What's in a frog stomach? Solving a 150-year-old mystery (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Thomas Pape*, Krzysztof Szpila, F. Christian Thompson

*Corresponding author for this work

Abstract

The nominal taxon Acanthosoma chrysalis Mayer, 1844 is revised, and a lectotype is designated. The species, which was described from Germany from a number of alleged parasites encysted in the peritoneal wall of the stomach of edible frogs, is shown to be based on first instar larvae of blow flies (Calliphoridae). Argued from the shape and configuration of mouthhooks and abdominal cuticular spines, Acanthosoma Mayer, 1844 is shown to be a junior synonym of Onesia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830, syn.n., and A. chrysalis is shown to be a junior synonym of O. floralis Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830, syn.n. This species is an obligate parasitoid of earthworms, and it is hypothesized that first instar larvae enter the frogs through infected earthworms.

Original languageEnglish
JournalSystematic Entomology
Volume33
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)548-551
Number of pages4
ISSN0307-6970
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2008

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