Comparative morphology of the ovipositor in parasitoid flies (Diptera: Tachinidae) and its correlation with oviposition strategies and host use

• Grant number: 24/08327-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: April 01, 2025
• End date: March 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Morphology of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Carlos José Einicker Lamas
• Grantee: Filipe Macedo Gudin
• Host Institution: Museu de Zoologia (MZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Biological control is a vital component of Integrated Pest Management, promoting sustainable control methods. Parasitoid insects are essential natural enemies against various pests, but our understanding of their oviposition strategies and host usage is limited. Obtaining ecological data on these organisms is challenging due to difficulties in field observation. Therefore, investigating the correlations between phenotypic traits and ecological data within an evolutionary context is crucial to elucidate how these insects provide ecosystem services in natural environments and agroecosystems. This project aims to investigate the evolution of oviposition strategies and host use in the largest lineage of non-hymenopteran parasitoid insects: Tachinidae flies (Diptera). The diversity of oviposition strategies and host usage in this family remains underexplored in biological control applications. Ovipositor types are still poorly understood, hindering accurate interpretations of the biology of understudied groups. The proposal consists of three work packages: 1) Determine homologies of ovipositor characters and their distribution in the Tachinidae phylogeny; 2) Test the correlation between ovipositor characters and oviposition strategies and host use in the family; and 3) Reconstruct the evolutionary history of oviposition strategies and host use in Tachinidae. The outcomes of this project will provide a robust framework for successfully integrating parasitoid flies into sustainable agricultural practices, advancing efforts in both natural enemy conservation and pest management.