Triplax sulphuricollis Reitter, 1887 from the Hyrcanian forests of Iran recognized as a valid species by morphology and barcoding (Coleoptera: Erotylidae).

The status of Triplax collaris sulphuricollis Reitter, 1887 is reevaluated based on recent records from the Hyrcanian forests in northern Iran. Morphological features and barcoding support separate species status as Triplax sulphuricollis Reitter, 1887, new status. Morphological characteristics include an orange-yellow antennal club and elytral punctation arranged in striae. Triplax sulphuricollis is associated with oyster fungi of the genus Pleurotus growing on dead wood of deciduous trees.

A new species of Pherbellia (Diptera: Sciomyzidae) from Iran.

Pherbellia jalili Mortelmans Kazerani sp. nov. is described based on 5 males and 4 females. The new species is associated with old deciduous forest and is found only in the Hyrcanean forest in Iran. It is compared with its sister species, P. annulipes (Zetterstedt, 1846), and a comprehensive distribution map for both species is given. The key to species of this group of Pherbellia is updated including the Japanese Pherbellia tricolor Sueyoshi, 2001. Barcodes are generated for P. jalili sp. nov., P. annulipes, and P. nana nana (Fallén, 1820).

A new species of the genus Clistoabdominalis Skevington (Diptera: Pipunculidae) from Iran, with a key to the Western Palaearctic species of the Clistoabdominalis ruralis group.

During our studies on the Diptera fauna of the Caspian Hyrcanian mixed forest, Golestan province, Iran, a new species of the genus Clistoabdominalis (Pipunculidae) was identified. In the present paper we name, describe and illustrate Clistoabdominalis hyrcania sp. nov.. An identification key to the males of the Clistoabdominalis ruralis species group from the Western Palaearctic region is provided.

Eight new species of Dolichopodinae (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) from northern Iran.

Dipterological surveys were conducted in different sites in western and central parts of northern Iran (Guilan, Mazandaran, Kordestan, East and West Azerbaijan and Ardabil provinces) during 2010-2011 using Malaise traps, and during 2012-2014 employing sweep nets. A total of 110 species were collected, including 42 Dolichopodinae. Eleven dolichopodine species proved new to science, eight of which are described here: Dolichopus fuscicercus sp. nov., D. subimmaculatus sp. nov., Gymnopternus flavitibia sp. nov., G. atratus sp. nov., Hercostomus setitibia sp. nov., H. albicoxa sp. nov., Poecilobothrus annulitarsis sp. nov. and P. innotabilis sp. nov. Some of these species strongly resemble European species and even share near identical conspicuous male secondary sexual characters.

A revision of the genus Pelecocera Meigen with the description of the male of pelecocera persiana Kuznetzov from Iran (Diptera: Syrphidae).

The genus Pelecocera Meigen (Diptera: Syrphidae) is revised. Type material of most species was studied to describe, illustrate and delimit the male of Pelecocera persiana Kuznetzov, recently discovered from Iran. This is the first known specimen of this species since 1914, when the type female was collected. The diagnostic characters of P. persiana are provided, along with an identification key for Pelecocera species. The lectotype of Pelecocera latifrons Loew is designated.

A new species of Sybistroma Meigen (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) from the Middle East with a key to West-Palaearctic species of the genus.

A new species, Sybistroma occidasiatica sp. nov., from the Middle East is described. It is close to S. inornata (Loew, 1857), but is distinguished by its long arista-like antennal stylus (longer than postpedicel) and short apicoventral epandrial lobe of the hypopygium (much shorter than cercus). The new species is peculiar in comprising two phenotypes, which can be distinguished by the length ratio of 1st and 2nd articles of the antennal stylus. The following recombination is also proposed: Sybistroma caudata (Loew, 1859), comb. nov. (transferred from Gymnopternus Loew, 1857). A checklist of the 26 West-Palaearctic species of the genus is compiled, as well as a key based mainly on male secondary sexual characters. The known distribution of Sybistroma Meigen, 1824, is discussed.

New data on Empis Linnaeus (Diptera: Empididae) from Iran, with description of a new species of the subgenus Lissempis Bezzi.

Fourteen species of the genus Empis Linnaeus were collected and identified from Iran. Empis (Lisssempis) guilanensis Kazerani & Shamshev sp. nov. is described and illustrated from Guilan province in north central Iran. The following seven species were recorded from Iran for the first time: E. (Euempis) tessellata Fabricius, 1794; E. (Pachymeria) mediterranea (Loew, 1864); E. (P.) obscuripes (Loew, 1873); E. (Polyblepharis) dedecor Loew, 1869; E. (P.) engeli Chvála, 1999; E. (P.) soror Collin, 1937; E. (P.) spirifera Bezzi, 1909. An identification key to the subgenera and species of Empis from Iran are provided.