Pablo R. Mulieri

Diversity and Seasonal Dynamics of an Assemblage of Sarcophagid Diptera in a Gradient of Urbanization

Abstract Sarcophagid species inhabiting different locations in a rural-urban gradient were surveyed in the east central Argentine district of the Almirante Brown, Buenos Aires province. The main objectives of this research were to identify the most prevalent sarcophagid species and to describe community richness and diversity according to the degree of urbanization and the environmental variables measured in three locations within a rural-urban gradient sampled during two years from May 2005 to April 2007. Spatial and seasonal variations were the main factors involved in structuring the sarcophagid communities. Diversity was lower in urbanized areas than in rural ones. Bait and microhabitat preferences (sunny or shady places) and seasonal fluctuations were described for 17 sarcophagid species.

Umbilical myiasis in a human newborn

The new-world screw-worm fly, Cochliomyia hominivorax, is an obligate ectoparasite of domestic and wild animals, and in some cases may affect humans. Myiasis in the human neonatal period is a rare occurrence and almost exclusively found in neotropic areas. Although umbilical myiasis is well-recognized in animals, infestation of human umbilical cord and abdominal tissue is a rare occurrence. Once the diagnosis has been made, the treatment is usually straightforward and uncomplicated. In this article, a newborn infant from an urban area is reported with umbilical myiasis caused by fly larvae of C. hominivorax. The blowfly causing this infestation belongs to the family Calliphoridae (Diptera) and the genus Cochliomyia that usually infests only open wounds of animals.

Species composition and heterogeneity of blowflies assemblages (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in urban–rural gradients at regional scale in Argentinean Patagonia

This work is aimed at describing the spatial distribution of Calliphoridae species along urban–rural gradients in the southern Patagonian steppe, and the influence of geographical factors on species composition and relative abundance. Blowfly assemblages from 12 localities of Santa Cruz and Tierra del Fuego, Argentina between 1997 and 2007 were studied. Samples were assigned to three categories of sites (wild sites, mid-urbanized and urbanized) and four environmental variables were recorded. Three dominant species account for 98% of all specimens, the wild Compsomyiops fulvicrura, and two synanthropic species: Lucilia sericata and Calliphora vicina. Additionally we tested the homogenization of urban calliphorid fauna by comparing the turnover of species among sites, but our findings showed similar heterogeneity of urban and non-urban assemblages.

The Sarcophagidae (Diptera) of the Coastline of Buenos Aires City, Argentina

Abstract The flesh fly community was surveyed on the shoreline of Río de la Plata at an ecological reserve whose western border directly abuts downtown eastern Buenos Aires. Samples were taken at monthly intervals from September 2004 to August 2005. To attract the flies, dog faeces and rotten cow liver were used as bait. Overall number, species composition and sex ratio were referred to each chosen bait. Of the thirteen species captured during the sampling period, Helicobia aurescens (Townsend), Oxysarcodexia culmiforceps Dodge, Oxysarcodexia marina (Hall), Oxysarcodexia thornax (Walker), Sarcophaga (Lipoptilocnema) koehleri (Blanchard), S. (L.) lanei (Townsend) and Tricharaea (Sarcophagula) occidua (Fabricius) were recorded for the first time in Buenos Aires city. Regardless of species composition, higher number of flies were obtained on faeces. Tricharaea (S.) occidua, was highly dominant (78,35%) followed in abundance by Oxysarcodexia varia (7,82%), both species showing a strong preference for dog faeces. Microcerella muehni and Oxysarcodexia paulistanensis did not show any preference on either bait. Sex ratio was male biased for O. varia, while females were dominant for O. paulistanensis and T. (S.) occidua, and no differences were found for M. muehni. Baits preference and sex ratio could not be estimated for the remaining species due to their low abundance.

Timeless standards for species delimitation

Recently a new species of bombyliid fly, Marleyimyia xylocopae, was described by Marshall & Evenhuis (2015) based on two photographs taken during fieldwork in the Republic of South Africa. This species has no preserved holotype. The paper generated some buzz, especially among dipterists, because in most cases photographs taken in the field provide insufficient information for properly diagnosing and documenting species of Diptera.

The population ecology of Muscina stabulans (Fallén) (Diptera: Muscidae), along an Urban-Rural Gradient of Buenos Aires, Argentina

The false stable fly, Muscina stabulans (Fallén), was surveyed along an urban-rural gradient at Almirante Brown, Buenos Aires province, Argentina. Samples were taken at monthly intervals from May 2005 to April 2007. Hourly captures of adult flies (10:00 am-04:00 pm) were taken at each sampling date with a hand net. The baits used were 250 g of rotten cow liver and 250 g of fresh dog faeces exposed in shaded and sunny areas. The entire sample accumulated 358 specimens. The number of specimens captured during the second year was higher than in the fi rst year. Muscina stabulans was more abundant at urban-suburban sites. Females showed significant preferences for cow liver. We caught more specimens in shaded areas. The hourly activity increased toward the afternoon at the three sites. The present work was the first ecological study related to a muscid species in Argentina.

Two Species of Microcerella (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) Found in Highland Arid Landscapes of Argentina, during Forensic Studies

ABSTRACT Two species of Microcerella Macquart were obtained from pig and llama corpses during a decomposition field experiment in highlands desert landscapes of Catamarca, Argentina. We sampled four pig and two llama carcasses. Microcerella antofagastensis sp. nov. is described, and M. quimaliensis (Lopes, 1982) is redescribed. Illustrations of male and female terminalia of both species are provided and should allow a correct identification. Notes on the biology of both species are given.

Sex-Biased Patterns of Saprophagous Calyptratae (Diptera) Collected with Different Baits of Animal Origin

ABSTRACT The aim of the present study was to explore the response behavior of males and females of different families of Calyptratae (Diptera) to two different baits (rotten liver and feces) as separate attractants. We describe the sex bias toward these baits for species of Calliphoridae, Muscidae, and Sarcophagidae and compare the general patterns of this sex bias according to the family or trophic guild. In total, 15 species of Sarcophagidae, 10 species of Muscidae, and 9 species of Calliphoridae were analyzed. A female-biased pattern was observed for most calliphorids and for all muscids, whereas a male-biased pattern was more frequent among sarcophagids. The female captures on each kind of bait were assessed as a potential indicator of potential breeding substrates of the species. Three different trophic guilds and their pattern of sex bias were compared. The results obtained allow hypothesizing on the biological traits of saprophagous species, especially on their potential breeding substrates, and assessing proper sampling methods.

Revision of the Neotropical genus Malacophagomyia (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) with description of a new species

The small Neotropical genus Malacophagomyia Lopes is revised. Two previously recorded species from tropical South America are redescribed: M. filamenta (Dodge) and M. kesselringi Kano & Lopes. One new species is described, M. rivadavia sp. nov., from temperate southern South America. The structures of the male genitalia of the species of this genus are compared, and some female genitalic structures of M. filamenta are reinterpreted. Diagnostic characters to recognize the three species are given. Additionally, a key to described species of Malacophagomyia is presented.

New species and new records of Microcerella Macquart (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) belonging to the M. spinigena species-group

A new species of the genus Microcerella Macquart, Microcerella cristiani sp. nov., is described from material obtained from Argentinean Patagonia. First records are given for Microcerella austrohartigia Pape in Argentina. Both species belong to the M. spinigena species group.