Oviposition behavior in the robber fly Mallaphora ruficauda (Diptera: Asilidae)

Mallophora ruficauda Wiedemann (Diptera: Asilidae) is a pestiferous robber fly affecting beekeeping in the South American open grasslands. This insect preys upon other insects during its adult stage and parasitizes scarab beetle larva in the soil as larvae. As a first step toward population manageme...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado: 2004
Materias:
fly
Acceso en línea:https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_00138746_v97_n5_p1050_Castelo
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_00138746_v97_n5_p1050_Castelo
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spelling paper:paper_00138746_v97_n5_p1050_Castelo2023-06-08T14:36:26Z Oviposition behavior in the robber fly Mallaphora ruficauda (Diptera: Asilidae) Asilidae Honey bee predators Oviposition behavior Parasitoids Robber flies fly honeybee host selection oviposition parasitoid pest species South America Western Hemisphere World Apis mellifera Apoidea Argentina (fish) Asilidae Asilidae Coleoptera Diptera Diptera Hexapoda Insecta Mallophora Mallophora ruficauda Scarabaeidae Mallophora ruficauda Wiedemann (Diptera: Asilidae) is a pestiferous robber fly affecting beekeeping in the South American open grasslands. This insect preys upon other insects during its adult stage and parasitizes scarab beetle larva in the soil as larvae. As a first step toward population management, we studied basic reproductive behavioral traits. We investigated the size and fertility of egg clusters and whether females exhibit preferences for oviposition sites. We collected egg clusters close to bee farms in the Argentine grasslands and estimated egg eclosion rates and aggregation. We also measured the height at which clusters were found on both natural vegetation and artificial wire supports. We determined the number of eggs per egg cluster, eclosion rates, and egg developmental time. Egg clusters were usually highly aggregated in the field and were found on elevated places, including the tallest plant species. We discuss height selectivity in robber flies in relation to host availability and robber fly fecundity, as a means of increasing larval dispersa] and hence encountering success with larval hosts. © 2004 Entomological Society of America. 2004 https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_00138746_v97_n5_p1050_Castelo http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_00138746_v97_n5_p1050_Castelo
institution Universidad de Buenos Aires
institution_str I-28
repository_str R-134
collection Biblioteca Digital - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (UBA)
topic Asilidae
Honey bee predators
Oviposition behavior
Parasitoids
Robber flies
fly
honeybee
host selection
oviposition
parasitoid
pest species
South America
Western Hemisphere
World
Apis mellifera
Apoidea
Argentina (fish)
Asilidae
Asilidae
Coleoptera
Diptera
Diptera
Hexapoda
Insecta
Mallophora
Mallophora ruficauda
Scarabaeidae
spellingShingle Asilidae
Honey bee predators
Oviposition behavior
Parasitoids
Robber flies
fly
honeybee
host selection
oviposition
parasitoid
pest species
South America
Western Hemisphere
World
Apis mellifera
Apoidea
Argentina (fish)
Asilidae
Asilidae
Coleoptera
Diptera
Diptera
Hexapoda
Insecta
Mallophora
Mallophora ruficauda
Scarabaeidae
Oviposition behavior in the robber fly Mallaphora ruficauda (Diptera: Asilidae)
topic_facet Asilidae
Honey bee predators
Oviposition behavior
Parasitoids
Robber flies
fly
honeybee
host selection
oviposition
parasitoid
pest species
South America
Western Hemisphere
World
Apis mellifera
Apoidea
Argentina (fish)
Asilidae
Asilidae
Coleoptera
Diptera
Diptera
Hexapoda
Insecta
Mallophora
Mallophora ruficauda
Scarabaeidae
description Mallophora ruficauda Wiedemann (Diptera: Asilidae) is a pestiferous robber fly affecting beekeeping in the South American open grasslands. This insect preys upon other insects during its adult stage and parasitizes scarab beetle larva in the soil as larvae. As a first step toward population management, we studied basic reproductive behavioral traits. We investigated the size and fertility of egg clusters and whether females exhibit preferences for oviposition sites. We collected egg clusters close to bee farms in the Argentine grasslands and estimated egg eclosion rates and aggregation. We also measured the height at which clusters were found on both natural vegetation and artificial wire supports. We determined the number of eggs per egg cluster, eclosion rates, and egg developmental time. Egg clusters were usually highly aggregated in the field and were found on elevated places, including the tallest plant species. We discuss height selectivity in robber flies in relation to host availability and robber fly fecundity, as a means of increasing larval dispersa] and hence encountering success with larval hosts. © 2004 Entomological Society of America.
title Oviposition behavior in the robber fly Mallaphora ruficauda (Diptera: Asilidae)
title_short Oviposition behavior in the robber fly Mallaphora ruficauda (Diptera: Asilidae)
title_full Oviposition behavior in the robber fly Mallaphora ruficauda (Diptera: Asilidae)
title_fullStr Oviposition behavior in the robber fly Mallaphora ruficauda (Diptera: Asilidae)
title_full_unstemmed Oviposition behavior in the robber fly Mallaphora ruficauda (Diptera: Asilidae)
title_sort oviposition behavior in the robber fly mallaphora ruficauda (diptera: asilidae)
publishDate 2004
url https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_00138746_v97_n5_p1050_Castelo
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_00138746_v97_n5_p1050_Castelo
_version_ 1768542720879493120