Sturmia convergens

Last updated

Sturmia convergens
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
Family:
Subfamily:
Tribe:
Genus:
Species:
S. convergens
Binomial name
Sturmia convergens
(Wiedemann, 1824) [1]

Sturmia convergens is a species of fly in the family Tachinidae. [2]

It is a parasitoid of the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), as well as Danaus chrysippus and Agrius convolvuli . [3] The wasp species Taeniogonalos raymenti can be reared as a hyperparasite of S. convergens. [4]

Related Research Articles

Danainae Subfamily of butterfly family Nymphalidae

Danainae is a subfamily of the family Nymphalidae, the brush-footed butterflies. It includes the Daniadae, or milkweed butterflies, who lay their eggs on various milkweeds on which their larvae (caterpillars) feed, as well as the clearwing butterflies (Ithomiini), and the tellervini.

Monarch butterfly Milkweed butterfly in the family Nymphalidae

The monarch butterfly or simply monarch is a milkweed butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. Other common names, depending on region, include milkweed, common tiger, wanderer, and black-veined brown. It is often considered to be amongst the most familiar of North American butterflies. It is often considered an iconic pollinator species, although it is not an especially effective pollinator of milkweeds. Its wings feature an easily recognizable black, orange, and white pattern, with a wingspan of 8.9–10.2 cm(3+12–4 in) A Müllerian mimic, the viceroy butterfly, is similar in color and pattern, but is markedly smaller and has an extra black stripe across each hindwing.

Tachinidae Family of insects

The Tachinidae are a large and variable family of true flies within the insect order Diptera, with more than 8,200 known species and many more to be discovered. Over 1,300 species have been described in North America alone. Insects in this family commonly are called tachinid flies or simply tachinids. As far as is known, they all are protelean parasitoids, or occasionally parasites, of arthropods, usually other insects. The family is known from many habitats in all zoogeographical regions and is especially diverse in South America.

Hyperparasite Parasite of another parasite

A hyperparasite, also known as a metaparasite is a parasite whose host, often an insect, is also a parasite, often specifically a parasitoid. Hyperparasites are found mainly among the wasp-waisted Apocrita within the Hymenoptera, and in two other insect orders, the Diptera and Coleoptera (beetles). Seventeen families in Hymenoptera and a few species of Diptera and Coleoptera are hyperparasitic. Hyperparasitism developed from primary parasitism, which evolved in the Jurassic period in the Hymenoptera. Hyperparasitism intrigues entomologists because of its multidisciplinary relationship to evolution, ecology, behavior, biological control, taxonomy, and mathematical models.

<i>Danaus chrysippus</i> Species of butterfly

Danaus chrysippus, also known as the plain tiger, African queen, or African monarch, is a medium-sized butterfly widespread in Asia, Australia and Africa. It belongs to the Danainae subfamily of the brush-footed butterfly family Nymphalidae. Danainae primarily consume plants in the genus Asclepias, more commonly called milkweed. Milkweed contains toxic compounds, cardenolides, which are often consumed and stored by many butterflies. Because of their emetic properties, the plain tiger is unpalatable to most predators. As a result, its coloration is widely mimicked by other species of butterflies. The plain tiger inhabits a wide variety of habitats, although it is less likely to thrive in jungle-like conditions and is most often found in drier, wide-open areas.

<i>Agrius convolvuli</i> Species of moth

Agrius convolvuli, the convolvulus hawk-moth, is a large hawk-moth. It is common throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and New Zealand, partly as a migrant. In New Zealand, it is also known as the kumara moth, and in the Māori language as hīhue.

Insect migration Seasonal movement of insects

Insect migration is the seasonal movement of insects, particularly those by species of dragonflies, beetles, butterflies and moths. The distance can vary with species and in most cases, these movements involve large numbers of individuals. In some cases, the individuals that migrate in one direction may not return and the next generation may instead migrate in the opposite direction. This is a significant difference from bird migration.

<i>Sturmia</i> Genus of flies

Sturmia is a genus of flies in the family Tachinidae.

Ametadoria is a genus of flies in the family Tachinidae.

Voriini Tribe of flies

Voriini is a tribe of flies in the family Tachinidae. More junior homonyms exist of Wagneria than any other animal genus name.

Dexiinae Subfamily of flies

Dexiinae is a subfamily of flies in the family Tachinidae.

Blondeliini Tribe of flies

Blondeliini is a tribe of parasitic flies in the family Tachinidae. Larvae are parasitoids of other insects, mostly beetles and caterpillars. Although nearly cosmopolitan, its greatest diversity is in the New World and especially in South America.

Goniini Tribe of flies

Goniini is a tribe of parasitic flies in the family Tachinidae. Members of Goniini are distinguished from other Tachinidae by laying small "microtype" eggs that hatch only after being ingested by a host.

<i>Danaus erippus</i> Species of butterfly

Danaus erippus, the southern monarch, is a milkweed butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is one of the best known butterflies in South America. Its genome is nearly identical to D. plexippus, but the two are incompatible, and therefore considered separate species.

Lespesia archippivora is a species of tachinid fly, which, like all tachinids, are parasitoids of other arthropods. L. archippivora lives in the body of its host resulting in its death. This is not uncommon since it is estimated that about 10% of all insects are parasitoids. L. archippivora is a generalist and able to infect at least 25 lepidopteran species in addition to one species of Hymenoptera. It is common in North America and other species exist worldwide. One study suggests the species is bivoltine.

Taeniogonalos raymenti is a species of wasp in the family Trigonalidae. It can be reared as a hyperparasite of the fly Sturmia convergens, itself a parasite of the monarch butterfly.

<i>Hemipenthes maura</i> Species of bee fly

Hemipenthes maura is a species of bee fly belonging to the family Bombyliidae.

References

  1. Analecta entomologica ex Museo Reg. Havniensi maxime congesta. CRW Wiedemann, 1824
  2. Mitra, Bulganin; Sharma, R.M. "Checklist Of Indian Tachinid Flies (Insecta: Diptera: Tachinidae)" (PDF). Jabalpur. pp. 1–18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-12-17.
  3. "Agrius convolvuli (convolvulus hawkmoth)". Invasive Species Compendium (ISC). CAB International.
  4. Taeniogonalos raymenti Carmean & Kimsey (Hymenoptera: Trigonalidae) reared as a hyperparasite of Sturmia convergens (Weidemann) (Diptera: Tachinidae), a primary parasite of Danaus plexippus (L.) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Clarke A.R and Zalucki M.P., 2001, Pan-Pacific Entomologist. 77 (?), pages 68–70