The possible role of haematophagous flies in the incidence of bovine teat papillomatosis.

The relationship between the incidence of bovine teat papillomatosis and the activity of haematophagous flies was investigated in Japan. A total of 15,737 flies consisting of 33 species were collected by dry ice-baited mosquito net (DMN) trap and a sweep net from udders of cattle. Simulium aokii (Takahasi) of Simuliidae (black flies) was the predominant species, followed by S. tobetsuense Ono and S. iwatense (Shiraki). Simulium aokii had the highest peak in October, followed by September. Numbers of blood spots from the bites per teat in nulliparous cattle were significantly correlated with numbers of S. aokii collected by DMN trap. Numbers of teats with warts and spots of blood from the bites per teat were significantly more abundant in anterior teats than posterior teats. The average incidence of teat papillomatosis in nulliparous cattle was significantly higher than that in parous cattle, and the highest incidence by month was in May, followed by April. Although bovine papillomavirus (BPV) DNA was not detected in flies examined, the presence of black flies and blood spots from their bites were associated with subsequent high incidence of growing warts. In particular, it would pay to give attention to species such as S. aokii that severely attack udders in the present locality. Further investigations for the detection of BPV DNA from flies parasitizing on teats are needed.

Fauna of flies (Diptera) on bones and emergence succession: Forensic implications in skeletal remains.

Fauna of flies on pig carcasses and bones and their emergence succession were investigated in Hokkaido, Japan. A total of 55,937 flies consisting 23 identified species in 16 families was collected from emergence traps after removal of carcasses and emergence containers containing bones. In emergence traps, Lucilia caesar (Linnaeus) emerged earliest, followed by Hydrotaea ignava (Harris). Piophilid flies emerged 22-25 days later than L. caesar, and their emergence periods were prolonged. In emergent flies from bones, Piophilidae was the dominant family, comprising five species; Stearibia nigriceps (Meigen) was the most abundant, followed by Liopiophila varipes (Meigen) and Protopiophila latipes (Meigen). Stearibia nigriceps and L. varipes remarkably dominated in summer bones and overwintering spring bones, respectively. Piophilids emerged from all 11 types of bones; the thoracic spine significantly yielded the most numerous individuals in S. nigriceps. The developmental duration of larvae of S. nigriceps in bones was estimated to be 12-34 days after placement of carcasses in summer. Observations of overwintering bones showed that L. varipes and Centrophlebomyia grunini (Ozerov) overwintered in larvae inside of bones. The importance of examining piophilid larvae in bones and their potential forensic usefulness are discussed.

Three new species and six new records of Scathophagidae (Diptera) from Japan, with a key to the Japanese genera.

Twelve species in eight genera of Japanese Scathophagidae are reviewed. Of them, three species, namely Acerocnema incisa sp. nov., Gimnomera torikurai sp. nov., and Megaphthalmoides vittatus sp. nov., are described as new to science. The first two species were swept from communities of Corydalis flowers blooming in early spring. Six species in six genera are recorded from Japan for the first time: Chaetosa punctipes (Meigen), Cleigastra tibiella (Zetterstedt), Megaphthalma pallida (Fallén), Megaphthalmoides unilineatus (Zetterstedt), Microprosopa haemorrhoidalis (Meigen), and Spaziphora tomkovichi Ozerov. The genera Gimnomera, Chaetosa and Spaziphora are new records, and now a total of 13 genera are known to occur in Japan. A key to the Japanese genera is also provided, as well as keys to species of of Acerocnema and Megaphthalmoides.

Entomological approach to the impact of ionophore-feed additives on greenhouse gas emissions from pasture land in cattle.

The suppressive effect of monensin as an ionophore-feed additive on enteric methane (CH4) emission and renewable methanogenesis were evaluated. To clarify the suppressive effect of monensin a respiratory trial with head cage was performed using Holstein-Friesian steers. Steers were offered high concentrate diets (80% concentrate and 20% hay) ad libitum with or without monensin, galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) or L-cysteine. Steers that received monensin containing diet had significantly (p < 0.01) lower enteric CH4 emissions as well as those that received GOS containing diet (p < 0.05) compared to steers fed control diets. Thermophilic digesters at 55°C that received manure from steers fed on monensin diets had a delay in the initial CH4 production. Monensin is a strong inhibitor of enteric methanogenesis, but has a negative impact on biogas energy production at short retention times. Effects of the activity of coprophagous insects on CH4 and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from cattle dung pats were assessed in anaerobic in vitro continuous gas quantification system modified to aerobic quantification device. The CH4 emission from dungs with adults of Caccobius jessoensis Harold (dung beetle) and the larvae of the fly Neomyia cornicina (Fabricius) were compared with that from control dung without insect. The cumulative CH4 emission rate from dung with dung insects decreased at 42.2% in dung beetles and 77.8% in fly larvae compared to that from control dung without insects. However, the cumulative N2O emission rate increased 23.4% in dung beetles even though it reduced 88.6% in fly larvae compared to dung without coprophagous insects. It was suggested that the antibacterial efficacy of ionophores supplemented as a growth promoter still continued even in the digested slurry, consequently, possible environmental contamination with the antibiotics might be active to put the negative impact to land ecosystem involved in greenhouse gas mitigation when the digested slurry was applied to the fields as liquid manure.

