Off-Shore Fly or Die Holograms for Desert Locust Swarms

A random walk search was conducted on academic papers to find a method for ecological combat of desert locust. Relatedness of papers and concepts were mainly analysed with the core idea of “Fighting Rooster” vs “Desert Locust “ interspecies competition. It was interesting to find a better preator than fighting roosters for locust swarms in the sea. Usage of a technology is required in this theoric approach to modify collective behavior of desert locusts which looks like the achilles heel of swarms.

New taxonomic twists in shore flies as revealed in discovery of Neozealides, a new genus from New Zealand (Diptera: Ephydridae)

We describe Neozealides to accommodate two endemic species from New Zealand that were previously placed in the shore-fly genus Hyadina Haliday. Although similar to Hyadina, both species are more closely related to the Hyadina and Philygria groups of genera (Zatwarnicki & Ryczko 2014) than they are to species within Hyadina. To document these discoveries, we revise both species, placing them in Neozealides. Emphasis is given to structures of the male terminalia, which are fully illustrated. Detailed locality data and distribution maps for both species are provided. For perspective and to facilitate recognition of genera, the tribe Hyadinini is diagnosed and a key to genera from New Zealand is provided.

Revision of the Shore-fly Genera Parahyadina Tonnoir and Malloch and New Zealand Hyadina Haliday (Diptera: Ephydridae)

Two genera of the shore-fly tribe Hyadinini, Hyadina Haliday and Parahyadina Tonnoir & Malloch, are revised, and all species treated, save P. lacustris Tonnoir & Malloch, are described for the first time. The phylogenetic position of both genera within Hyadinini is presented along with confirming, morphological evidence. The New Zealand fauna of Hyadina is now limited to the single new species H. breva, and Parahyadina is expanded from being a monotypic genus based on P. lacustris to also include the following 9 endemic new species: P. angusta, P. atra, P. bifurcata, P. bulla, P. debilis, P. edmistoni, P. hennigi, P. irwini, and P. latistylis. For both genera, emphasis is given to structures of the male terminalia, which are fully illustrated. Detailed locality data and distribution maps for all species are provided, and structures of the male terminalia are fully illustrated. For perspective and to facilitate recognition of genera, the tribe Hyadinini is diagnosed and a key to genera from New Zealand is provided.

Hydrogen Peroxide for Insect and Algae Control in a Lettuce Hydroponic Environment

Insects and algae demonstrate adaptability in hydroponic environments. Algae attract flies, Bradysia spp. (Diptera: Sciaridae) and Scatella stagnalis (Diptera: Ephydridae), called fungus gnats and shore fly, respectively. Flies feed on algae, damaging seedlings radicellae, and may transmit pathogens to lettuce plants. Little information on the management of flies and algae is known. A paradox in the face of the expansion of hydroponics. The objective was to evaluate the potential of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as an insecticide and algaecide agent. Entomopathogenic fungi were also evaluated as an alternative control to flies. The experiment was conducted in a commercial hydroponic system under a randomized complete block design with 5 treatments and 4 replicates. The treatments, sprayed on the phenolic foam plates, immediately after lettuce seed deposition, were: H2O2, Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, Spinosyn and water, as control. The quality of the lettuce seedlings (cv. Brida), the presence of flies and algae evolution in the phenolic foam plates were recorded daily. H2O2 and Spinosyn affected lettuce seed germination, but were able to reduce adult flies on the phenolic foam cells. The highest number of larvae was observed with both fungi, and only water, compared to H2O2. No larvae were found in Spinosyn sprayed phenolic foam cells. However, lettuce seedlings from Spinosyn sprayed plates were those with lower fresh weight. H2O2 severely retained algae infestation in phenolic foam cells over a 15-day observation period. The present work demonstrates the potential that H2O2 can play as an insecticidal and algaecide agent in hydroponic environments.

Catalogue of the Egyptian Ephydroidea (Diptera: Schizophora: Acalyptratae)

We present a catalogue of all known taxa of the superfamily Ephydroidea in Egypt. Old World synonymies, type localities, type depositories, world distributions by biogeographic realm(s) and country, Egyptian localities and dates of collection are provided. A total number of 117 species belonging to 45 genera, 18 tribes, 7 subfamilies, and representing 3 families has been catalogued. The treated families are: Ephydridae (shore flies or brine flies), Drosophilidae (vinegar flies or fruit flies) and Braulidae (bee lice). One shore fly species, Psilopa clara (Wollaston, 1858), is recorded for the first time from Egypt. Two new synonyms of shore flies are proposed, namely: Philotelma ulianai Raffone, 2011 = Ephydra (Ephydra) macellaria Egger, 1862 and Notiphila rufitarsis Macquart, 1851 = Allotrichoma biroi Cresson, 1929. Lectotypes are designated for three shore fly species, namely: Psilopa pectinata Hendel, 1931; Rhynchopsilopa nitidissima Hendel, 1931 and Notiphila rufitarsis Macquart, 1851.