Two new Ptychoptera Meigen, 1803 (Diptera, Ptychopteridae) from the Western Palaearctic.

Ptychopteraxanthopleura Dvorák, Obona & Manko, sp. nov. from Azerbaijan and Georgia, and Ptychopterastaryi Dvorák, Obona & Manko, sp. nov. from Bulgaria are described. P.xanthopleurasp. nov. differs from the other member of the lacustris group mainly by having almost completely yellow pleurae, and by the shape of the epandrium and gonocoxites. The diagnostics of P.staryisp. nov. and P.incognita Török, Kolcsár & Keresztes, 2015 based on male genitalia are provided.

Bird Louse Flies Ornithomya spp. (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) as Potential Vectors of Mammalian Babesia and Other Pathogens.

Background: Birds and mammals share various ectoparasites, which are responsible for the transmission of a wide range of pathogens. The louse flies (family Hippoboscidae) are ectoparasitic dipterans feeding strictly on the blood of mammals and birds. Both sexes of the louse flies are obligatory hematophagous and are known to act as the vectors of infectious agents. Materials and Methods: A total of 20 specimens of Ornithomya sp. were collected by hand on birds caught in nets or by hand from humans in two localities in Eastern Slovakia in 2021. The DNA samples were individually screened by species-specific PCRs for the presence of selected vector-borne pathogens. Results: Taxonomic identification folowed by molecular analyses revealed two louse fly species of Ornithomya spp. (O. avicularia and O. biloba). The molecular screening provided negative PCR results for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Rickettsia spp., Bartonella spp., and Hepatozoon canis. In contrast, positive PCR results were obtained for Babesia spp., Wolbachia spp., and Trypanosoma corvi. Conclusions: Of epidemiological importance is that the louse flies can presumably spread Babesia and other pathogens by host switching which facilitates the transmission and spread of numerous pathogens.

The first report of human biting by Lipoptena cervi from Slovakia.

The first bite by deer ked Lipoptena cervi (Linnaeus, 1758) on humans has been reported from Slovakia. The host was bitten on the head and neck. Pain and itching appeared immediately after the bite. The skin lesion persisted for several weeks. Although the first documented case of human stings is published here, bites may have occurred in the past, albeit rarely.

Updated taxonomic keys for European Hippoboscidae (Diptera), and expansion in Central Europe of the bird louse fly Ornithomyacomosa (Austen, 1930) with the first record from Slovakia.

The available keys for European Hippoboscidae are outdated and do not cover all species currently known from Europe. Therefore, identification keys to the eleven genera and 31 species of the European hippoboscids are provided here. Ornithomyacomosa (Austen, 1930) (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) is recorded for the first time from the territory of Slovakia based on one female found on a sand martin, Ripariariparia (Linnaeus, 1758). The list of keds and louse flies recorded from the territory of Slovakia is increased to 20 species. New host records for Slovakia are presented.

An unwanted companion reaches the country: the first record of the alien mosquito Aedes japonicus japonicus (Theobald, 1901) in Slovakia.

BACKGROUND: Invasive mosquitoes of the genus Aedes are quickly spreading around the world. The presence of these alien species is concerning for both their impact on the native biodiversity and their high vector competence. The surveillance of Aedes invasive mosquito (AIM) species is one of the most important steps in vector-borne disease control and prevention. METHODS: In 2020, the monitoring of AIM species was conducted in five areas (Bratislava, Zvolen, Banská Bystrica, Presov, Kosice) of Slovakia. The sites were located at points of entry (border crossings with Austria and Hungary) and in the urban and rural zones of cities and their surroundings. Ovitraps were used at the majority of sites as a standard method of monitoring. The collected specimens were identified morphologically, with subsequent molecular identification by conventional PCR (cox1) and Sanger sequencing. The phylogenetic relatedness of the obtained sequences was inferred by the maximum likelihood (ML) method. The nucleotide heterogeneity of the Slovak sequences was analysed by the index of disparity. RESULTS: A bush mosquito, Aedes japonicus japonicus, was found and confirmed by molecular methods in three geographically distant areas of Slovakia-Bratislava, Zvolen and Presov. The presence of AIM species is also likely in Kosice; however, the material was not subjected to molecular identification. The nucleotide sequences of some Slovak strains confirm their significant heterogeneity. They were placed in several clusters on the ML phylogenetic tree. Moreover, Ae. j. japonicus was discovered in regions of Slovakia that are not close to a point of entry, where the mosquitoes could find favourable habitats in dendrothelms in city parks or forests. CONCLUSION: Despite being a first record of the Ae. j. japonicus in Slovakia, our study indicates that the established populations already exist across the country, underlining the urgent need for intensified surveillance of AIM species as well as mosquito-borne pathogens.

Psychodidae (Diptera) of Azerbaijan and Georgia - faunistics with biodiversity notes.

Records of 46 Psychodidae (Sycoracinae 1, Trichomyiinae 1, Psychodinae 44) species/subspecies are presented in this paper based on specimens collected by sweep-netting in Azerbaijan and Georgia in 2019. Nine species are recorded for the first time since their original description; 12 species are new for Transcaucasia; 22 species are new for Azerbaijan; and 17 species are new for Georgia. Saraiella ressli montana Jezek, 1990 is proposed as a synonym of S. ressli Wagner, 1983, syn. nov. Knowledge of some aspects of the ecology and biogeography of selected (especially rare) species has been expanded and a clear pattern was found in species richness, rare species, and new records in relation to land use, habitat diversity, and preservation of the environment surrounding the sampling site.

Review and contribution to the stonefly (Insecta: Plecoptera) fauna of Azerbaijan.

Known Plecoptera data published from Azerbaijan are critically reviewed. New records of 28 species are enumerated on the basis of specimens collected between 2017 and 2019, among them 16 are new for the fauna of Azerbaijan. Nemoura irani Aubert, 1964 is new for the whole Caucasian region, Leuctra sanainica Zhiltzova, 1960 and Plesioperla sakartvella (Zhiltzova, 1956) are new for the Greater Caucasus. The female and larva of an unknown Protonemura Kempny, 1898 species, collected in the Talysh Mts, are illustrated and described under temporary name Protonemura sp. AZE-1. A new species of Protonemura, collected both in the Azerbaijan and Georgian areas of the Greater Caucasus, will be formally described in a further paper. A male Protonemura specimen was found to be infected by mermithid worms, morphological lesions are illustrated and commented; this is the second documented case of mermithid infection in stoneflies. Subspecies level identity of Azerbaijani populations of Leuctra fusca (Linnaeus, 1758) proved to be problematic, morphological characters of the specimens are illustrated. Synonymy of Isoperla caucasica Balinsky, 1950 and I. pulchra Balinsky, 1950 under I. bithynica (Kempny, 1908) is disputed, the two names are combined under I. grammatica (Poda, 1761) sensu lato.

Two new Palaearctic species of moth flies (Diptera, Psychodidae, Psychodinae) from the Caucasus Mts.

Psychodid specimens were sorted from samples collected during fieldwork in areas in and around the Caucasus Mountains in 2019. Thornburghiella montana sp. nov. (from Georgia) and Pericoma inopinata sp. nov. (from Azerbaijan and Georgia) are described. Differential diagnoses are given and diagnostic characters illustrated.

Redescription of Armillipora Quate (Diptera: Psychodidae: Psychodinae) with a new species from Bolivia.

The former monotypic genus Armillipora Quate, known only from Costa Rica and Panama, is redescribed, including the type species A. selvica Quate, this time collected on the Caribbean side of Nicaragua, RAAN department, and illustrated based on male morphological characters. The male of a new species, A. suapiensis sp. nov., from Bolivia, La Paz department, is described here and also figured.

Synopsis of the Psychodidae (Diptera) fauna of Bulgaria.

Records of 81 Psychodidae (Sycoracinae 4 spp., Psychodinae 76 spp.) species/subspecies are presented in this paper based on specimens collected in Bulgaria. 46 species are new records for Bulgaria (Sycoracinae 3 spp., Psychodinae 43 spp.). The Psychodidae fauna of Bulgaria now comprises 99 species (Phlebotominae 5 spp., Sycoracinae 5 spp., Trichomyiinae 1 sp., and Psychodinae 88 spp.).

Three new species of moth flies (Diptera, Psychodidae, Psychodinae) from the Afrotropical Region.

Type material of moth flies of Neoarisemus leponti sp. nov. was collected in Madagascar, Toamasina province, environments of Analamazaotra and Amboditafonana. Hemimormia nyangerensis sp. nov. and Iranotelmatoscopus kenyensis sp. nov. were captured in Equatorial Africa near Victoria Lake during a fieldwork in Uganda (Gaba) and Kenya (Kusa, Nyangera). The mentioned three species are described, differential diagnoses included, and diagnostic characters illustrated.

Two new species of Molophilus Curtis from the Mediterranean and Transcaucasia (Diptera, Limoniidae).

Two new species of the genus Molophilus Curtis, 1833 are described, Molophilus (Molophilus) rohacekisp. nov. (Italy: Calabria) and M. (M.) soldanisp. nov. (Azerbaijan), and their male terminalia are illustrated.

A revised annotated checklist of louse flies (Diptera, Hippoboscidae) from Slovakia.

