Discovered 2 new species of flies that eat mushrooms

Biologist Ian Strachan found the first two species of flies to be observed in England in a forest on the Scottish Highlands.

Boletina gusakovae (left) and Mycetophila idonea.(Photo: BBC).

The new species, Boletina gusakovae and Mycetophila idonea, have been captured by a special trap in the Loch Arkaig pine forest since 2018. They were identified by biologist Ian Strachan, after carefully analyzing about 20,000 specimens. collected from traps during the last two years.

Most specimens are smaller than 1 mm in size, so they are taken to a research facility in Roybridge for observation under a binocular microscope."It is a very laborious process. It may take several years to identify all insects, but I am determined to collect as much as possible," Strachan said.

Entrapment of insects in the Loch Arkaig pine forest.(Photo: BBC).

"I guess two new species of flies have always been here (Loch Arkaig), or at least for a long time, but no one knows about them. This is a very interesting discovery, making the research effort over the years. become worthwhile , " Strachan adds.

B. gusakovae and M. idonea are just two of the more than 1,500 species of mushroom-eating flies (Fungus gnat) found by Strachan in Loch Arkaig. Fungus gnat is the common name for small, short-lived flies that feed on mushrooms and roots, including the families Sciaridae, Diadocidiidae, Ditomyiidae, Keroplatidae, Bolitophilidae and Mycetophilidae. They play an important role in the ecosystem by contributing to the decay of organic matter and as pollinators for fungi.

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