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Outbreaks of Soil-Dwelling Diptera (Insecta): Has the Phenomenon a Natural or an Anthropogenic Origin

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Abstract

The data on the life-cycles of soil-dwelling Diptera which exhibit outbreaks are summarized. The main ecological parameters of the life-cycle of Diptera which may influence outbreaks are discussed: high fecundity of females, polyphagy of larvae, larval behavioral adaptations increasing their survival, tendency of adults toward synchronous emergence, and the ability of species to inhabit anthropogenic landscapes. It is shown that the potential ability of Diptera to exhibit outbreaks has natural mechanisms. Natural hazards like abrupt weather changes in the direction favorable for Diptera as well as anthropogenic influence may be additional factors provoking an outbreak.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are very grateful to the colleagues, Dr. Frank Menzel (Senckenberg Deutsches Entomologisches Institut, Germany) and Dr. Mathias Jaschhof (Station Linne, Sweden) for the data on the life cycles of Sciaridae Cecidomyiidae. We appreciate the help of Dr. Anatoly Shatalkin, Dr. Nikita Vikhrev (Zoological Museum of the Moscow Lomonosov State University) and Dr. Alexey Tiunov (A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution) for valuable comments and notes.

Funding

The investigation was partly supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project no. 16-14-10323.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119071, Russia

    M. G. Krivosheina & N. P. Krivosheina

  2. S.I. Vavilov Institute for the History of Science and Technology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 125315, Russia

    G. G. Krivosheina

  3. Zoological Museum, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 125009, Russia

    A. L. Ozerov

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  1. M. G. Krivosheina
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  2. N. P. Krivosheina
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  3. G. G. Krivosheina
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  4. A. L. Ozerov
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Correspondence to M. G. Krivosheina.

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Krivosheina, M.G., Krivosheina, N.P., Krivosheina, G.G. et al. Outbreaks of Soil-Dwelling Diptera (Insecta): Has the Phenomenon a Natural or an Anthropogenic Origin. Entmol. Rev. 99, 733–743 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0013873819060034

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