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Flies of the family Calliphoridae are relevant in medico-legal investigations. Lucilia purpurascens is a specie belonging to this family which has been reported in different countries, including Colombia. Although there are records for Boyacá, there are no scientific publications to support them. The genus Lucilia has challenges in taxonomically separating its species due to synonyms, and L. purpurascens is an example of this. taking into account the above, the study aimed to identify and describe the main morphological characteristics of L. purpurascens from the Department of Boyacá. Adults, including males and females from L. purpurascens were collected and colonized under laboratory conditions. Daily individuals of all stages of development were taken out. Larvae were rinsed and fixed on permanent plates. A distinctive feature of the third-instar larva was the pattern of double-ended spines. Regarding adults, there was a marked sexual dimorphism, evident in the silver parafacial in males and orange in females, as well as a difference in the size of the mean ocellus. In general, taxonomic characters of the calyptras, ampulla, and wings were described, which combined are relevant for the taxonomic identification of the species using both males and females. The characters were registered photographically, which will facilitate the correct identification through traditional taxonomy. The present work presents for the first time the complete description of the female of L. purpurascens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aedes aegypti is the primary vector of viruses that cause diseases such as dengue, yellow fever, Zika, and Chikungunya, leading to high rates of morbidity and mortality in humans and substantial healthcare costs. The most common method for mosquito control involves the use of synthetic insecticides; however, continuous use of these substances leads to species resistance and environmental contamination. In response to these challenges, natural extracts have emerged as a promising alternative for vector control as they contain components potentially toxic to mosquitoes. The aim of this review is to present the current state of the use of natural extracts as a strategy for controlling both larval and adult Ae. aegypti. By means of information retrieval from databases, considering original articles published from 2018 to 2023, we sought information related to the plant part used for extract obtainment, extraction methods, and solvents used. A total of 676 articles were found, of which 35 met the established criteria. In these publications, 38 families, 69 genera, and 87 species of plants were identified, with a particular emphasis on the Asteraceae, Anacardiaceae, Myrtaceae, and Lamiaceae families due to their higher number of species used in research. On the other hand, the most commonly used methods for obtaining extracts included maceration with subsequent filtration, as well as Soxhlet extraction. Meanwhile, the preferred solvents for extract obtainment were ethanol and water. In conclusion, there is widespread use of plant extracts as insecticides, with extraordinary potential to control vector populations such as Ae. aegypti and, in turn, contribute to the reduction of arbovirus transmission by this mosquito. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aedes aegypti is a vector of arboviruses such as dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya, posing a threat to public health. Additionally, chemical insecticide control strategies have adverse effects due to insecticide resistance and soil contamination. This research evaluated the use of natural extracts from Citrus sinensis and Citrus latifolia obtained through the reflux method with ethanol, hexane, and chloroform, with mortality counts conducted over 72 hours. Citrus latifolia extracts obtained with ethanol and chloroform showed high efficacy as insecticides, achieving between 75% and 80% mortality within the first 12 hours, while Citrus sinensis extracts obtained with chloroform and ethanol solvents showed values lower than 50% within the first 24 hours. Citrus extracts are emerging as a promising alternative in Ae. aegypti control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell cultures are a tool that allows the maintenance of cells in vitro preserving their physiological, biochemical and genetic characteristics to the maximum, which can present very diverse properties depending on the species, tissue of origin and the culture medium used. The use of dipteran cell cultures constitutes a valuable methodology in different disciplines, such as physiology, genetics, biochemistry and pathology; thus, for example, it has been possible to study various diseases of interest in both human and veterinary medicine. This review presents information on multiple cell lines of the order Diptera, which have been used to carry out studies of cell-cell interaction, intracellular flow of metabolites, production of bioinsecticides, viral amplification and production of antimicrobial peptides. In Colombia, 12 dipteran cell lines have been established, characterized and standardized, some of which have been used as substrates in studies of the biological cycle of parasites of the genus Leishmania, as well as in the evaluation of arbovirus susceptibility. In this trend, the information on cell lines derived from dipterans is analyzed and discussed in order to carry out this review of their characteristics and applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]