Radiocesium concentrations in invertebrates and their environmental media at two distances from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant during 3-6 years after the 2011 accident.

Activity concentrations of the radioactive cesium (134Cs and 137Cs) were investigated in invertebrates at two sites of moderately high and higher air radiation dose rates, 14 km and 11 km distances, respectively, from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) from 2013 to 2016. At a14-km point, the 134+137Cs concentrations of soils in coniferous and broadleaf forests increased from 2013 to 2014, and thereafter declined until 2016. The 134+137Cs concentrations of the phytophagous beetle Anomala cuprea (Hope) rapidly decreased by 76.1% from 2013 to 2014, reflecting reduction in those of broadleaves. The 134+137Cs concentration levels of the carnivorous beetle Dolichus halensis (Schaller) showed a relatively low levels. The 137Cs concentrations of the necrophagous beetle Eusilpha japonica (Motshulsky) and coprophagous beetle Onthophagus lenzii (Harold) remained constant without reduction from 2013 to 2016. Average 134+137Cs concentrations throughout four years were the highest in the geophagous crustacean (Armadillidium vulgare Latreille), followed by necrophagous beetle and coprophagus beetle. The 134+137Cs concentrations in earthworms with gut contents were significantly correlated with those in soils at each habitat from 2014 to 2015 at a14-km point, and the concentration levels at an 11-km point in 2015 were remarkably high (898 kBq kg-1). Transfer factors (TFs) in earthworms ranged from 1.02 to 2.66 at a 14-km point and 0.66 to 5.0 at an11-km point. The transfer and chronological changes of radiocesium in invertebrates were discussed in relation to food habits through trophic levels in woodlands and pasturelands.

Contribution to the knowledge of the Japanese Milichiidae (Diptera), with descriptions of two new species.

The Japanese Milichiidae are taxonomically revised with four newly recorded genera (Milichia, Madiza, Neophyllomyza, and Leptometopa). Two new species of Milichia and Neophyllomyza are described: Milichia yafusoae sp. nov. was discovered on guano of the Southeast Asian long-fingered bat (Mineopterus fuscus Bonhote) in a limestone cave of Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Archipelago; Neophyllomyza nishidai sp. nov. was collected from flowers of Aristolochia debilis Siebold et Zucc. (Aristolochiacea) which have trap-and-release mechanisms for using flies as pollinators in Honshu. Two species, Leptometopa latipes (Meigen) and Madiza glabra (Fallén), are recorded from Japan for the first time. Bionomic remarks for each species and a key to the genera and species of the Japanese Milichiidae are also provided.

Effects of the Activity of Coprophagous Insects on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Cattle Dung Pats and Changes in Amounts of Nitrogen, Carbon, and Energy.

Effects of coprophagous insects on greenhouse gas emissions from cattle dung pats were investigated during the initial stage in the decomposition of dung, with accompanying changes in nitrogen, carbon, and energy content. We set up three treatments with adults of Caccobius jessoensis Harold (dung beetle) and larvae of the fly Neomyia cornicina (F.): 1) dung with dung beetles; 2) dung with fly larvae; and 3) dung without insects. In these treatments, the gas flux was measured from air flow exiting the glass containers connected with an in vitro continuous gas analysis system. Total gas fluxes from dung pats with fly larvae were lowest in carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). The presence of dung beetles significantly increased CO2 flux from dung, but reduced CH4 flux compared with dung without insects. Fluxes of N2O from dung pats with dung beetles and without insects had distinct peaks at different times after the start of the experiment, while N2O from dung with fly larvae was emitted in extremely low levels throughout the experiment. Carbon (C) content in dung with beetles was significantly lower than that of untreated dung pats designated as fresh dung, whereas that of dung with fly larvae was higher than dung with beetles and without insects. Nitrogen (N) content was significantly lower in dung with fly larvae than the other treatments. Contents of C and N in fly pupae were 35.87 and 8.05%, respectively. During the larval growth of the fly, energy accumulated in the fly body was 2,830 J/g.

Discovery of a bird-parasitic fly, Carnus orientalis (Diptera: Carnidae), in Japan, with bionomic remarks and a key to Carnus species.

A bird-parasitic fly, Carnus orientalis Maa, 1968, is recorded for the first time from Japan, and it is taxonomically reexamined on the basis of specimens collected in Okinawa Prefecture. Adult flies were found from nestlings of Ryukyu scops owl (Otus elegans Cassin, 1852), which is a new host for C. orientalis. Bionomic remarks regarding C. orientalis are presented, and akey to the world species of Carnus is also provided.

Contribution to the knowledge of the Hippoboscidae (Diptera) from the Republic of Korea.

Eight species of Hippoboscidae from 13 bird hosts are reported from the Republic of Korea (ROK). A new species of the genus Crataerina von Olfers with reduced wings is described, and it was collected from a Pacific Swift (Apus pacificus Latham; Apodiformes, Apodidae). Icostafenestella Maa is recorded for the first time from the ROK. Ornithoica tridens Maa is synonymized with O. momiyamai Kishida. Turdus chrysolaus Temminck and Zoothera (=Turdus) sibirica (Pallas) are recorded as new birds host for I. fenestella and O. unicolor Speiser, respectively. Morphological identification keys are also presented for the species of the genus Crataerina in the Palaearctic region, and for the species of the Hippoboscidae in the ROK.