The Diverse and Intricate Interactions Between Flies and Amphibians: A Systematic Review of Their Host-Use Patterns and Strategies

Species interactions are defined by the behavioral strategies deployed by the parties involved. However, a barrier to fully understanding the processes shaping those strategies has been the limited knowledge about the diverse and complex ways in which species can interact. Here, we perform a systematic review to examine the natural history and evolutionary ecology of the interactions between two large clades with a long evolutionary history together: Diptera and Amphibians. We outline three main strategies that have evolved multiple times within Diptera: ( a ) adult flies feeding on amphibian blood (micropredators), ( b ) fly larvae feeding on anuran eggs (egg predators), and ( c ) fly larvae acting as parasites or parasitoids of adult frogs (myiasis). We provide a synthesis of the distinct phylogenetic and biogeographical signatures of these strategies and identify current gaps in our understanding of these complex interactions. Ultimately, this work emphasizes the intricate nature of trophic strategies that can arise between invertebrates and vertebrates.