Lucilia bufonivora
Toads gold fly ( Lucilia bufonivora )
The toads gold fly ( Lucilia bufonivora ), also called toads fly that is an endemic among other things, also in Central Europe species of the family of blowflies ( Calliphoridae ). Several species of the genus Lucilia are facultative ( optional) or obligate ( exclusive ) parasitoids of amphibians. The larvae of toads Goldfliege belong to the latter group. They eat the inner tissue especially in the head region of live toads or other amphibians until they die and the larvae eventually reach pupation.
Features
The adults of Lucilia bufonivora resemble some other gold fly species, such as the frequent Emperor Gold Fly ( Lucilia caesar ). They reach a body length of up to nine millimeters and have a green - golden shiny metallic body. The fourth longitudinal vein of the wing is specially bent sharply in this species.
Way of life
Toads gold flies live mainly in flowery herb communities, especially on umbelliferous plants, where they feed on pollen and nectar. For reproduction, the animals place in the summer months, their white, elongated eggs on the back or head of toads and other amphibians. This affects in particular the Common Toad; but in addition also natterjack toad, toad, frog, midwife toad, spadefoot toad, tree frog, marsh frog, frog pond and, exceptionally, the fire salamander as a host species are occupied. The hatching larvae rapidly penetrate through the nostrils into the head of the host, where they eat through the soft tissue of the still living animal. After a few days the front snouts and head area can be completely deformed and disfigured. When the larvae have it reaches the brain or other vital organs or body functions have been destroyed, the Lurch died eventually. In their last instar maggots have the carcass sometimes almost completely eaten - including skin and connective tissue, possibly even including cartilage and bone. Then they dig into upcoming moist soil and pupate.
The entire process of slip of the fly larvae from the eggs on the penetration into the host, the larvae developing in the body, and to be perishing of the larvae pupate lasts about three to four weeks. A dead toad may have been completely skeletonized within one to two weeks (depending on the infestation density). Bearing in mind, that it often seems even to secondary infection of the carcass comes with larvae of other species of flies. The pupal stage until hatching finished gold fly the next generation takes another approximately one to three weeks.
Effects on amphibian populations
About the infestation with Lucilia larvae of amphibians are among others from Central Europe, many individual observations, but few systematic investigations. Whether the diseased amphibians were primarily affected only by Lucilia bufonivora, also still considered questionable as some other species of flies are at least facultative Amphibienparasitoide. The effects on populations of amphibians can not be assessed conclusively. Under favorable conditions for the gold fly once more significant proportions of a population of toads, apparently particularly female animals will be destroyed in their summer habitat by pinworm infestation. Insofar Fly parasitosis can be quite a significant mortality basis of these populations. But in fact seem to prevent a serious general impact on the populations of amphibians various factors. Among other things, to the active wiping of eggs or larvae is counted by the toad, for example at moulting. But the premature Wirtstod, the animals remained in the water or climatic factors may affect the success of the Flies development.
Compared to anthropogenic sources of risk for amphibian populations, such as habitat destruction and road, losses play by Lucilia myiasis nationally probably no bestandslimitierende role. It is rather natural processes that are as yet poorly understood in their ecological significance. Therefore, an objective, neutral view is attached, even if the fate of the individual affected lurches may seem cruel.