Sepedon (Parasepedon) ruficeps : Becker 1923
Creators: name: Gbedjissi, Ghélus Louis
name: Vala, Jean-Claude
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2014
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Diptera
Sciomyzidae
Sepedon
Sepedon ruficeps

description: Sepedon (Parasepedon) ruficeps Becker, 1923
Sepedon ruficeps: Becker 1923: 71
Sepedon (Parasepedon) adamsi Steyskal in Steyskal & Verbeke 1956 (South Yemen): 3; Verbeke 1963: 59 (synonymy).
Sepedon (Parasepedon) spectabilis Frey, 1958: 59 (Cape Verde Is); Verbeke 1963: 59 (synonymy).
Type specimens: ♂ ♀ in good condition (Naturhistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria); reviewed by Verbeke (1963).
Systematic aspects, distribution and biology of Sepedon ruficeps
Verbeke (1963) rectified two of his previous identifications: a species cited in 1950 as S. scapularis Adams, 1903, and a species cited in 1961 as S. neavei Steyskal, 1956, were in reality S. ruficeps. However, S. scapularis and S. neavei are indeed two valid species among Afrotropical sciomyzids. During a recent review of the Afrotropical fauna on the basis of material located in Belgian museums, we examined these specimens studied by Verbeke – adults and microscopic preparations of genitalia – and share his conclusions.
The Afrotropical Sepedon species are 52.5% of the species described globally. Since many are distinct in respect of some cryptic characters, Verbeke (1950, 1961) proposed classification of species into nine groups, mainly based on the male postabdomen. S. ruficeps is at present included in his senegalensis group. Steyskal (1973) proposed the inclusion together in a single “ Sepedon Group” of all allied genera known in the world: Sepedonea Steyskal, 1973, Sepedomerus Steyskal, 1973, Thecomyia Perty, 1833, Sepedonella Verbeke, Sepedoninus Verbeke, and Sepedon s. str. Latreille, 1804 (including Verbeke’s three 1950 subgenera Parasepedon, Mesosepedon and Sepedomyia [originally of generic rank]). Knutson and Orth (2001) proposed nine groups, with the Afrotropical species being scattered in their trichrooscelis, dispersa and nasuta groups; S. ruficeps would fit into the first. However, as noted by Barraclough (1985: 489), “the Afrotropical Sepedon fauna is rather poorly known … a comprehensive revision of the genus Sepedon [is needed] in the region.” As some species are close to S. ruficeps, its diagnosis is provided below.
Adults (Fig. 1). Body length 6.1–8.0 mm (Fig. 1A). Head, face and frons yelloworange with some blackish pruinosity (Fig. 2B); antenna: scape yellow-orange, pedicel mostly blackish, flagellomere lanceolate and with black pruinosity. Thorax dorsally bluish (metallic) to brownish; humeral callus light yellow-reddish; pleura subshining greyish; ⅓–½ of basal part of femora yellowish, whereas the apical portion is reddish. Wings 7 mm, hyaline, brownish infuscated. Abdominal segments yellow-orange to red dish. Male genitalia with a praeputium (distal part of aedeagus) having a few hairs and two opposite expansions; surstyli with strong bristles; tubular appendix of aedeagus elongated, apex curved, with a dorsal pre-apical spine. Verbeke’s figures (1950 [noted as S. scapularis], 1961, 1963) are reproduced here (Fig. 2A, B).
Verbeke (1963) commented that S. ruficeps has been often confused with S. (P.) senegalensis Macquart, 1844. He stated that this species is distinguished by the rather reddish frons; humeral callus dark brown, only slightly distinct from thorax coloration, and tubular appendix of aedeagus not elongated, apex not curved (Figs 2C, D).
Judging from the specialized literature, S. ruficeps appears to be the most widely distributed species of Afrotropical Sciomyzidae (Fig. 3). In West Africa, the species is known from along the Atlantic Ocean coast of the Republic of Cabo Verde, Senegal, Ivory Coast (new data), Togo, Benin, Nigeria and Gabon (new data); from Egypt 1 to Namibia, near Lake Chad (new data), Central African Republic (Nola; new data), Botswana, Zimbabwe (Harare), through the Sudan (Kordofan), Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In East Africa, it has been identified in Ethiopia, but also from the Arabian Peninsula (South Yemen). The altitudinal range is very large, from a few metres above sea level in Benin (Cotonou and Djeffa; present data) to 4,000 m above sea level, as cited by Verbeke (1963), in the National Park at Virunga (ex Parc Albert), Democratic Republic of the Congo. In addition, this species has been collected in Saudi Arabia (J. Deeming pers. comm., 22 Jan. 2013).
