Vol. 101, No. 2. March & April 1990 117 ACALYPTRATE DIPTERA REARED FROM HIGHER FUNGI IN NORTHEASTERN OHIO 1 Britt Bunyard, B.A. Foote 2 ABSTRACT: Living fungi were collected from two sites in northeastern Ohio between the fall of 1987 and fall of 1988. Flies reared from this material in the laboratory were deter-mined to species. Fourteen species of acalyptrate Diptera, comprising five families and eight genera, were reared from 44 species (14 families) of higher fungi. Among flies reared was Leiomyza laevigata [Asteiidae]. No descriptions of the immature stages of any of the over 100 species of Asteiidae worldwide are available. Also reared was Drosophilaguttifera [Drosophilidae], another species whose biology is poorly known. Most mycetophagous Diptera appeared to be generalists with respect to utilization of fungal species. Larvae of several species were probably scavengers, utilizing decaying fungal material. Aside from a few publications (Buxton, 1960; Pielou. 1966; Pielou andMathewman, 1966; Pielou and Verma, 1968;Shorrocks. 1973; Valley. el /., 1 969), the study of mycetophagous Diptera associated with mush-rooms remains in a pioneer stage (Graves and Graves, 1985). The purpose of this study was to determine the species of acalyptrate Diptera associated with higher fungi in northeastern Ohio (Portage Co.). Generalizations about the trophic relationships of certain Diptera to their fungal hosts (strict mycophagy, polyphagy, saprophagy) are also given. MATERIALS AND METHODS Two sites in Portage Co. were chosen for the collection of fungi: Towner's Woods near Kent and West Branch State Park near Ravenna. Material was collected between September of 1987 and September of 1988. Each collected fungus was placed in a plastic bag or wrapped in wax paper to prevent larvae of one mushroom from entering another. Fungi were then identified using various sources (Graham, 1944; Lin-coff, 1 98 1 ). To avoid incidental occurrences of Diptera with the fungi (e.g. resting or hiding in crevices), only adults which actually emerged from larvae occurring within the fungus were counted. Upon emergence, adult Diptera were retained alive for at least 24 hours to allow the exoskeleton to harden and then killed and preserved. Adults were either pinned or placed directly into 70% ethanol. Larvae 1 Received July 10, 1989. Accepted September 2, 1989. -Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242 ENT. NEWS 101(2): 117-121, March & April. 1990
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