First report of Neosilba glaberrima (Wiedemann, 1830) (Diptera: Lonchaeidae) infesting corn (Zea mays L.) ears in organic farming system in the Neotropical Region

Neosilba glaberrima (Wiedemann, 1830) (Diptera: Lonchaeidae) is a species of fruit fly belonging to the Lonchaeidae family, widely distributed in neotropical region. Given the wide distribution and potential ecological and agricultural importance of species within this family, investigating their presence in different cropping systems becomes relevant for understanding their dynamics and possible interactions with cultivated plants. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of dipterans from the family Lonchaeidae in organically grown maize in the south-central region of the state of Piauí, Brazil. Sampling was carried out in the municipality of Alvorada do Gurguéia, in an area managed by smallholder farmers organically. Maize ears were collected between November 2019 and May 2020 and transported to the Plant Science Laboratory of the Federal University of Piauí (UFPI), Professora Cinobelina Elvas Campus (CPCE), in Bom Jesus, Piauí. In the laboratory, ears were weighed (total biomass of 12.13 kg) and placed in plastic containers filled with oven-sterilized sand to allow adult emergence. A total of 62 adult flies (33 females and 29 males) belonging to N. glaberrima emerged from 55 maize ears. This study, therefore, constitutes the first record of N. glaberrima (Diptera: Lonchaeidae) associated with maize (Zea mays L.) in Neotropical Region. Understanding the infestation dynamics and impacts of N. glaberrima on Z. mays is essential for developing integrated pest management strategies, and for the adoption of sustainable management and biodiversity conservation strategies in organic systems.