Description of the larval instars of Lixadmontia franki (Diptera: Tachinidae)
Keywords:
larval development, Cyclorrhapha, Metamasius, parasitoidsAbstract
We describe the larval stages of Lixadmontia franki Wood & Cave (Diptera: Tachinidae). The fly is a specialist parasitoid of bromeliad-eating weevils and a potential biological control agent for controlling an invasive bromeliad-eating weevil, Metamasius callizona (Chevrolat) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in Florida. Morphological characteristics that can be used to distinguish the instars of L. franki, including the mouth hook and cephalopharyngeal skeleton, body size and color, spinulae patterns, and presence and structure of spiracles, are described, measured, and illustrated. Fly larvae live in the host’s body cavity and attach their caudal end to the host’s tracheal tubes. The first instar builds a respiratory funnel and the second instar remains attached to the same point and builds upon the funnel. The third instar does not build upon the respiratory funnel. The third instar disconnects from the respiratory funnel shortly before exiting the host. First and second instars are metapneustic, but the third instar is amphipneustic.
Se describen los estadios larvales de Lixadmontia franki Wood y Cave (Diptera: Tachinidae). La mosca es un parasitoide especialista en picudos que atacan a las bromélias y un agente potencial de control biológico para controlar un picudo invasivo, Metamasius callizona (Chevrolat) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), en Florida. Se describen, miden e ilustran las características morfológicas que se pueden usar para distinguir los estadios de L. franki, incluyendo el gancho bucal y el esqueleto cefalofaríngeo, el tamaño y color del cuerpo, el patrón de espinitas y la presencia y estructura de los espiráculos. Las larvas de la mosca viven en la cavidad corporal del hospedero y se sujetan su ápice caudal a los tubos traqueales del hospedero. El primer estadio construye un túbulo respiratorio y el segundo estadio se queda sujetada al mismo punto y aumenta el túbulo. El tercer estadio no aumenta el túbulo respiratorio. El tercer estadio desconecta del túbulo respiratorio poco antes de salir del hospedero. Los primeros dos estadios son metanéusticos, pero el tercer estadio es anfinéustico.
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