First report of myiasis caused by philornis (Diptera: Muscidae) in cacicus solitarius (passeriforme: Icteridae) in central Argentina

Abstract

In January 2016, one Cacicus solitarius bird nestling was found parasitized by subcutaneous larvae in a protected forest of central Argentina. Some larvae were removed from the nestling and reared under laboratory conditions. Using morphological characteristics, the adult flies that emerged were identified as belonging to the Philornis torquans complex. Molecular analysis of the specimens showed identical ITS2 sequences from those previously reported for Philornis flies from Misiones province, in northeastern Argentina. This study presents the first documented association between Philornis and C. solitarius and the first record of the “Philornis sp. genotype Misiones” in central Argentina.