Philornis downsi

Philornis downsi, also known as the avian vampire fly,[2] is a species of fly (Diptera, Muscidae) that was first recorded in Trinidad and Brazil in the 1990s.[3] It has been accidentally introduced to the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador). Adults of P. downsi feed on fruit. Eggs are laid in bird nests and hatch into parasitic larvae that reside in the nest material and emerge at night to feed both internally and externally on the blood and flesh of developing nestlings.[4] The parasite causes significant mortality in Darwin's finch nestlings and threatens the survival of some rarer species such as the mangrove finch (Camarhynchus heliobates) and the medium tree finch (C. pauper).[5][6][7][8] To protect the threatened finch populations, insecticide-laced cotton has been supplied as nesting material for the finches, with the results being highly successful in combating P. downsi infestations at a localized scale.[9] Currently, Biological pest control agents, including Conura annulifera, are being investigated for their potential safety and efficacy in eradicating P. downsi on the Galapagos Islands. [10]

Philornis downsi
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Muscidae
Genus: Philornis
Species:
P. downsi
Binomial name
Philornis downsi
Dodge & Aitken, 1968[1]
Synonyms
  • Neomusca downsi Dodge & Aitken, 1968[1]

References
  1. Dodge, H. Rodney; Aitken, Thomas H. G. (1968). "Philornis Flies from Trinidad (Diptera: Muscidae)". Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society. Kansas (Central States) Entomological Society. 41 (1): 134–154. JSTOR 25083688.
  2. Romine, Melia; Knutie, Sarah A.; Crow, Carly M.; Vaziri, Grace J.; Chaves, Jaime; Koop, Jennifer A. H.; Lamichhaney, Sangeet (2021-06-12). "The genome sequence of the avian vampire fly (Philornis downsi), an invasive nest parasite of Darwin's finches in Galápagos". bioRxiv: 2021.06.09.447800. doi:10.1101/2021.06.09.447800.
  3. Dudaniec RY, Fessl B & Kleindorfer S. (2007) Interannual and interspecific variation on intensity of the parasitic fly, Philornis downsi, in Darwin's finches. Biological Conservation, 139, 325-332.
  4. O’Connor JA, Dudaniec RY, Kleindorfer S (2010) Parasite infestation in Galapagos birds: contrasting two elevational habitats between islands. Journal of Tropical Ecology. 26: 285-292. doi:10.1017/S0266467409990678
  5. O’Connor JA, Sulloway FJ, Robertson J, Kleindorfer S (2010) Philornis downsi parasitism is the primary cause of nestling mortality in the critically endangered Darwin’s medium tree finch (Camarhynchus pauper). Biodiversity and Conservation. 19:853-866. doi:10.1007/s10531-009-9740-1
  6. Dudaniec, R. Y.; Gardner, M. G.; Donellan, S.; Kleindorfer, S. (2008). "Genetic variation in the invasive avian parasite, Philornis downsi (Diptera, Muscidae) on the Galápagos archipelago". BMC Ecology. 8: 13. doi:10.1186/1472-6785-8-13. PMC 2527555. PMID 18671861.
  7. Dudaniec, R. Y.; Hallas, G.; Kleindorfer, S. (2005). "Blood and intestinal parasitism in Darwin's finches: negative and positive findings". Acta Zoologica Sinica. 51: 507–512.
  8. Dudaniec, R. Y.; Kleindorfer (2006). "The effects of the parasitic flies Philornis (Diptera, Muscidae) on birds". Emu. 106: 13–20. doi:10.1071/mu04040.
  9. "Darwin's Finches, Threatened by Blood-Sucking Maggots, Get a Helping Hand". Nature World News. 2014-05-05. Retrieved 2016-05-24.
  10. Bulgarella, Mariana; Quiroga, Martín A.; Boulton, Rebecca A.; Ramírez, Ismael E.; Moon, Roger D.; Causton, Charlotte E.; Heimpel, George E. (17 February 2017). "Life Cycle and Host Specificity of the Parasitoid Conura annulifera (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae), a Potential Biological Control Agent of Philornis downsi (Diptera: Muscidae) in the Galápagos Islands". Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 110 (3): 317–328. doi:10.1093/aesa/saw102. eISSN 1938-2901. ISSN 0013-8746.

Further reading
  • Dudaniec R Y, Kleindorfer S & Fessl B (2006) Effects of the introduced ectoparasite Philornis downsi on haemoglobin level and nestling survival in Darwin's small ground finch (Geospiza fuliginosa). Austral Ecology, 31, 88–94.
  • Fessl B, Couri M. & Tebbich S. (2001) Philornis downsi Dodge & Aitken, new to the Galápagos Islands, (Diptera, Muscidae). Studia Dipterologica, 8, 317–322.
  • Fessl B, Kleindorfer S & Tebbich S. (2006a) An experimental study on the effects of an introduced parasite in Darwin's finches. Biological Conservation, 127, 55–61.
  • Fessl B, Sinclair BJ & Kleindorfer S (2006b) The life cycle of Philornis downsi (Diptera: Muscidae) parasitizing Darwin's finches and its impacts on nestling survival. Parasitology, 133, 739–747.
  • Huber S K (2008) Effects of the introduced parasite Philornis downsi on nestling growth and mortality in the medium ground finch (Geospiza fortis). Biological Conservation, 141, 601–609.
  • Huber SK, Owen JP, Koop, JAH, King MO, Grant PR, Grant BR, Clayton DH (2010) Ecoimmunity in Darwin's Finches: Invasive Parasites Trigger Acquired Immunity in the Medium Ground Finch (Geospiza fortis). PLoS One. 5(1):e8605
  • O'Connor JA, Robertson, J, & Kleindorfer, S (2010) Video analysis of host-parasite interactions in Darwin's finch nests. Oryx, 44, 588–594.

Global Invasive Species Database: Philornis downsi


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