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Systematics and ecology of the Nearctic species of Neophyllomyza (Diptera: Milichiidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 April 2012

Kristen Brochu  and
Terry A. Wheeler
Kristen Brochu
Affiliation:
Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Macdonald Campus, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada H9X 3V9
Terry A. Wheeler*
Affiliation:
Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Macdonald Campus, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada H9X 3V9
*
1Corresponding author (e-mail: terry.wheeler@mcgill.ca).
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Abstract

The Nearctic species of Neophyllomyza Melander are revised and descriptions, illustrations, and an identification key are provided for the two included species, N. quadricornis Melander and N. gaultin. sp. Large numbers of adults of both species were collected in emergence traps on decaying logs of sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh. (Aceraceae)) and American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh. (Fagaceae)) in eastern Canada, indicating that the larvae of both species are saproxylic, although their exact food source is unknown. Although the two species are sympatric over much of their range and apparently use the same resources for larval development, their habits differ: N. quadricornis was collected from logs in both the early- and the advanced-decay stage from late May until September, with a peak of emergence in late June, whereas N. gaulti was reared almost exclusively from logs in the advanced-decay stage and from mid-July to mid-August. This suggests that N. gaulti is more specialized in its larval habits, which may reduce competition between the two species.

Résumé

Nous révisons les espèces néarctiques de Neophyllomyza Melander et présentons des descriptions, des illustrations et une clef d’identification des deux espèces connues, N. quadricornis Melander et N. gaultin. sp. Des pièges d’émergence sur des troncs en décomposition d’érable à sucre (Acer saccharum Marsh. (Aceraceae)) et de hêtre à grandes feuilles (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh. (Fagaceae)) dans l’est du Canada ont récolté de grands nombres d’adultes des deux espèces, ce qui indique que les larves des deux espèces sont saproxyliques, quoique leur source exacte de nourriture reste inconnue. Bien que les deux espèces soient sympatriques sur une grande partie de leur aire de répartition et qu’elles utilisent apparemment les mêmes sources de nourriture pour leur développement larvaire, leurs habitudes sont différentes: N. quadricornis se retrouve dans les troncs en état précoce et avancé de décomposition de la fin de mai jusqu’en septembre, avec un maximum d’émergence en fin de juin, alors que N. gaulti provient presque exclusivement de troncs en état avancé de décomposition de la mi-juillet à la mi-août. Cela laisse croire que N. gaulti possède des habitudes larvaires plus spécialisées, ce qui pourrait réduire la compétition entre les deux espèces.

[Traduit par la Rédaction]

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 141 , Issue 2 , April 2009 , pp. 103 - 111
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 2009

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