Taxonomy and First Records of Two Megaselia Rondani Species (Diptera: Phoridae) Preying upon Eggs of Phyllomedusa iheringii Boulenger (Anura: Phyllomedusidae)

Author(s)

Ament, D. C. ; dos Santos, T. G.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Neotropical Entomology; v. 46, n. 3, p. 289-294, JUN 2017.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Non-aquatic reproductive modes have evolved among frogs possibly favored by some advantages such as the avoidance of aquatic predators. These reproductive modes, however, make the egg clutches susceptible to terrestrial predators, among which Diptera larvae are some of the most harmful. The present work reports the predation by phorid flies of 22 egg clutches of Phyllomedusa iheringii Boulenger in the South of Brazil. Phorid specimens were identified as Megaselia bruchiana (Borgmeier \& Schmitz) and Megaselia necrophaga (Enderlein), species that were reported previously to be associated with ants and dead beetles, respectively. Frog-feeding in these species is hypothesized to be use of an alternative seasonal food source. We amend the diagnoses of both Megaselia species and provide new illustrations to facilitate their identification. We also describe the male of M. bruchiana for the first time and associate males with females of both species. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/03563-0 - Cladistics analysis of the subfamily Phorinae (Diptera: Phoridae)
• Grantee: Danilo César Ament
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate