Chair of Forest Zoology and EntomologyChloropidae (Diptera)
Dry plants containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids as well as dishes with pure PAs are heavily visited by Chloropidae in Africa:
Boppré M, Pitkin BP (1988) Attraction of chloropid flies to pyrrolizidine alkaloids (Diptera: Chloropidae). Entomol Gener 13: 81-85. lesen / read
Both sexes of several species of Chloropidae in 4 genera (Melanochaeta, Chlorops, Eutropha, Oscinella) and 2 subfamilies (Chloropinae, Oscinellinae) have been found visiting pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) baits and ingesting these secondary plant chemicals. Some of the same species have also been observed visiting decaying plants and flowers containing PAs.
Presently we study Chloropidae attracted to sources of PAs in El Bosque Nuevo, Costa Rica, and have started a cooperation with Prof. Dr. Terry A. Wheeler, Lyman Entomological Museum, McGill University.