Reproducible results describing the effects of pH on the response of the labellar sugar receptor of the fleshfly, Boettcherisca peregrina, were obtained. The response to sucrose was independent over a wide range of pH (3.0 to 10.0 for sucrose stimulation), but was inhibited fairly sharply on both sides of this range. Similar results were obtained for monosaccharide stimulation. The receptor was...

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.

Aggression, costly in both time and energy, is often expressed by male animals in defense of valuable resources such as food or potential mates. Here we present a new insect model system for the study of aggression, the male flesh fly Sarcophaga crassipalpis, and ask whether there is an ontogeny of aggression that coincides with reproductive maturity. After establishing that reproductive maturi...

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 struct...

The present study was conducted in five different phytogeographic zones of the Brazilian state of Maranhão, three of which (the Amazon Forest, Cerrado, and Palm Groves) are more heterogeneous, whereas the other two (Marshlands and Mangroves) are more homogeneous. In each zone, nine sites were visited for the collection of necrophagous flies using bait traps in 2010, 2011, and 2012. The callipho...

D ipterans are attracted to and colonize decomposing corpses immediately after death. From the forensic perspective, their identification is mandatory for postmortem interval estimation. Morphological identification may be difficult or even impossible. Thus, molecular identification has been suggested as an alternative. Many workers suggested that the cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene is the most...

Abstract The composition and quantity of insect cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) can be species-specific as well sexually dimorphic within species. CHC analysis has been previously used for identification ageing purposes several orders including true flies (Diptera). Here, we analysed the chemical profiles adult males females eleven species flesh belonging to genus Sarcophaga Meigen (Sarcophagidae...

Muscoidea is a significant dipteran clade that includes house flies (Family Muscidae), latrine flies (F. Fannidae), dung flies (F. Scathophagidae) and root maggot flies (F. Anthomyiidae). It is comprised of approximately 7000 described species. The monophyly of the Muscoidea and the precise relationships of muscoids to the closest superfamily the Oestroidea (blow flies, flesh flies etc) are bot...