Abstract:
Objective Species and distribution of pest flies found in the major garlic-producing areas of China were identified, and endosymbiotic microbes in the dominant fly species compared for improved pest control.
Method At 8 typical garlic fields in 7 provinces in China including Jilin, Tianjin, Shandong, Henan, Jiangsu, Hubei, and Yunnan, adult flies were captured by sweep-netting for the study. Species of the caught pests were determined by microscopic morphological observation and mitochondrial COI gene sequencing with dominant species identified. Symbiotic microorganisms in the top two dominant species were classified by high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA and ITS genes.
Result There were 8 species belonging to 7 genera of 6 families identified in the total collected specimens. Significant diversity was found in the populations of different localities, fields how close to water or practicing varied crop rotation. In the regions, congeneric Delia antiqua and D. platura were the dominant species of pest flies. They had distinctively different compound eyes, thoracic pruinose coating, wing subcostal veins, and mid-tibial bristles. The symbiotic microbial communities in them significantly differentiated, with the fungi being relatively conserved and Cladosporium the common genus.
Conclusion D. antiqua and D. platura were identified as the primary pest fly species found in the garlic fields in the regions. Although closely related, they could be reliably distinguished by morphological characteristics. Depending upon the species and sex as well as the field condition where these flies inhibited, their symbiotic microbial communities varied significantly in composition but shared Cladosporium as the common fungal taxon.