotta biologica conservativa, classica e aumentativ
Comparative morphology of “Sturmia-spots” in male tachinids – first results (Diptera: Tachinidae)
No full textBiologia, ecologia, evoluzione
No full textIl capitolo presenta una sintesi relativa alle caratteristiche biologiche, ecologiche ed etologiche dei parassitoidi ditteri appartenenti alla famiglia dei tachinidi. E' suddiviso in vari paragrafi (generalità, ricerca e localizzazione dll'ospite, strategie di ovideposizione e tipi di uova, respirazione della larva, attività trofica delle larve, impupamento e sfarfallamento, adulti) ed è corredato da disegni che illustrano i quattro tipi a cui sono riconducibili i cicli biologici dei tachinid
Phylogeny of Rhinophoridae and Polleniidae (Diptera): toward the evolution of Oestroidea
No full textCalyptrates are a megadiverse, actively radiating, group of dipterans, which are widely spread and abundant in nearly all terrestrial environments. Despite huge diversity and economic importance, their phylogeny is far from resolved. Recent attempts employing few taxa seem converging in retrieving monophyly for most of the families and subfamilies, but deep relationships among these, especially for those of the oestroid clade (blow flies and relatives), are labile when not changing. The goal of the present project is to shed some light on the deep phylogenetic relationships among Calyptratae by using an anchored hybridization approach with a careful taxon sampling. Furthermore, we aim at resolving the generic phylogeny of two key families of parasitoid flies: Rhinophoridae and Polleniidae.
Rhinophorids are interesting because of their peculiar parasitoid habit: they are the only insects having exploited crustaceans (Crustacea, Isopoda, Oniscidea) as hosts. Moreover, adult rhinophorids are difficult to recognize from other oestroids due to the lack of autapomorphies. Differently, however, the preimaginal instars present sound autapomorphies. Notwithstanding the several phylogenetic investigations conducted so far, the phylogenetic position of the rhinophorids is ambiguous and there is an impelling need of improving both taxon sampling and sequence data in order to gain a better resolution.
In turn, the phylogenetic position of the polleniids as sister group of the Tachinidae is becoming consensus recently, but the phylogenetic relationships within the family are still unknown.
In conclusion we aim to reconstruct a solid phylogeny of these groups in order to build up a stable and predictive classification of the Oestroidea
First record of Tettigonia viridissima Linnaeus, 1758 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) as host of the ormiine Therobia leonidei Mesnil, 1964 (Diptera: Tachinidae)
Full text linkThe first record of the bush-cricket Tettigonia viridissima Linnaeus, 1758 Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) as host of the tachinid Therobia leonidei Mesnil, 1964 (Diptera: Tachinidae) is reported, and the unusual case of the parasitization of a female host is briefly discussed
Detailed morphological descriptions of the immature stages of the ant parasite Microdon mutabilis (Diptera: Syrphidae: Microdontinae) and a discussion of its functional morphology, behaviour and host specificity. Corresponding author
No full textThe myrmecophilous immature stages of hover fl ies of the genus Microdon Meigen, 1803 (Diptera, Syrphidae) are still
poorly known and only about 15 species were previously incompletely described and/or illustrated using light microscopy based on occasional fi ndings mainly of pupae and third instar larvae. The exceptional fi nding of a large number of second and third instar larvae and pupae (159 specimens) of Microdon mutabilis (Linnaeus, 1758) inside the nest of a new host species, Formica cunicularia Latreille,1798, enabled us to rear them and obtain a great number of eggs and fi rst instar larvae. We fi lmed and described the feeding behaviour and locomotion of these highly derived slug-like larvae. Combining light, fl uorescence and scanning electron (SEM) microscopy, we describe in detail and illustrate the external features of all the immature stages of M. mutabilis (eggs, larvae and pupae). Covering the entire chorion of the egg is a peculiar microsculpture composed of volcano-like processes. The three larval instars strongly differ from each other, especially at the level of the shape of the body, the posterior spiracular tubercle and the cephaloskeleton. SEM microscopy was used to describe in detail the microsculpture, sensorial structures, spiracles and cephalic appendages of larvae and pupae. Fluorescence microscopy was used to reveal the exceptional presence of resilin in the external layer of the posterior spiracular tubercle in fi rst instar larvae. The possible functional signifi cance of these structures is discussed
First report of exocrine epithelial glands in oestroid flies: the tachinid sexual patches (Diptera: Calyptratae: Oestroidea: Tachinidae)
No full textCerretti, P., Di Giulio, A., Romani, R., Inclan, D.J., Whitmore, D., Di Giovanni, F.,
Scalici, M. andMinelli, A. 2014. First report of exocrine epithelial glands in oestroid
flies: The tachinid sexual patches (Diptera: Oestroidea: Tachinidae).—Acta Zoologica
(Stockholm) 00: 000–000.
Sexual patches are abdominal areas identifiable by modified setation, present in
the males of several groups of Tachinidae (Diptera). We comparatively studied
more than 40 species belonging to 24 genera representative of subfamilies known
to bear these organs, using light microscopy and scanning (SEM) and transmission
(TEM) electron microscopy. We provide a detailed characterization of the
fine structure of the setae and microtrichia composing these sexual patches and
of the underlying epithelium. Study of abdominal sections showed that, close to
the patch area, the epidermis forms a thick layer composed of numerous secretory
units of strictly associated cells, ending at the level of cuticular pores at the
base of the setae. We hypothesize a secretory function of these structures. The
segmental pattern of the sexual patches across the Tachinidae is defined and
predictable.We note that almost all the segmental patterns share the presence of
sexual patches on abdominal tergite 4, underscoring the diversity of male sexual
specializations that occur on the fourth abdominal segment of muscomorph flies
Basic concepts and research activities at Italian forest sites of the Long Term Ecological Research network
No full textItaly entered the International Long Term Ecological Research Network (ILTER) in 2006, contributing a group of research sites in marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems to the global network. Five forest sites are included in the Italian Network. They are representative of the main forest ecosystems in Italy and integrate 15 research stations managed by different institutes. Starting from LTER rationale and basic concepts, the first part of the paper reviews the status of LTER Italy forest sites, the strengths resulting from multidisciplinary expertise and site management, current activities and available datasets. Long term data series on key environmental parameters show the high scientific value of these sites, where monitoring and/or research is still ongoing. But two main LTER issues are currently arising in the international context: (1) overall consistency of datasets; (2) harmonization of sampling methods. For this reason, the second part of the paper investigates the suitability of Italian forest sites to address recommended long term research topics and ecological issues of global concern and to investigate the shift from in-site monitoring to cross-site cooperation and inter-site research
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