Latest Articles from Alpine Entomology Latest 10 Articles from Alpine Entomology https://alpineentomology.pensoft.net/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 09:50:16 +0200 Pensoft FeedCreator https://alpineentomology.pensoft.net/i/logo.jpg Latest Articles from Alpine Entomology https://alpineentomology.pensoft.net/ The enigmatic robber fly Choerades mouchai Hradský, 1985 redescribed and recorded from the Alps (Diptera, Asilidae) https://alpineentomology.pensoft.net/article/117862/ Alpine Entomology 8: 81-86

DOI: 10.3897/alpento.8.117862

Authors: Gaël Pétremand, Jaroslav Bosák

Abstract: Records of Choerades mouchai Hradský, 1985, are reported from Switzerland. These are the first records of the species published since its description and extend its known range to include the Alps. Previously, it was known only from parts of the Carpathian Mountain chain in Slovakia and Romania. A redescription of the male is provided, accompanied by photographs of diagnostic features, including the terminalia, and images of the entire insect. A table listing morphological differences between the males of Ch. mouchai, Ch. femorata and Ch. marginata is presented. The Choerades fauna of Switzerland is discussed, as is the information available about the ecology of Ch. mouchai.

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Short Communication Thu, 28 Mar 2024 18:08:39 +0200
Description of the female of Platycheirus altomontis Merlin & Nielsen in Nielsen, 2004 (Diptera, Syrphidae) with notes on the occurrence and hilltopping behaviour of rare French montane and Alpine Syrphidae https://alpineentomology.pensoft.net/article/81676/ Alpine Entomology 6: 65-76

DOI: 10.3897/alpento.6.81676

Authors: Frank Van de Meutter

Abstract: A focused search in very high (2500–3200 m asl) Alpine mountain tops in France resulted in the discovery of the very rare Alpine-endemic syrphid Platycheirus altomontis Merlin & Nielsen in Nielsen, 2004, including its hitherto unknown female. A description of the female is given and further complemented with behavioural observations of this species with special reference to hilltopping. Additional records and behavioural observations are provided for rare and new species for the French fauna from the montane and Alpine habitat with focus on species of high altitude (>2750 m) and hilltopping behaviour. The species Rohdendorfia alpina Sack 1938 is new to France and was observed in large numbers at scree slopes above 2750 m and males were found sitting at hilltops up to 3200 m. Hilltopping behaviour of Syrphidae was observed over the whole altitudinal range visited, and multiple species engaged in this behaviour even at above 3000 m. Hilltopping appears to be more common in some genera (e.g. Parasyrphus and Pipizella) than in others and may be linked to specific phenotypes in some species. The latter was observed for the species Cheilosia melanura (Becker, 1894) of which at high hilltops much smaller males were found than at lower altitudes.

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Research Article Mon, 19 Sep 2022 10:31:15 +0300
Periscelis (Myodris) haennii sp. nov., a new species of Periscelididae (Diptera) from Ticino, Switzerland, with a new key to European species of the subgenus https://alpineentomology.pensoft.net/article/85391/ Alpine Entomology 6: 39-49

DOI: 10.3897/alpento.6.85391

Authors: Lucia Pollini Paltrinieri, Jindřich Roháček

Abstract: A new Periscelididae species, Periscelis (Myodris) haennii sp. nov., is described from Losone near Locarno, Canton Ticino (Southern Switzerland). It has been found during a biodiversity survey using attractant traps in a Querco-Castagnetum forest. This new species is closely related and very similar to P. (M.) annulata (Fallén, 1813) occurring syntopically in the same traps. Interestingly, also P. (M.) piricercus Carles-Tolrá & Verdugo Páez, 2009 co-occurred with these species; consequently, all European species of the subgenus Myodris Lioy, 1864 were found in this locality. A new illustrated key to males of these species is presented. The DNA sequences of the barcoding region of COI for all these species are given.

