Use of Plant Resources by Merosargus (Diptera, Stratiomyidae, Sarginae) Larvae
The genus Merosargus (Loew) has 142 described species. This great diversity in the genus could be explained by larvae resource-use specialization. However, information on larval habitats is still very scarce. In Merosargus species, adult males defend oviposition sites, and this territorial behavior...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2012-01-01
|
| Series: | Psyche: A Journal of Entomology |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/690203 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832557044325941248 |
|---|---|
| author | Julio C. R. Fontenelle Flávia E. C. Viana-Silva Rogério P. Martins |
| author_facet | Julio C. R. Fontenelle Flávia E. C. Viana-Silva Rogério P. Martins |
| author_sort | Julio C. R. Fontenelle |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The genus Merosargus (Loew) has 142 described species. This great diversity in the genus could be explained by larvae resource-use specialization. However, information on larval habitats is still very scarce. In Merosargus species, adult males defend oviposition sites, and this territorial behavior may lead to interspecific competition and make even more important the specialization and niche partitioning to prevent competitive exclusion. This study identified substrate types used as a resource by Merosargus larvae and investigated the degree of specialization and overlap in resource use by different species at an Atlantic forest remnant in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Every potential resource, especially those with adults in the vicinity, was collected opportunistically from October 2001 to October 2004. In total, 292 individuals from 12 Merosargus species collected from 21 resource types and 15 plant species were reared in the laboratory. Plant species included herbs, vines, palms, and trees. Six Merosargus species were reared from only one resource type, and each resource type was used, on average, by less than two Merosargus species. Thus, Merosargus species exhibited a high degree of specialization and small overlap in larval resource selection, which could explain the high local and global diversity of the genus. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a4393e4be3804455b5e707859e5438ba |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0033-2615 1687-7438 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Psyche: A Journal of Entomology |
| spelling | doaj-art-a4393e4be3804455b5e707859e5438ba2025-02-03T05:43:50ZengWileyPsyche: A Journal of Entomology0033-26151687-74382012-01-01201210.1155/2012/690203690203Use of Plant Resources by Merosargus (Diptera, Stratiomyidae, Sarginae) LarvaeJulio C. R. Fontenelle0Flávia E. C. Viana-Silva1Rogério P. Martins2Laboratório de Pesquisas Ambientais, Coordenadoria de Meio Ambiente, Instituto Federal Minas Gerais (IFMG), Ouro Preto, MG 35400-000, BrazilConservação e Manejo da Vida Silvestre, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilDepartamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Fortaleza, CE, BrazilThe genus Merosargus (Loew) has 142 described species. This great diversity in the genus could be explained by larvae resource-use specialization. However, information on larval habitats is still very scarce. In Merosargus species, adult males defend oviposition sites, and this territorial behavior may lead to interspecific competition and make even more important the specialization and niche partitioning to prevent competitive exclusion. This study identified substrate types used as a resource by Merosargus larvae and investigated the degree of specialization and overlap in resource use by different species at an Atlantic forest remnant in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Every potential resource, especially those with adults in the vicinity, was collected opportunistically from October 2001 to October 2004. In total, 292 individuals from 12 Merosargus species collected from 21 resource types and 15 plant species were reared in the laboratory. Plant species included herbs, vines, palms, and trees. Six Merosargus species were reared from only one resource type, and each resource type was used, on average, by less than two Merosargus species. Thus, Merosargus species exhibited a high degree of specialization and small overlap in larval resource selection, which could explain the high local and global diversity of the genus.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/690203 |
| spellingShingle | Julio C. R. Fontenelle Flávia E. C. Viana-Silva Rogério P. Martins Use of Plant Resources by Merosargus (Diptera, Stratiomyidae, Sarginae) Larvae Psyche: A Journal of Entomology |
| title | Use of Plant Resources by Merosargus (Diptera, Stratiomyidae, Sarginae) Larvae |
| title_full | Use of Plant Resources by Merosargus (Diptera, Stratiomyidae, Sarginae) Larvae |
| title_fullStr | Use of Plant Resources by Merosargus (Diptera, Stratiomyidae, Sarginae) Larvae |
| title_full_unstemmed | Use of Plant Resources by Merosargus (Diptera, Stratiomyidae, Sarginae) Larvae |
| title_short | Use of Plant Resources by Merosargus (Diptera, Stratiomyidae, Sarginae) Larvae |
| title_sort | use of plant resources by merosargus diptera stratiomyidae sarginae larvae |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/690203 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT juliocrfontenelle useofplantresourcesbymerosargusdipterastratiomyidaesarginaelarvae AT flaviaecvianasilva useofplantresourcesbymerosargusdipterastratiomyidaesarginaelarvae AT rogeriopmartins useofplantresourcesbymerosargusdipterastratiomyidaesarginaelarvae |