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Title: FIRST REPORT OF COENOSIA ATTENUATA STEIN (DIPTERA: MUSCIDAE), AN OLD WORLD 'HUNTER FLY,' IN NORTH AMERICA

Author
item HOEBEKE, E - CORNELL UNIVERSITY
item SENSENBACH, EMILY - CORNELL UNIVERSITY
item SANDERSON, JOHN - CORNELL UNIVERSITY
item Wraight, Stephen

Submitted to: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/8/2003
Publication Date: 6/17/2003
Citation: HOEBEKE, E.R., SENSENBACH, E.J., SANDERSON, J.P., WRAIGHT, S.P. FIRST REPORT OF COENOSIA ATTENUATA STEIN (DIPTERA: MUSCIDAE), AN OLD WORLD 'HUNTER FLY,' IN NORTH AMERICA. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON. 2003. v. 105. p. 769-775.

Interpretive Summary: European researchers have identified the old-world hunter fly, Coenosia attenuata, as an important predator of many flying insect pests of greenhouse crops, including fungus gnats, shoreflies, whiteflies, and leaf miners, and initial studies in Europe have indicated biological control potential. This paper represents the first report of this fly in North America. Active adult flies were collected from commercial greenhouses in Onondaga County, New York and dead specimens were collected from sticky traps placed in commercial greenhouses in Erie, Monroe, Onondaga, Suffolk, Tompkins, and Wayne Counties of New York State and Ontario Province, Canada, and from an outdoor Malaise trap set in Los Angeles County, California. We hypothesize that this fly was accidentally introduced into North America via potted plant materials (especially potting media). A diagnosis, redescription, and photographs of an adult male and female are provided to help distinguish it from other North American Muscidae. These observations indicate that this beneficial predatory insect is capable of becoming established in many North American greenhouse production systems and suggest that its populations might be manipulated for biological control of greenhouse pests. This report is expected to stimulate biocontrol research on this predator and promote awareness of this insect among greenhouse growers, scouts and extension agents.

Technical Abstract: The Palearctic muscid Coenosia attenuata Stein is reported for the first time in North America based on collections from the U.S.A. and Canada. Adult flies were collected form commercial greenhouses in Erie, Monroe, Onondaga, Suffolk, Tompkins, and Wayne counties of New York State and Ontario Province, Canada, and from a Malaise trap in a suburban backyard of Los Angeles County, California. A diagnosis, redescription, and photographs of the adult are provided to help distinguish it from other North American Muscidae. Its biology and habits are summarized from the European literature, and its Old World distribution is reviewed.