The list of all known locality and host records from the literature on louse flies from Slovakia are summarized, with the addition of new collection data. New locality data are provided for five species. Three species are added to the Slovakian list: Icostaminor (Bigot in Thomson, 1858), which was erroneously cited for Moravia instead of Slovakia in the previous checklist, and Ornithophilametallica (Schiner, 1864) and Ornithomyachloropus (Bergroth, 1901), which were overlooked from the last checklist. As a result, the louse fly fauna of Slovakia increases to 19 species: 12 autochtonous species and seven rare, non-native species only occasionally imported to Slovakia or migrating to the country with their hosts. This is by far the largest regional fauna of Hippoboscidae in Central Europe, and matches the richest southern European faunas. In total, 78 host-parasite associations concerning 46 bird-host species from eight orders and nine species of mammals, including humans, have been found from a literature review in Slovakia. Two host-parasite associations are reported from Slovakia for the first time: Ornithomyaavicularia (Linnaeus, 1758) on Prunellamodularis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Aves: Prunellidae) and Lipoptenafortisetosa Maa, 1965 on Homosapiens Linnaeus, 1758 (Mammalia: Hominidae).

Checklist of known moth flies and sand flies (Diptera, Psychodidae) from Armenia and Azerbaijan.

All credible and available published records for 17 species of moth flies known so far from Armenia (Phlebotominae 11 species, Psychodinae 6 species) and Azerbaijan (Phlebotominae 18 species) are summarized. The first records of 18 species of Psychodinae (tribes Mormiini, Paramormiini, Psychodini, Pericomaini) from Armenia and 6 new faunistic records (tribes Psychodini, Pericomaini) for the fauna of Azerbaijan are listed. The checklist of recent moth flies from Armenia includes now 35 species, and from Azerbaijan, 24 species.

Diversity of Armenian mayflies (Ephemeroptera) with the description of a new species of the genus Ecdyonurus (Heptageniidae).

We provide the first commented checklist of Armenian mayflies, based on all relevant literature and recent extensive sampling of 72 localities throughout Armenia during 2011, 2014, and 2015. Altogether 46 species are listed, eight of them reported from Armenia for the first time. One new species, Ecdyonurus (Ecdyonurus) eurycephalus sp. nov. is described (larva and male imago) based on morphological and molecular (COI) data. The species is characterized by a unique head shape in male imago and by the presence of tracheal filaments on gill plate VII in the larval stage.

Two new species of Bruchomyiinae (Diptera, Psychodidae) from the Neotropical Region.

Males of two Bruchomyiinae species were collected during fieldwork in Central and South America. Boreofairchildia belti Jezek, Obona Le Pont sp. nov. and Notofairchildia motacuensis Jezek, Obona Le Pont sp. nov. are described from a rain forerst site in Nicaragua and a rocky ridge site in Bolivia, respectively. Differential diagnoses are included, and important diagnostic characters illustrated.

Palaearctic species of Thaumastoptera (s. str.) Mik (Diptera: Limoniidae).

Redescriptions are provided of the Palaearctic species of Thaumastoptera (s. str.) Mik, viz. T. (T.) calceata Mik, 1866 (Europe; Saudi Arabia), T. (T.) intermixta Savchenko, 1974 (Russia: North Caucasus; Georgia), and T. (T.) insignis Lackschewitz, 1940 (Portugal, Spain), and a new species, T. (T.) spathifera sp. n. (Italy: Sicily), is described. All important characters of the wing and the male terminalia are illustrated. A key to the Palaearctic Thaumastoptera (s. str.) is appended.

Mitigating Curtaining Artifacts During Ga FIB TEM Lamella Preparation of a 14 nm FinFET Device.

We report on the mitigation of curtaining artifacts during transmission electron microscopy (TEM) lamella preparation by means of a modified ion beam milling approach, which involves altering the incident angle of the Ga ions by rocking of the sample on a special stage. We applied this technique to TEM sample preparation of a state-of-the-art integrated circuit based on a 14-nm technology node. Site-specific lamellae with a thickness <15 nm were prepared by top-down Ga focused ion beam polishing through upper metal contacts. The lamellae were analyzed by means of high-resolution TEM, which showed a clear transistor structure and confirmed minimal curtaining artifacts. The results are compared with a standard inverted thinning preparation technique.

Faunistic and bibliographical inventory of moth flies from Ukraine (Diptera, Psychodidae).

All important published records for 11 moth fly species known so far from Ukraine are reviewed (Phlebotominae 10 species, Psychodinae 1 species). Occurrences of two problematic taxa, Phlebotomus (Adlerius) brevis Theodor & Mesghali, 1964 and P. (Larroussius) major major Annandale, 1910, and some synonymies are discussed. Threticusnegrobovi Vaillant, 1972 must be deleted for Ukraine (misstatement). First records of 34 species of Psychodinae (tribes Mormiini, Paramormiini, Psychodini, Pericomaini) and one of Sycoracinae from Ukraine are also listed.

Descriptions of two new species of Afrotropical Psychodidae (Diptera).

Two new species of moth flies (Diptera: Psychodidae: Psychodinae) are described and illustrated on the basis of male morphological characters. Neoarisemus nyahururuensis sp. nov. was collected in the vicinity of Thomson's Falls (Nyahururu) in Kenya and Tonnoiriella veronikae sp. nov. in Toamasina province, Madagascar, Analamazaotra 1.4 km SSW Andasibe vill. (Périnet).