Feeding Specialization of Flies (Diptera: Richardiidae) in Aroid Infructescences (Araceae) of the Neotropics
Por:
Amancio, Guadalupe, Hernandez-Ortiz, Vicente, Aguirre-Jaimes, Armando, Guevara, Roger, Quesada, Mauricio
Publicada:
24 jun 2019
Resumen:
Evolution and radiation between insects and flowering plants are both
opportunistic and obligatory when the former feeds on the reproductive
structures of the latter, whereas direct and indirect effects can
influence the fitness of individuals, populations, and plant
communities. The Araceae family constitutes an important element of the
tropical rainforest of the Neotropics, and its morphology and floral
biology provide a remarkable system for studying trophic interactions
with insects, including the Richardiidae flies (Diptera). We studied the
trophic interactions of the aroid-fly system, assessing infestation
rates under natural conditions over an annual cycle. In the Neotropical
region, we discovered for the first time that seven aroid species became
infested by four richardiid species: Beebeomyia tuxtlaensis
Hernandez-Ortiz and Aguirre with Dieffenbachia oerstedii Schott and D.
wendlandii Schott; B. palposa (Cresson) with Xanthosoma robustum Schott;
Beebeomyia sp. 3. in association with Philodendron radiatum Schott, P.
tripartitum (Jacq.) Schott, and P. sagittifolium Liebm.; while Sepsisoma
sp. only infested Rhodospatha wendlandii Schott. Infestation rates
differed significantly among hosts, but comparisons with morphological
traits did not provide evidence of a causal factor of the infestation.
In contrast, larval density and time of development both exhibited
significant differences between hosts. The findings suggest the high
specialization of the flies, and that intrinsic factors of the plants,
such as the presence of secondary metabolites and their maturation
periods, may influence their infestation rates.
Filiaciones:
Amancio, Guadalupe:
Inst Ecol AC, Red Interacc Multitrof, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
Red de Interacciones Multitróficas, Instituto de Ecología AC, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
Hernandez-Ortiz, Vicente:
Inst Ecol AC, Red Interacc Multitrof, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
Red de Interacciones Multitróficas, Instituto de Ecología AC, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
Aguirre-Jaimes, Armando:
Inst Ecol AC, Red Interacc Multitrof, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
Red de Interacciones Multitróficas, Instituto de Ecología AC, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
Guevara, Roger:
Inst Ecol AC, Red Biol Evolutiva, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
Red de Biología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología AC, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
Quesada, Mauricio:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Escuela Nacl Estudios Super, Unidad Morelia, Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico
Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores Unidad Morelia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia, Mexico
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