2005 Annual Report 1.What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? What does it matter? Flies (Diptera) are a major component of world biodiversity and include tens of thousands of species important to agriculture as crop pests, biological control agents, pollinators, and nutrient recyclers. Taxonomic knowledge, including predictive, phylogenetically based classifications, and diagnostic tools to rapidly and accurately identify these fly species, many of which remain undescribed or poorly described, are crucial to exclude and control the pests and effectively use the beneficial agents. Our research objectives in this plan include analyzing the phylogeny of and producing identification tools for fruit flies (particularly Anastrepha and Toxotrypana, which are pests in tropical America), pest leaf-mining flies (Liriomyza, Phytomyza, and relatives), tachinid fly parasitoids of moth pests, flower flies predacious on pest aphids, whiteflies and other Homoptera, soldier flies and flower flies useful as nutrient recyclers, and fergusoninid flies that are weed biocontrol agents. We will generate morphological and molecular characters to test species concepts and hypotheses of relationship among these flies, and to develop new diagnostic tools. We will also compile and verify biosystematic data (names, hosts, distributions) on flies that are broadly and efficiently disseminated to the user community. Databases containing all scientific names used for flies, all taxonomic literature pertaining to flies, and host plant data for fruit flies are being expanded and improved. These and other taxonomic tools are made accessible to the public via the internet and other electronic media. We also provide timely and accurate identifications of flies intercepted at ports-of-entry by APHIS-PPQ and other specimens submitted by a wide range of scientists and regulatory agencies, and expand and maintain portions of the fly collections in the National Museum of Natural History. New species of insect pests are introduced to the U.S. every year, and with accelerating commerce due to free trade agreements, it is increasingly difficult for USDA and state regulatory agencies to prevent such introductions. These invasive pests add to the financial burden of producing agricultural commodities and cost billions of dollars each year. Taxonomic and biological information on the known and potential pest species are of critical importance to produce effective quarantines and to recognize new introductions in time to combat them. This information is also vital for programs using flies as biological control agents of invasive pest insects and weeds or as pollinators of flowers and crops. As part of Component 1 of National Program 304, Crop Protection and Quarantine, this research allows scientists and others to accurately identify flies that are crop pests and for use in biological control of insect pests and invasive weeds. 2.List the milestones (indicators of progress) from your Project Plan. YEAR 1 (FY 2005) Morphological revision of Anastrepha robusta species group completed. Character list completed. Field work to collect generic samples of leaf-mining flies completed. Specimens of North American Belvosia from museums and field collections assembled. Specimens of Heringia accumulated from museums. Morphospecies diagnosed. Character x taxon matrix of Copestylum finalized. Specimen database designed. Biosystematic Database of World Diptera species database and tool set design completed. Web Interface for New World fruit fly host database completed. Identifications will be completed as requests are submitted. YEAR 2 (FY 2006) 20 new species of Anastrepha & Toxotrypana described . Field work to obtain samples for molecular analysis completed. Nuclear and mitochondrial genes sequenced for analysis of relationships among genera of Agromyzidae and Fergusoninidae. Morphospecies of North American Belvosia characterized and compared with type material. Revision of Heringia completed. Species group classification of Copestylum completed. First 3 species groups revised. Names for USA and Canadian flies verified and placed online. Identifications will be completed as requests are submitted. YEAR 3 (FY 2007) Revision of mucronata group completed. Phylogeny based on DNA sequences analyzed. Relationships of genera of Agromyzidae and Fergusoninidae analyzed. Field work to collect Liriomyza and Phytomyza completed; pest complexes sequenced Publish paper on Belvosia species from Janzen Guanacaste studies. Specimens of Hermetia from museums and field collections assembled. Additional species groups of Copestylum revised. Data for mosquitoes and drosophilids revised and placed online. Data for Trypetinae entered into New World fruit fly host database. Identifications will be completed as requests are submitted. YEAR 4 (FY 2008) Descriptions of all new species completed and other species groups revised for Anastrepha & Toxotrypana. Character matrix completed. Liriomyza and Phytomyza species complexes analyzed; morphological and/or molecular methods to discriminate cryptic species determined. Host data on Belvosia species compiled and summarized. Morphospecies of Hermetia characterized and compared with type material. itional species groups of Copestylum revised. Data for flower flies revised and placed online. Identifications will be completed as requests are submitted. YEAR 5 (FY 2009) Interactive key for Anastrepha & Toxotrypana completed. Phylogeny analyzed based on all available data. Liriomyza and Phytomyza phylogenies analyzed. Microsatellites for characterizing invasive populations of pest species investigated. Revision of North American Belvosia species completed. Revision of Hermetia completed. Monograph of Copestylum completed. Data for midges, black flies and crane flies revised and placed online. Data for Tephritinae entered into New World fruit fly host database. Identifications will be completed as requests are submitted. 4a.What was the single most significant accomplishment this past year? Identity of fruit fly from Colombia clarified. A new species of fruit fly that had been confused with Mexican fruit fly (a major pest) was described from Colombia, and Mexican fruit fly was shown not to occur in that country. This will facilitate trade in mangos and other fruit between Colombia and the United States and aid APHIS and other regulatory agencies to formulate quarantines and detect invasive fruit flies. 4b.List other significant accomplishments, if any. None. 4c.List any significant activities that support special target populations. None. 4d.Progress report. None. 5.Describe the major accomplishments over the life of the project, including their predicted or actual impact. 1275-22000-233-00D replaces 1275-22000-226-00D as of March 18, 2005. 6.What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end-user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption and durability of the technology products? New project started 03/19/2005. 7.List your most important publications in the popular press and presentations to organizations and articles written about your work. (NOTE: List your peer reviewed publications below). New project started 03/19/2005.