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Arthropods, 2013, 2(1): 1-6
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First record of Megaselia scalaris (Loew) (Diptera: Phoridae) infesting laboratory stocks of mantids (Parastagmatoptera tessellata, Saussure)

N. Mongiardino Koch, P. Fontanarrosa, J. Padro, I. M. Soto
Instituto de Ecologia, Genetica y Evolucion de Buenos Aires (IEGEBA-CONICET), Departamento de Ecologia, Genetica y Evolucin. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellon II (C1428 EHA), Buenos Aires, Argentina

Received 16 November 2012;Accepted 18 December 2012;Published online 1 March 2013
IAEES

Abstract
We report the first record of Megaselia scalaris (Loew) infesting laboratory stocks of the praying mantis (Parastagmatoptera tessellata, Saussure). M. scalaris, the scuttle fly, is a cosmopolitan species with a broad niche as it performs as detritivore, facultative parasite, and parasitoid. M. scalaris larvae were found feeding inside adult mantids and, when development was completed, pupae were found inside the abdominal cavity and around the body. We discuss the presence of colonies of crickets bred as prey for the mantids as a facilitator of M. scalaris infestation.

Keywords scuttle fly;mantid;opportunistic parasitoid;cricket;laboratory rearing.

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