Biodiversity and ecology of mycophagous Diptera in northeastern Ohio

For this study, 134 species from 30 families of Basidiomycete fungi and 19 species from 11 families of Ascomycete fungi were collected from different sites in northeastern Ohio. Adult flies were reared from 87 separate fungal collections (basidiocarps or ascocarps = "mushrooms"). During this study, mycophagous species from a number of families were found (Tipulidae, Mycetophilidae, Sciaridae, Cecidomyiidae, Phoridae, Platypezidae, Chloropidae, Drosophilidae); the two most common fly species were Drosophila falleni Wheeler and Leucophenga varia Walker, both Drosophilidae. Less commonly found were Drosophila tripunctata Loew, Drosophila putrida Sturtevant, and Mycodrosophila claytonae Wheeler and Takada. Frequently, several species of Drosophilidae were found cohabiting the same mushroom. Unless factors are in operation to prevent competition (niche partitioning, predation, parasitism), mycophagous Diptera may pose a challenge to the Competitive Exclusion Principle. Preliminary evidence suggests parasitism and predation by other species of arthropods may play a role in reducing competition.