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Research Article Thu, 25 Aug 2022 11:37:16 +0300
Female accessory gland fluid promotes sperm survival in yellow dung flies https://alpineentomology.pensoft.net/article/68501/ Alpine Entomology 5: 95-100

DOI: 10.3897/alpento.5.68501

Authors: Karin Thüler, Wolf U. Blanckenhorn, Paul I. Ward, Stefan Lüpold, Luc F. Bussière

Abstract: Female and male reproductive traits co-evolve through pre- and post-copulatory sexual selection and sexual conflict. Although males typically transfer many sperm during copulation, only a small proportion reach the fertilization site because females often actively or passively reduce sperm number in their reproductive tract. Males may transfer accessory substances to protect their ejaculates against female selective processes, which benefits males but can harm females. In turn, females may use accessory gland fluids to control paternity or sperm storage. Female yellow dung flies (Scathophaga stercoraria) have paired accessory glands that produce fluids involved in fertilization and egg laying. One proposed function for these fluids is spermicide. Alternatively, female accessory gland fluid may help keep sperm alive to avoid fertilization failure or encourage sperm competition. Using yellow dung flies, we investigated the interaction of female accessory gland fluid with sperm in vitro. Significantly more sperm remained alive when exposed to accessory gland fluid compared to buffer only (63% vs. 44%). We conclude that female accessory gland fluid in yellow dung flies can help nourish rather than kill male sperm, although selective nourishment of sperm is as consistent with cryptic female choice as is selective spermicide.

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Research Article Fri, 10 Sep 2021 18:04:28 +0300
A fungal parasite selects against body size but not fluctuating asymmetry in Swiss subalpine yellow dung flies https://alpineentomology.pensoft.net/article/65653/ Alpine Entomology 5: 27-35

DOI: 10.3897/alpento.5.65653

Authors: Wolf U. Blanckenhorn

Abstract: Evidence for selective disadvantages of large body size remains scarce in general. Previous studies of the yellow dung fly Scathophaga stercoraria have demonstrated strong positive sexual and fecundity selection on male and female size. Nevertheless, the body size of flies from a Swiss study population has declined by ~10% 1993–2009. Given substantial heritability of body size, this negative evolutionary response of an evidently positively selected trait suggests important selective factors being missed. An episodic epidemic outbreak of the fungus Entomophthora scatophagae permitted assessment of natural selection exerted by this fatal parasite. Fungal infection varied over the season from ~50% in the cooler and more humid spring and autumn to almost 0% in summer. The probability of dying from fungal infection increased with adult fly body size. Females never laid any eggs after infection, so there was no fungus effect on female fecundity beyond its impact on mortality. Large males showed their typical mating advantage in the field, but this positive sexual selection was nullified by fungal infection. Mean fluctuating asymmetry of paired appendages (legs, wings) did not affect the viability, fecundity or mating success of yellow dung flies in the field. This study documents rare parasite-mediated disadvantages of large-sized flies in the field. Reduced ability to combat parasites such as Entomophthora may be an immunity cost of large body size in dung flies, although the hypothesized trade-off between fluctuating asymmetry, a presumed indicator of developmental instability and environmental stress, and immunocompetence was not found here.

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Research Article Fri, 11 Jun 2021 08:59:07 +0300
On the identity of Paracacoxenus kaszabi Okada, with the formal description of a new closely related species (Diptera, Drosophilidae) https://alpineentomology.pensoft.net/article/49492/ Alpine Entomology 4: 1-20

DOI: 10.3897/alpento.4.49492

Authors: Gerhard Bächli, Carlos R. Vilela

Abstract: In order to clarify the identity of Paracacoxenus kaszabi Okada, 1973, a species described from Mongolia, the morphological structures of one male paratype, collected at 1,750 m altitude, were analyzed and redescribed. In addition, one of the male specimens, previously referred to in literature as ‘sp. aff. kaszabi’, is restudied and described as Paracacoxenus macai sp. nov. (type locality: Schmelz, Parco Nazionale dello Stelvio, Province of Bolzano, Region of Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy). The former species seems to be distributed in central and eastern Asia while the latter is supposed to have an exclusively European distribution. The midtibial preapical seta of male Paracacoxenus argyreator (Frey, 1932), which is unusually long, is illustrated by photomicrographs. A key to the European species of Paracacoxenus Hardy, 1960 is presented.

