Distribution of the introduced parasitic fly Philornis downsi (Diptera, Muscidae) in the Galapagos Islands

2007 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. Wiedenfeld ◽  
Gustavo A. Jiménez U. ◽  
Birgit Fessl ◽  
Sonia Kleindorfer ◽  
Juan Carlos Valarezo
Keyword(s):  
Infection Intensity ◽  
Galapagos Islands ◽  
Parasite Infection ◽  
Control Methods ◽  
Galápagos Islands ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity ◽  
Philornis Downsi ◽  
Nestling Survival ◽  
Survival And Growth ◽  
Altricial Birds

The avifauna of the Galapagos islands is characterized by a small number of endemic species, including the 13 species of Darwin's finches. The introduced fly parasite Philornis downsi reduces nestling survival and growth rate of altricial birds, and can cause mortality and morbidity of the nestlings. We examined the occurrence of Philornis downsi among islands and at different elevations. The parasite was found in nests from 11 of 13 islands sampled. The two islands on which P. downsi was not found were Espa�ola and Genovesa, both arid islands with no humid highlands and distant from the centre of the archipelago. Parasite infection intensity was greater in nests at higher elevations, and on islands that have moist highlands, which may serve as a reservoir for the files. A full understanding of the fly's ecology may permit the development of eradication or control methods, or at least mitigation of its effects on the birds.

scholarly journals Behavior of the Avian Parasite Philornis downsi (Diptera: Muscidae) in and Near Host Nests in the Galapagos Islands

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtney L. Pike ◽  
Ismael E. Ramirez ◽  
David J. Anchundia ◽  
Birgit Fessl ◽  
George E. Heimpel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Mating Behavior ◽  
Galapagos Islands ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Life History Strategies ◽  
Control Methods ◽  
Galápagos Islands ◽  
Nest Cavity ◽  
Philornis Downsi ◽  
And Control

AbstractThe Avian Vampire Fly, Philornis downsi, has invaded the Galapagos Islands, where it causes high mortality of endemic and native landbird species, including most species of Darwin’s finches. Control methods are under development, but key information is missing about the reproductive biology of P. downsi and the behavior of flies in and near nests of their hosts. We used external and internal nest cameras to record the behavior of P. downsi adults within and outside nests of the Galapagos Flycatcher, Myiarchus magnirostris, throughout all stages of the nesting cycle. These recordings showed that P. downsi visited flycatcher nests throughout the day with higher fly activity during the nestling phase during vespertine hours. The observations also revealed that multiple P. downsi individuals can visit nests concurrently, and that there are some interactions among these flies within the nest. Fly visitation to nests occurred significantly more often while parent birds were away from the nest than in the nest, and this timing appears to be a strategy to avoid predation by parent birds. We report fly mating behavior outside the nest but not in the nest cavity. We discuss the relevance of these findings for the adaptive forces shaping P. downsi life history strategies as well as rearing and control measures.

Shifting microbiomes complement life stage transitions and diet of the bird parasite Philornis downsi from the Galapagos Islands

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Polpass Arul Jose ◽  
Michael Ben‐Yosef ◽  
Paola Lahuatte ◽  
Charlotte E. Causton ◽  
George E. Heimpel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Stage ◽  
Galapagos Islands ◽  
Galápagos Islands ◽  
Philornis Downsi ◽  
Bird Parasite

Host selection and parasite infection in Aedes taeniorhynchus, endemic disease vector in the Galápagos Islands

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 1831-1841 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnaud Bataille ◽  
Guillaume Fournié ◽  
Marilyn Cruz ◽  
Virna Cedeño ◽  
Patricia G. Parker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Host Selection ◽  
Galapagos Islands ◽  
Parasite Infection ◽  
Galápagos Islands ◽  
Endemic Disease ◽  
Disease Vector ◽  
Aedes Taeniorhynchus

scholarly journals Trypanosomatids Detected in the Invasive Avian Parasite Philornis downsi (Diptera: Muscidae) in the Galapagos Islands

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 422
Author(s):  
Courtney L. Pike ◽  
María Piedad Lincango ◽  
Charlotte E. Causton ◽  
Patricia G. Parker
Keyword(s):  
First Record ◽  
Galapagos Islands ◽  
Molecular Methods ◽  
Insect Species ◽  
Galápagos Islands ◽  
Suitable Host ◽  
Direct Damage ◽  
Endemic Birds ◽  
Philornis Downsi ◽  
Alien Insect

Alien insect species may present a multifaceted threat to ecosystems into which they are introduced. In addition to the direct damage they may cause, they may also bring novel diseases and parasites and/or have the capacity to vector microorganisms that are already established in the ecosystem and are causing harm. Damage caused by ectoparasitic larvae of the invasive fly, Philornis downsi (Dodge and Aitken) to nestlings of endemic birds in the Galapagos Islands is well documented, but nothing is known about whether this fly is itself associated with parasites or pathogens. In this study, diagnostic molecular methods indicated the presence of insect trypanosomatids in P. downsi; to our knowledge, this is the first record of insect trypanosomatids associated with Philornis species. Phylogenetic estimates and evolutionary distances indicate these species are most closely related to the Crithidia and Blastocrithidia genera, which are not currently reported in the Galapagos Islands. The prevalence of trypanosomatids indicates either P. downsi arrived with its own parasites or that it is a highly suitable host for trypanosomatids already found in the Galapagos Islands, or both. We recommend further studies to determine the origin of the trypanosomatid infections to better evaluate threats to endemic fauna of the Galapagos Islands.

Philornis downsi (Diptera: Muscidae), an Avian Nest Parasite Invasive to the Galapagos Islands, in Mainland Ecuador

2015 ◽  
Vol 108 (3) ◽  
pp. 242-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Bulgarella ◽  
M. A. Quiroga ◽  
G. A. Brito vera ◽  
J. S. Dregni ◽  
F. Cunninghame ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Galapagos Islands ◽  
Galápagos Islands ◽  
Philornis Downsi ◽  
Avian Nest ◽  
Nest Parasite

scholarly journals Population dynamics of an invasive bird parasite, Philornis downsi (Diptera: Muscidae), in the Galapagos Islands

PLoS ONE ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. e0224125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte E. Causton ◽  
Roger D. Moon ◽  
Arno Cimadom ◽  
Rebecca A. Boulton ◽  
Daniel Cedeño ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Galapagos Islands ◽  
Galápagos Islands ◽  
Philornis Downsi ◽  
Bird Parasite
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