Adults do not fly very far from the wetlands. In Benin, the profile of the populations was significantly related to the succession of heavy rains and dry months. Thus, in temporary water biotopes, the population profile is mainly characterized by flies not being captured from January to July, and followed by an annual peak, the level and temporal position of which varies according to the geographic zone, for example in Agnavo (Fig. 4A). In permanent water biotopes, the maximum population size was usually observed from June to November, after the period of heavy rain, and decreases in other months without reaching zero, for example in Cotonou (Fig. 4B).
The unusual site “Bati Hot Springs” among Dr Frohne’s collecting sites (Gambela, Kola, Bati, Ethiopia) and reported by Knutson et al. (1967), is noteworthy: “There is a huge flow of very hot and sulphurous water which is azoic at first but soon becomes ... with many kinds of blue-green algae.” Despite this hostile habitat, eight adults were collected on 8 February 1962. This observation allows consideration of S. ruficeps as a resistant species, the larvae of which have become adapted to hydrological conditions that are often unfavourable to the survival of many freshwater taxa.
In the laboratory, mating of neonate adults started very early, from 24 to 48 hours after emergence, and could last for several hours. The first eggs were laid 6–8 days after emergence, individually or in groups of 2 to 10 without special arrangement, varying between 50 and 250 eggs per female. The percentage of eggs that hatched often exceeded 95%, regardless of season or location where the female was collected. The duration of each immature stage in the laboratory and complete life-cycle are indicated in Fig. 5. Our results show that the length of the whole life-cycle is about 16–19 days. This short duration explains the polyvoltine situation observed in nature for this Sepedon species, and corroborates the data given by previous authors. During the larval period, the percentage mortality was higher for first instar larvae and gradually decreased to become insignificant by the end of larval development. From 100 eggs, we obtained successively 96 L1, 67 L2, 48 L3, 46 pupae and 45 adults, and the average lifespan of an adult in captivity was 3–4 months.
Feeding behaviour in respect of number of snails consumed
Except for the two operculate Ampullariidae (Pulmonata) Lanistes varicus (Müller) and Lanistes ovum Peter, the larvae attacked all other freshwater snails species collected at the respective sites for maintenance of our laboratory cultures. These were Bulinidae: Bulinus forskali (Ehrenberg), B. globosus (Morelet), B. truncatus (Audouin); Lymnaeidae: Radix natalensis; Physidae: Aplexa waterloti Germain, Physa sp.; Planorbidae: Afrogyrus coretus (de Blainville), Biomphalaria pfeifferi (Krauss).
Gbedjissi et al. (2003) limited their study on larval predation to Bulinus forskali (intermediate host of Schistosoma intercalatum Fischer) and Biomphalaria pfeifferi (intermediate host of S. mansoni Sambon), implicated in transmission of human schistosomiasis in Benin. Both snail species live in shallow water areas which are frequented by man or used as drinking-trough sites for domestic animals.
Here, we provide results of veterinary interest as regards the possibility of reducing transmission of the liver fluke Fasciola gigantica (Cobbold), a cause of bovine fascioliasis, the widely distributed snail Radix natalensis being one of the intermediate hosts in Africa as well as in tropical regions of southern and south-eastern Asia. Humans can be inadvertently infected with F. gigantica as a result of the ingestion of metacercariae – formed by mature cercariae that emerge from the snail – and which are glued to aquatic vegetables. Utzinger and Tanner (2000) indicated that R. natalensis showed a microhabitat preference for shallow water with a peak water depth of up to 4 mm, as used in our experiments. This habitat type is greatly frequented by man and cattle, and favours transmission of distomiasis. Moreover, from serial malacological experiments with this snail in Senegal, Vassiliades (1978) showed that under dry conditions, the older individuals survived for 15–30 days and the younger ones for 60–90 days. We consider that, in nature, large R. natalensis die quickly because of their greater demand for water, whereas smaller snails could use the humidity of the air (95% in experiments) to satisfy their minimal need for water. Thus, the resilience of the snail in respect of water requirements decreases as it grows in size. Furthermore, the snails can survive for months buried in mud, and produce a large number of eggs.
In our first experimental series, conducted with healthy R. natalensis as prey (Table 1A), the first instar larva (L1) of S. ruficeps attacked and ate mainly the small size class of mollusc Pc (x = 4.36 ± 1.60); and Mc (x = 2.25 ± 0.34), and never the largest individuals (Gc class). We found that the second (L2) and third (L3) instar larvae predated on all size classes. By comparison in terms of numbers (based on class Pc only), the second instar larvae ate about two times more snails than the first; and the third 5–6 times more than the L1 and 3–4 times more than the L2 flies.
