First record of Megaselia scalaris (Loew) (Diptera: Phoridae) infesting laboratory stocks of mantids (Parastagmatoptera tessellata, Saussure)

First record of Megaselia scalaris (Loew) (Diptera: Phoridae) infesting laboratory stocks of mantids (Parastagmatoptera tessellata, Saussure)

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We report the first record of Megaselia scalaris (Loew) infesting phi mu dad shirt laboratory stocks of the praying mantis (Parastagmatoptera tessellata, Saussure).M.scalaris, the scuttle fly, is a cosmopolitan species with a broad niche as it performs as detritivore, facultative parasite, and parasitoid.M.scalaris larvae were found feeding inside adult mantids and, when development was completed, pupae were found inside the abdominal cavity and around the body.

We discuss the presence of colonies of crickets bred cubs foam finger as prey for the mantids as a facilitator of M.scalaris infestation.