Distribution, identification and ecology of Phortica genus (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in Spain
The genus Phortica (Diptera: Drosophilidae) includes five species of small flies in Europe. Phortica variegata, the zoophilic fruit fly, is the main vector of Thelazia callipaeda, a zoonotic parasite that is rapidly spreading througout Europe. Despite extensive studies on thelaziosis in animals and...
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Veterinary Science and Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23144599.2025.2453960 |
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| author | Mikel Alexander González Marcos López-de-Felipe Sergio Magallanes Pedro María Alarcón-Elbal Carlos Barceló Yasmina Martínez-Barciela Alejandro Polina Ana María García-López Laura Blanco-Sierra Miguel A. Peláez Guerra Sarah Delacour Jordi Figuerola Ignacio Ruiz-Arrondo Daniel Bravo-Barriga |
| author_facet | Mikel Alexander González Marcos López-de-Felipe Sergio Magallanes Pedro María Alarcón-Elbal Carlos Barceló Yasmina Martínez-Barciela Alejandro Polina Ana María García-López Laura Blanco-Sierra Miguel A. Peláez Guerra Sarah Delacour Jordi Figuerola Ignacio Ruiz-Arrondo Daniel Bravo-Barriga |
| author_sort | Mikel Alexander González |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The genus Phortica (Diptera: Drosophilidae) includes five species of small flies in Europe. Phortica variegata, the zoophilic fruit fly, is the main vector of Thelazia callipaeda, a zoonotic parasite that is rapidly spreading througout Europe. Despite extensive studies on thelaziosis in animals and humans, there is limited knowledge about the geographical distribution and hovering activity of these vector flies. In 2023, 1,462 Phortica flies were sampled across 12 Spanish provinces, providing new records of Phortica variegata and Phortica oldenbergi. Surprisingly, P. oldenbergi, previously considered a rare Afrotropical species, was prevalent in most regions sampled in Spain. However, Phortica semivirgo was not collected. The abundance of Phortica spp. correlated positively with altitude and certain tree species. Rural oak-wooded areas in central and northern Spain showed the highest densities of P. variegata. Both drosophilid species were analysed morphologically and molecularly, providing new morphological descriptors and sequence barcodes for species identification. Phylogenetic analysis based on COI sequences, showed P. oldenbergi grouped with Asian origin Phortica species, while P. variegata in America was closer to Spanish sequences than those from other European countries. The hovering activity of P. variegata causes significant discomfort to humans during outdoor activities. This paper also reviews the historic records of P. variegata, P. semivirgo and P. oldenbergi in Spain over the last 90 years. This study enhances the understanding of the distribution, identification, ecology, and behaviour of these zoophilic flies in Europe. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1b08d72d6a844a68b9cd99ba75d5ff99 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2314-4599 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Veterinary Science and Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-1b08d72d6a844a68b9cd99ba75d5ff992025-08-20T03:05:24ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Veterinary Science and Medicine2314-45992025-12-0113111110.1080/23144599.2025.2453960Distribution, identification and ecology of Phortica genus (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in SpainMikel Alexander González0Marcos López-de-Felipe1Sergio Magallanes2Pedro María Alarcón-Elbal3Carlos Barceló4Yasmina Martínez-Barciela5Alejandro Polina6Ana María García-López7Laura Blanco-Sierra8Miguel A. Peláez Guerra9Sarah Delacour10Jordi Figuerola11Ignacio Ruiz-Arrondo12Daniel Bravo-Barriga13Department of Conservation Biology and Global Change, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Sevilla, SpainLaboratory of Medical Entomology, National Center for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, SpainDepartment of Conservation Biology and Global Change, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Sevilla, SpainDepartment of Animal Production and Health, Public Veterinary Health and Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, Valencia, SpainApplied Zoology and Animal Conservation group, University of the Balearic Islands (ZAP – UIB), Palma, SpainDepartment of Ecology and Animal Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Vigo, Vigo, SpainDepartment of Ecology and Animal Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Vigo, Vigo, SpainVeterinary Faculty, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, SpainComputational and Theoretical Ecology, Centre d’Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB – CSIC), Girona, SpainDepartment of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences,Instituto Universitario de Investigación Mixto Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2), Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, SpainDepartment of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences,Instituto Universitario de Investigación Mixto Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2), Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, SpainDepartment of Conservation Biology and Global Change, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Sevilla, SpainDepartment of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences,Instituto Universitario de Investigación Mixto Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2), Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, SpainDepartament of Animal Health Department (Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad de Córdoba, Sanidad Animal Building, Rabanales Campus, Córdoba, SpainThe genus Phortica (Diptera: Drosophilidae) includes five species of small flies in Europe. Phortica variegata, the zoophilic fruit fly, is the main vector of Thelazia callipaeda, a zoonotic parasite that is rapidly spreading througout Europe. Despite extensive studies on thelaziosis in animals and humans, there is limited knowledge about the geographical distribution and hovering activity of these vector flies. In 2023, 1,462 Phortica flies were sampled across 12 Spanish provinces, providing new records of Phortica variegata and Phortica oldenbergi. Surprisingly, P. oldenbergi, previously considered a rare Afrotropical species, was prevalent in most regions sampled in Spain. However, Phortica semivirgo was not collected. The abundance of Phortica spp. correlated positively with altitude and certain tree species. Rural oak-wooded areas in central and northern Spain showed the highest densities of P. variegata. Both drosophilid species were analysed morphologically and molecularly, providing new morphological descriptors and sequence barcodes for species identification. Phylogenetic analysis based on COI sequences, showed P. oldenbergi grouped with Asian origin Phortica species, while P. variegata in America was closer to Spanish sequences than those from other European countries. The hovering activity of P. variegata causes significant discomfort to humans during outdoor activities. This paper also reviews the historic records of P. variegata, P. semivirgo and P. oldenbergi in Spain over the last 90 years. This study enhances the understanding of the distribution, identification, ecology, and behaviour of these zoophilic flies in Europe.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23144599.2025.2453960DNA barcodingPhortica variegataPhortica oldenbergimorphological traitsnuisancezoophilic fruit fly |
| spellingShingle | Mikel Alexander González Marcos López-de-Felipe Sergio Magallanes Pedro María Alarcón-Elbal Carlos Barceló Yasmina Martínez-Barciela Alejandro Polina Ana María García-López Laura Blanco-Sierra Miguel A. Peláez Guerra Sarah Delacour Jordi Figuerola Ignacio Ruiz-Arrondo Daniel Bravo-Barriga Distribution, identification and ecology of Phortica genus (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in Spain International Journal of Veterinary Science and Medicine DNA barcoding Phortica variegata Phortica oldenbergi morphological traits nuisance zoophilic fruit fly |
| title | Distribution, identification and ecology of Phortica genus (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in Spain |
| title_full | Distribution, identification and ecology of Phortica genus (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in Spain |
| title_fullStr | Distribution, identification and ecology of Phortica genus (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in Spain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Distribution, identification and ecology of Phortica genus (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in Spain |
| title_short | Distribution, identification and ecology of Phortica genus (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in Spain |
| title_sort | distribution identification and ecology of phortica genus diptera drosophilidae in spain |
| topic | DNA barcoding Phortica variegata Phortica oldenbergi morphological traits nuisance zoophilic fruit fly |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23144599.2025.2453960 |
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