In a second series of experiments, R. natalensis was exposed to miracidia from eggs of Fasciola gigantica that were obtained from the slaughterhouse in Cotonou. We started the predation experiments at least three weeks after infestation of the snails. This is the estimated period required for development of the immature parasite stages at laboratory temperature. The success of infestation was determined by observation under light microscope or dissection of some snails to detect the presence of sporocysts or rediae in the snail’s hepatopancreas. The results (Table 1B) showed that first instar larvae ate molluscs of classes Pc (x = 4.30 ± 1.31) and Mc (x = 2.27 ± 0.36), whereas L2 and L 3 larvae indifferently consumed molluscs of all classes. The experiments conducted only with class Pc showed that the third instar consumed 6 times more than the L1 and 3–4 times more than the L2.
Correlated with the health status of R. natalensis (Table 1), a significant difference was observed between the three classes Pc, Mc and Gc for each predator stage. However, there were significant predation differences between healthy and infested snails only for the Mc and Gc classes. The L 3 larva consumed 9.68 ± 1.37 (Mc), 5.13 ± 1.63 (Gc) of healthy individuals (Table 1A) as compared to 10.74 ± 1.44 (Mc), 6.20 ± 1.12 (Gc) of parasitized individuals (Table 1B). These data show more feeding on the infested snails (Wilcoxon test). We did not observe emission of cercariae during consumption of parasitized snails of the Mc and Gc classes. At this time, parasite development had not yet reached the cercarial shedding stage. That aside, S. ruficeps appears to be very effective as a predator of parasitized R. natalensis. Globally, the three larval stages eat a lot of juvenile as well as sexually mature snails, and thus contribute to reducing reduce the population level of snails of the subsequent generation.
Predation on oligochaetes
Whereas the fly larvae attack and eat freshwater snails, they also predate extensively on the small and abundant oligochaete Aulophorus furcatus, which lives in the same biotopes. We observed this predation both in the laboratory and in the field, behaviour recently mentioned by Gbedjissi et al. (2003). This small worm lives inside a tiny floating tube, open at both ends, which is constructed with conglomerated vegetal debris. S. ruficeps was seen to attack the oligochaete at the front end where the head emerges. A total of 60–70 prey individuals was eaten up to when a fly larva reached the pupal stage. The number of oligochaetes fed upon increased between the first and third instar larval phases, but we did not calculate the corresponding food ratio between molluscs and oligochaetes, needed to complete larval development. Sometimes, a few worms were attacked and only partially eaten. This scenario is similar to the “wasteful feeding” reported in many circumstances for the larvae of some sciomyzids reared in the presence of a surfeit of molluscs (Eckblad 1976; Valley & Berg 1977; Vala 1989). If this significant oligophagous feeding behaviour is alternative for S. ruficeps, it is obligatory for the sciomyzids Sepedonella nana Verbeke, 1950 (Vala & Gbedjissi 2011) and Sepedon (Parasepedon) knutsoni Vala, Gbedjissi and Dossou, 1994, described from Benin (Vala et al. 2002). Both of these species are known only from the Afrotopical Region.
Description:
Immature stages
Egg (Fig. 6A–D). Reticulate chorion showing hexagonal contiguous structures. Four longitudinal ridges (Fig. 6A) present: two subdorsal (Sdr), delimiting a dorsal face (DF), more or less flat; two sublateral (Slr), delimiting a very convex ventral face (VF), largely covered with a glue (Fig. 6B, Gl) for pasting on to emerging stems of aquatic vegetation. The longitudinal subdorsal and sublateral ridges on each side of egg delimit a narrow side face (LF).Anterior end of egg (Fig. 6C) with one arched dorsal expansion, perforated by a large number of aeropyles (Ae) overlying the subterminal micropyle (My). Posterior end rounded (Fig. 6D), many aeropyles present.
Larvae (Figs 6E–H, 7, 8). Like all Sciomyzidae species, three successive larval stages precede a characteristic pupal stage. The larval stages have the same morphology, being composed of 12 segments (I to XII). These stages are distinguished by their size, colour, presence or absence of certain attributes such as absence of the pair of spiracles in the first larval stage (L1). We present below a general description of larvae, followed by the description of each stage with their distinctive characters. Each character is paired and symmetrically distributed according to the sagittal plane. Therefore, we detail them only for one side of the body.
General larval segments
Segment I (cephalic segment). Anteriorly bilobed. Each lobe (CL) with one elongated and leaf-shaped antennal organ (AO); one rounded maxillary organ (MO) bearing sensilla (Fig. 6E); mouth midventral, each lateral edge with two sensilla. One strong postoral spinule band (Fig. 6F, Post B) arranged into 8–10 rows of spines (simple apex) positioned at posterior margin of the segment.