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Research Article Fri, 6 Mar 2020 14:48:15 +0200
Temporal niche partitioning of Swiss black scavenger flies in relation to season and substrate age (Diptera, Sepsidae) https://alpineentomology.pensoft.net/article/28366/ Alpine Entomology 3: 1-10

DOI: 10.3897/alpento.3.28366

Authors: Patrick T. Rohner, Jean-Paul Haenni, Athene Giesen, Juan Pablo Busso, Martin A. Schäfer, Frank Püchel-Wieling, Wolf U. Blanckenhorn

Abstract: Understanding why and how multiple species manage to coexist represents a primary goal of ecological and evolutionary research. This is of particular relevance for communities that depend on resource rich ephemeral habitats that are prone to high intra- and interspecific competition. Black scavenger flies (Diptera: Sepsidae) are common and abundant acalyptrate flies associated with livestock dung decomposition in human-influenced agricultural grasslands worldwide. Several widespread sepsid species with apparently very similar ecological niches coexist in Europe, but despite their ecological role and their use in evolutionary ecological research, our understanding of their ecological niches and spatio-temporal distribution is still rudimentary. To gain a better understanding of their ecology, we here investigate niche partitioning at two temporal scales. First, we monitored the seasonal occurrence, often related to thermal preference, over multiple years and sites in Switzerland that differ in altitude. Secondly, we also investigate fine-scale temporal succession on dairy cow pastures. In accordance with their altitudinal and latitudinal distribution in Europe, some species were common over the entire season with a peak in summer, hence classified as warm-loving, whereas others were primarily present in spring or autumn. Phenological differences thus likely contribute to species coexistence throughout the season. However, the community also showed pronounced species turnover related to cow pat age. Some species colonize particularly fresh dung and are gradually replaced by others. Furthermore, the correlation between co-occurrence and phylogenetic distance of species revealed significant under-dispersion, indicating that more closely related species are frequently recovered at the same location. As a whole, our data suggests temporal niche differentiation of closely related species that likely facilitates the rather high species diversity on Swiss cattle pastures. The underlying mechanisms allowing close relatives to co-occur however require further scrutiny.

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Research Article Mon, 7 Jan 2019 10:38:41 +0200
The male terminalia of seven American species of Drosophila (Diptera, Drosophilidae) https://alpineentomology.pensoft.net/article/20669/ Alpine Entomology 1: 17-31

DOI: 10.3897/alpento.1.20669

Authors: Carlos Ribeiro Vilela

Abstract: The male terminalia of seven species of Drosophila endemic to the New World are described or redescribed and illustrated: one in the hydei subgroup (D. guayllabambae) and four in the mulleri subgroup (D. arizonae, D. navojoa, D. nigrodumosa, and D. sonorae) of the repleta group; one in the sticta group (D. sticta) and one so far unassigned to group (D. comosa). The D. guayllabambae terminalia redescription is based on a wild-caught fly. The redescriptions of the terminalia of the four species in the mulleri subgroup are based on strain specimens, while those of D. sticta and D. comosa terminalia are based on their holotypes. D. guayllabambae seems to be a strictly mountainous species of the Ecuadorian and Peruvian Andes. D. nigrodumosa is apparently endemic to Venezuela, occurring in the Andes as well as at lower altitudes. The remaining five occurs only at lower altitudes of the American continent. The detailed line drawings depicted in this paper aim to help interested taxonomists to tell those species apart. Their precise identification is of great importance to the knowledge of the American biodiversity increasingly threatened by human activities.

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Research Article Mon, 20 Nov 2017 10:25:36 +0200
A new species of Systenus Loew (Diptera, Dolichopodidae) from Croatia https://alpineentomology.pensoft.net/article/20462/ Alpine Entomology 1: 39-41

DOI: 10.3897/alpento.1.20462

Authors: Stefan Naglis

Abstract: Systenus bartaki sp. n. is described from Croatia. The new species is similar to S. tener Loew and S. vasilii Grichanov but it differs by characters of the antennae and the male genitalia.

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Research Article Mon, 20 Nov 2017 10:10:14 +0200
West Palaearctic species of the Hercostomus species-group III (Diptera, Dolichopodidae), with description of a new species from Turkey https://alpineentomology.pensoft.net/article/20463/ Alpine Entomology 1: 33-38

DOI: 10.3897/alpento.1.20463

Authors: Stefan Naglis, Oleg P. Negrobov

Abstract: The West-Palaearctic species of the Hercostomus species-group III are reviewed, a species-list and a revised key to males is provided. Hercostomus angustus (Loew, 1857) is restored from synonymy with Hercostomus nanus (Macquart, 1827) based on differences in male genitalia. Hercostomus griseifrons Becker, 1910 is redescribed and a lectotype is designated. Hercostomus tonguci sp. n. is described from Turkey.

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Research Article Mon, 20 Nov 2017 10:08:59 +0200