Pseudacteon

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Pseudacteon
Phorid fly2.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Phoridae
Subfamily: Metopininae
Genus: Pseudacteon
Coquillett, 1907 [1]

Pseudacteon is a genus of flies in the family Phoridae. There are over 70 described species of Pseudacteon fly. They are also known as ant-decapitating flies due to their parasitic larval stage. An egg is injected by the female fly into the shoulder joint of an ant worker. Soon after, the egg undergoes rapid inflation as it appears to absorb ant hemolymph. This first instar larva migrates into the ant head and consumes the jaw muscle and other tissues, leaving the mandibles hanging and preparing a future exit space. After about two weeks, the ant worker is termed a "zombie" because the fly larva has effectively taken control. The worker leaves the nest and dies in the leaf litter or in a crack in the soil. As it dies, the ant's head falls off, apparently because the fly larva releases an enzyme that dissolves the membrane attaching the ant's head to its body. [2] [3] The fly pupates in the detached head capsule, requiring a further two weeks before emerging through the ant's mouth. In tropical, subtropical areas the flies are active all year round, but in temperate regions they are active during all months except the winter months.[ citation needed ] Several Pseudacteon species were deliberately introduced to the United States to combat via biological control the invasive fire ant species Solenopsis invicta . [4]

Species

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phoridae</span> Family of flies

The Phoridae are a family of small, hump-backed flies resembling fruit flies. Phorid flies can often be identified by their escape habit of running rapidly across a surface rather than taking to the wing. This behaviour is a source of one of their alternate names, scuttle fly. Another vernacular name, coffin fly, refers to Conicera tibialis. About 4,000 species are known in 230 genera. The most well-known species is cosmopolitan Megaselia scalaris. At 0.4 mm in length, the world's smallest fly is the phorid Euryplatea nanaknihali.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metopininae</span> Subfamily of flies

The Metopininae are a subfamily of flies in the family Phoridae.

<i>Phalacrotophora</i> Genus of flies

Phalacrotophora is a genus of scuttle flies. There are at least 50 described species in Phalacrotophora.

Pseudacteon tricuspis is a parasitic phorid fly that decapitates its host, the imported Solenopsis invicta fire ant. There are over 70 described species within the Pseudacteon genus, which parasitize a variety of ant species. However, P. tricuspis is very specific to its host ant and will not attack other native ant species, making it a good biological control against the fire ant. P. tricuspis was also introduced into the United States for this purpose. Aside from the United States, P. tricuspis has also been found in South America, Europe, and Asia. Female P. tricuspis deposit their eggs directly into the fire ant host. Deposition into the ant host determines the sex of the egg, which grows within the host until adulthood, killing and decapitating the host in the process. Interestingly, P. tricuspis has a male-biased sex ratio, where the males are smaller than the females.

Beckerina is a genus of flies in the family Phoridae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metopinini</span> Tribe of flies

The Metopininae is a tribe of flies in the family Phoridae.

Chonocephalus is a genus of flies in the family Phoridae.

Cremersia is a genus of flies in the family Phoridae.

Syneura is a genus of flies in the family Phoridae.

Diocophora is a genus of flies in the family Phoridae.

Menozziola is a genus of flies in the family Phoridae.

Metopina is a genus of flies in the family Phoridae.

Myrmosicarius is a genus of flies in the family Phoridae.

Neodohrniphora is a genus of flies in the family Phoridae.

Rhyncophoromyia is a genus of flies in the family Phoridae.

Abaristophora is a genus of flies in the family Phoridae.

References

  1. ↑ Coquillett, D.W. (1907). "A new phorid genus with horny ovipositor". The Canadian Entomologist. 39 (6): 207–208. doi:10.4039/Ent39207-6.
  2. ↑ Hanna, Bill (May 12, 2009). "Parasitic flies turn fire ants into zombies". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Archived from the original on May 22, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-14.
  3. ↑ "New weapon turns fire ants into headless zombies". San Francisco Chronicle. May 13, 2009. Archived from the original on May 16, 2009. Retrieved May 13, 2009.
  4. ↑ Folgarait, Patricia; Plowes, Robert; Gomila, Carolina; Gilbert, Lawrence (March 2020). "1Laboratorio de Hormigas, Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Bernal, 1876, Buenos Aires, Argentina; 2Brackenridge Field Laboratory, University of Texas, 2907 Lake Austin Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78703, USA; *Corresponding author; 2020 — Florida Entomologist — Volume 103, No. 1 9A small parasitoid of fire ants, Pseudacteon obtusitus(Diptera: Phoridae): native range ecology and laboratory rearing". Florida Entomology. 103 (1): 10. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
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