Segments II–IV (thoracic segments). Mainly characterized by presence of a pair of Keilin organs (Fig. 6G, no. 2) on ventral surface, each with three long setae arising from a unique pit camouflaging their basal attachment.All segments without dorsal swimming tuft of setae. Except on segment II, one transverse spinulate ventral band of 13–16 rows on anterior margin, first 5–6 rows more or less expanded laterally and dorsally than others (Fig. 6G, H, Tsv B). This formation has been noted for the Palaearctic species Euthycera cribrata (Rondani, 1868) by Vala et al. (1983). Other thoracic sensilla (Fig. 6I) are referred to below in the section on sensory receptors.
Segments V–XI (abdominal segments) (Fig. 7) with three ventral pairs of ventral tubercles (Vt1–Vt3), each with long sensilla (Fig. 7A); on each lateral side, three lateral tubercles (Lt1–Lt3), also with sensilla (Fig. 7B, C); then dorsolaterally, one small tuft of long setae and one sensillum (Fig. 7D, E); dorsally, a swimming tuft (Wt) (except on XI) composed by long setae surrounding 2 sensilla (Fig. 7B, D).
Segment XII (last abdominal) (Fig. 7F–H) with pre-anal lobe and anal lobe; lateral lobe present; posterior disc with five pairs of peripheral lobes fringed with bristle devices (Fig. 7H): one well-developed ventrally (VL), triangular, elongated; one lateroventral (VLL), triangular, bi-segmented, and well expanded; one lateral (LL); one laterodorsal (DLL), both triangular and less developed; one dorsal (DL), somewhat indistinct. Each spiracular plate (Sp) with four palmate interspiracular processes (IP), alternating with three spiracular openings.
General larval sensory receptors
The types of sensory receptor and their disposition show a symmetrical distribution along the sagittal plane of the larvae. On the side of each thoracic and abdominal segment, eleven sensilla are present. Results are based on three specimens examined by stereoscan microscopy as established by Vala (1989) and numbered successively from ventral no. 1 to dorsal no. 11.
Cephalic segment (Fig. 6E, F). On each cephalic lobe: one antennal organ (AO) on the apex; one circular maxillary organ (MO) on dorsal surface supporting two or three low styloconicum sensilla, three of the coeloconicum type; two labial sensilla (coeloconicum type) on each lateral part of the mouth.
Thoracic segments (Fig. 6G, I). One coeloconicum sensillum (no. 1) (or ampulaceum type) within a deep cavity (note: not visible on the figure (Fig. 6G), similar to nos 3, 5 and 6); one Keilin organ (no. 2) with its three long chaeticum sensilla (Fig. 6G). Three basiconicum sensilla (Fig. 6I, nos 4, 8 and 9, unfortunately no. 9 is absent in this figure), club-like. Four long trichodeum sensilla (nos 7, 10 and 11) arising from a thin cuticular membranous base (Fig. 6I, no. 11 missing in this figure).
Abdominal segments (Fig. 7A–E). Eleven sensilla are also present on each segment from ventral to dorsal surface. They are positioned mainly on ventral (Vt1–Vt3) and lateral (Lt1–Lt3) tubercles and on the swimming tufts (Wt). The coeloconicum type is dominant and generally the basal edge shows two long, denticulate seta-like structures (Fig. 7E). Other sensilla are of the trichoid type. On ventral surface: successively one, two and one coeloconicum sensillum on Vt1 (no. 1), Vt2 (nos 2, 3) and Vt3 (no. 4). Laterally: Lt1, one coeloconicum (no. 5) (seta-like) plus one long trichodeum (no. 6); Lt2 with sensillum (no. 7) similar to no. 5; Lt3, one long trichodeum sensillum (no. 8) like no. 6. In laterodorsal position, one coeloconicum type with two long setae (45–65μm long) (no. 9); dorsally, three sensilla within each tuft: one low flower-like coeloconicum (no. 10a), edge with a few short expansions, one long trichodeum sensillum (no. 10) similar to no. 9 – not visible in this picture – and close to longitudinal dorsal axis, one coeloconicum (no. 11) with two long, seta-like expansions on basal edge. Abdominal segment 8 with posterior disc also with eleven pairs of sensilla. Ventrally, coelonicum sensilla (nos 2, 3) on the pre-anal lobe; lateral tubercle with sensillum no. 1; ventral lobe (VL) with sensilla nos 4, 5, 6; ventrolateral lobe (VLL) bears sensilla nos 7–9 and 10a; lateral lobe (LL) and dorsal lobe (DL) with sensilla no. 10 and no. 11 respectively on their apex, styloconicum type.
