Diptera- morphology, terminology, taxonomy, and economic importance Flashcards
What is the main pollinator species?
Mosquitos because males sugar feed.
How long ago did plasmodium first become associated with mosquitos?
100m years.
What kind of metamorphosis do diptera undertake?
Complete metamorphosis, often larvae are completely different and feed on different things
HOw long is the larval and pupal stage in flies?
Larval stage is the longest, the pupal stage takes 1-3 weeks.
In species that are NOT true maggots (e.g sandfly laevae), what is the headcase made of?
Chitin
What is the larvae of a true maggot like?
No head, just mouthparts on the body.
what is unusual about mosq pupae?
THey move
How do the antennae allow mosq to find females?
Cocktail effect- they can zone into the particular frequency of a female.
Where are the flight muscles? what else is here if not?
Mesothorax. Have a resonance box if they do not have direct flight muscles.
How can the thorax be diagnostic?
By looking at the shape and arrangement of the thoracic plates which have integument between them- species-specific.
What are spiracles and what can we use them for?
Holes on the sides of the abdomen. Anterior and posterior spiracles can be diagnostic. Used for breathing.
What liquid should you not use for storing mosquito specimens and why?
Ethanol- rubs off the scales which can be diagnostic.
How can fly olfaction be used to find a food source? How do they feed?
Olfaction/ taste receptors on feet which aid in finding a blood source.
Cannot eat solids so use their suction mouthparts to suck up liquid made by releasing digestive enzymes.
Which species is the exception to larvae being apodars (legless)?
Rhagionidae
what are ocelli?
Black and white visual receptors that sense the depth of field.
What are the frons?
At the front of the head, often with lots of hairs associated
What is chaetotaxy? Which bristles are important?
The arrangement of bristles and which way they face.
Post vertical bristles on the back of the head are important.
What are chemosensors on the labarum for?
for finding capillaries under the skin
How do stomoxys pierce the skin?
Pharyngeal teeth
What is the aedeagus?
Penis
How many species inthe An gambiae complex are vectors for human malaria?
2-
gambiae gambiae and gambiae arabiensis
What does paraphyletic mean?
Do not have a common ancestor but look alike.
What is an infra order?
A taxonomic ranking below suborder
Describe the wing venation of crane flies
Have anal wing veins that come all the way to the edge (reach the wing margins, as lots of primative flies do).
What are the characteristic wing veins of simuulidae?
A1 and A1 are SHORT
What does monophyletic mean?
Organisms that are classified into the same taxon and share a recent common ancestor.
To which suborder of diptera do houseflies belong? How many families in this suborder?
Brachycera, 120. Is one of the most major suborders.
Which family could be flies to save the world and why?
what is characteristic wing venation?
Stratimyiae. Feed on animal and household waste and are very high in protien, doesnt consume water (gets it from food)- could be used as a future food source.
Hexagonal discal cell has three veins coming off (M1, M2+3 and M4).
How is tabanidae wing veination characteristic?
Characteristic loop of R4 and R5 at the tip of the wing.
How do you dissolve lipids on flies?
Use ethylacetate overnight. Reveals abdominal banding patterns
How do spider killing flies live? What are they called?
Acroceridae (spider parasitoids). Climbs on the back of the spider’s abdomen and inserts itself into its box (primitive lung) and waits for the spider to mature.
What about the arista of higher flies (muscomorpha) are important?
Shape and how they are arranged.
What are schizophora vs aschiza?
Schiza= split
Either have a ptilinum or do not.
What are calypters?
Small membranous wing-like structures at the base of the wings in some species of fly. Function is not known!
Presence, size and arrangement is important.
Which fly is most agriculturally important?
Tephritidae - cosmopolitan Mediterranean fruit fly speices which has no species specificity and destroys crops- is hard to control!
What are dung flies called and what is a diagnostic feature?
Sphaeroceridae. Have an expanded third tarsae.
How do craneflies have economic importance?
Eat crops and grasses and destroys food for livestock.
What do fungus gnats eat?
Mushrooms
How can fungus gnats cause asphyxia?
Outbreaks of the flies shed lots of scales which can cause asphyxia.
How do gall midges have an economic impact?
Affect especially orchards. Affect oak trees by forming galls which reduces productivity.
What is the Simulium posticatum>?
The Blandford fly- causes itching by biting to get a blood meal to lay eggs. Was an outbreak in the 60s.
