Rivellia quadrifasciata (Macquart, 1835)

Whittington, Andrew E., 2019, The economic significance of the signal fly genus Rivellia Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Platystomatidae), Israel Journal of Entomology (Oxford, England) 49 (2), pp. 135-160 : 155-156

Rivellia quadrifasciata (Macquart, 1835)

This species was first reported, illustrated and redescribed by Eastman and Wuensche (1977) and thereafter listed as the Soybean root Nodule Fly (SNF) being common on soybean ( Glycine max (L.) Merrill) in the USA ( Koethe & van Duyn 1984, 1985; Foote 1985). Apparently, it is non-specific in host choice as it is also found on the root nodules of lima beans ( Phaseolus limensis Macf. ) (Koethe & van Duyn 1988).

Koethe and Van Duyn (1984) demonstrated that the larVae had an 89 % surViVal rate on nodulating soybean plants compared to only 9 % surViVal on nodule-free plants. Subsequently, Reeves et al. (2009) experimented with nodule and non-nodule treatments by Rhizobium inoculation, supplementing the nitrogen required in non-nodule treatments with applications of 20-20-20 (N-P-K) fertiliser. Their results suggested that with reasonable care and plant separation, the non-nodule method of growing plants may be a reliable way to grow plants for study of female oviposition choice in R. steyskali or R. quadrifasciata .

Compared with other significant soybean pests ( Cerotoma trifurcata (Forster, 1771) , the bean leaf beetle, and Diabrotica balteata Le Conte, 1865 , the banded cucumber beetle ( Coleoptera , Chrysomelidae )), R. quadrifasciata damaged a greater number of nodules per plant and caused significant reductions in N 2 fixed and C 2 H 4 per plant and per nodule ( Hutchinson 1979) in Louisiana, USA.

Chemical controls were tested for larvae on soybean ( Glycine max ), brown-eyed crowder southern peas ( Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.), ‘Florigiant’ peanuts ( Arachis hypogaea L.), bush variety snap-peas ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) ( Koethe & van Duyn 1984) and on trefoil ( Desmodium spp. ) ( Foote 1985; Foote et al. 1987). Koethe et al. (1986) concluded that tillage was an ineffective control, based on the deep soil (10–30 cm) oVerwintering habits of SNF (also noted by Pitre and Porter (1990)). In 1989, Koethe and Duyn investigated the adult biology in fields, observing SNF feed on carrion, honeydew, bird droppings, insect frass and nectar, with females predominating on more protein-rich foods; traps baited with meat or dead insects readily attracted females, but not males, while fruit (peach), ethylene glycol and soap-water baits attracted few flies at all unless meat was added. Males were effectively trapped using yellow sticky traps.

In a list of chemical controls for soybean pests ( Kohn 1990), none of the 17 compounds listed were rated for control of R. quadrifasciata . Ambrose (2003) discussed the effects of chemical controls on cotton pests, including R. quadrifasciata , although it is unknown as a pest of cotton; it was the only insect pest species, besides the study target, found in sufficient numbers to analyze and therefore considered to be an indicator of insecticidal activity. It was found that there were significant efficacy between days 1 and 4 of the acetamiprid treatment, but none within or between all other spinosad, indoxacarb, methoxyfenozide and acetamiprid treatments.