Instars
First instar larva (L1) (Figs 6E–I; 7A–G; 8A, B). Subcylindric. Length 1.50–3.00 mm; greatest width 0.46–0.78 mm. Integument translucent. No anterior spiracles. Cephalopharyngeal skeleton sclerotized (Fig. 8A, B). Length 0.35–0.39 mm; mouth hook (MH) with bifid hook anteriorly, without accessory tooth, posterior margin fused with complex hypostomal-pharyngeal sclerite; ventral arch (VA) beneath and articulated with mouth hook, anterior margin finely denticulate, lateral edges slightly emerged; pharyngeal sclerite (PS), apex of dorsal cornu very tapered (Dc), ventral cornu (Vc) clear, without window. Spiracular openings B-shaped. Description based on 10 specimens.
Second instar larva (L2) (Fig. 8C–I). Length 3–7 mm. Integument greyish, transparent. Anterior spiracle with 6–7 rudimentary papillae more or less carved on segment II (Fig. 8I). Cephalopharyngeal skeleton length 0.62–0.66 mm (Fig. 8C–H). Mouth hook (MH) sclerified, hook strong, sharp, irregularly decurved line, apex portion abruptly turned in ventral direction; three slightly dark, shared and decurved teeth (At) below the hook; mouth hook body with one small foramen; one small and strong mid-dorsal projection; two posterior projections, thicker dorsal one more elongated than the ventral projection. Ventral arch (VA) articulating with ventral margin of mouth hook, sclerotized, two foramens, anterior margin with 20–24 denticles, posterior margin V-shaped; epistomal sclerite (ES) bilobed, welded to both parastomal bars (PB), all C-shaped; parastomal bars posteriorly fused with pharyngeal sclerites. Hypostomal sclerite (HS) U-shaped, strongly black, one foramen, anteriorly enclosing arched lingual sclerite (LS). Pharyngeal sclerite (PS) wing-like, cornua without window. On each spiracular plate (Sp), three elongated spiracular openings, four interspiracular processes (IP), one round and slightly yellow spiracular scar (Ss). Description based on 10 specimens.
Third instar larva (L3) (Fig 7H; 8J–P). Length 8.5–12.2 mm; greatest width 2.1–2.8mm. Integument brown, translucent, one distinct mid-dorsal stripe. Anterior spiracle with six to seven distinct papillae (Fig. 8P, pa). Cephalopharyngeal skeleton length 0.8– 1.2mm (Fig. 8J–P). Mouth hook (MH) as in second instar, but larger, two foramens, four accessory teeth, mid-dorsal projection very strong and stout; behind, articulated with hypostomal sclerite. Ventral arch with 26–28 regular teeth on anterior margin, posterior part with a long median notch. Epistomal sclerite (ES) dark black except for lightly pigmented anterior margin; two foramina, posteriorly fused with parastomal bars (PB), connected to anteromesal margin of pharyngeal sclerite. Hypostomal sclerite (HS) as in second instar, very stout, with large central hole; lingual sclerite (LS) arched, slightly separated from the arms of hypostomal sclerite; pharyngeal sclerite (PS) with irregular black pigmentation, lacking distinct hyaline area in cornua. Indentation index 32–35. On each spiracular plate (Fig. 7H, Sp), one blackish and round stigmatic scar (Ss), very conspicuous; interspiracular processes robust, large; stigmatic openings elliptic, elongated and wide. Description based on 10 specimens.
Puparium (Fig. 8Q, R). Length 6.0–8.0 mm, width 2.3–3.2 mm. Subcylindrical, ridged. Black-brown, rarely brown, iridescent. With mid-dorsal brownish stripe. Lateral and dorsolateral tubercle vestiges of third instar present, hardened, very conspicuous; ventral tubercle vestiges distinct, darkened. Anterior end (ant) abruptly narrower, slightly upturned; tiny anterior spiracles present. Posterior end (post) strongly upturned and higher than the puparial dorsal surface; spiracular disc shrunken; lobes vestigial, hardened and visible; interspiracular processes stunted, bonded, free, folded or raised. Description based on 10 specimens.
description: Published as part of Gbedjissi, Ghélus Louis & Vala, Jean-Claude, 2014, Life-cycle of the Afrotropical snail-killing fly Sepedon (Parasepedon) ruficeps Becker, 1923, pp. 1 in African Invertebrates 55 (1) on pages 3-13, DOI: 10.5733/afin.055.0102, http://zenodo.org/record/7649638