A New Genus of Villini (Diptera: Bombyliidae: Anthracinae) from the Semiarid Caatinga Domain, with a Description of a New Species, Pupal Case, Bionomic Remarks and an Identification Key to the Brazilian Genera of the Tribe.

A new monotypic genus is described and illustrated based on the species Pugliesemyia titiznana gen. nov. et sp. nov. from the Caatinga domains of the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. It belongs to the small group of genera in the Neotropical region (Stonyx Osten Sacken, Lepidanthrax Osten Sacken, Rhynchanthrax Painter) among the tribe Villini, with a projecting proboscis. In addition, we also provide an updated identification key to the known Brazilian genera of Villini, description and illustrations of the pupal case, bionomic remarks on the feeding habits and the host record of the species and a brief discussion on Villini systematics and boundaries of their genera.

GC Content Across Insect Genomes: Phylogenetic Patterns, Causes and Consequences.

The proportions of A:T and G:C nucleotide pairs are often unequal and can vary greatly between animal species and along chromosomes. The causes and consequences of this variation are incompletely understood. The recent release of high-quality genome sequences from the Darwin Tree of Life and other large-scale genome projects provides an opportunity for GC heterogeneity to be compared across a large number of insect species. Here we analyse GC content along chromosomes, and within protein-coding genes and codons, of 150 insect species from four holometabolous orders: Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera. We find that protein-coding sequences have higher GC content than the genome average, and that Lepidoptera generally have higher GC content than the other three insect orders examined. GC content is higher in small chromosomes in most Lepidoptera species, but this pattern is less consistent in other orders. GC content also increases towards subtelomeric regions within protein-coding genes in Diptera, Coleoptera and Lepidoptera. Two species of Diptera, Bombylius major and B. discolor, have very atypical genomes with ubiquitous increase in AT content, especially at third codon positions. Despite dramatic AT-biased codon usage, we find no evidence that this has driven divergent protein evolution. We argue that the GC landscape of Lepidoptera, Diptera and Coleoptera genomes is influenced by GC-biased gene conversion, strongest in Lepidoptera, with some outlier taxa affected drastically by counteracting processes.

A Second New Species of Tamanduamyia Rafael and Limeira-de-Oliveira (Diptera, Mythicomyiidae, Mythicomyiinae) from Brazil, with Discussion of the Possible First Cave Dwelling Record of a Micro-bee fly.

A new species of Tamanduamyia (Diptera, Mythicomyiidae, Mythicomyiinae) is described from Serra do Ramalho, Carinhanha, Bahia, Brazil, Tamanduamyia bichuettae sp. nov. The type series was actively collected with falcon tubes when resting at the entrance of a limestone cave in the rock exudations. The species is described and illustrated in detail, including the male terminalia and female spermathecae. This is the first record of a micro-bee fly species in the state of Bahia (Brazil) and may also represent the first recorded association of a Mythicomyiidae species with cave environments.

A new genus for Painter amp; Painter's Villa "celer"-group in the New World (Diptera: Bombyliidae).

The bee fly genus Hemipenthes Loew in the New World reflects a heterogeneous assemblage of species. Study of species attributed to Painter Painter's 1962 Villa "celer" group (the species were later transferred to Hemipenthes) from the southern United States, and Central and South America shows a suite of characters that separate it from Hemipenthes s. str. and it is here described as the new genus Ins Evenhuis, n. gen. with its type species Anthrax ignea Macquart. Eight described species are here transferred to Ins: Ins celeris (Wiedemann, 1828), n. comb., Ins constituta (Walker, 1852), n. comb.; Ins curta (Loew, 1869), n. comb., Ins ignea (Macquart, 1846), n. comb.; Ins leucocephala (Wulp, 1886), n. comb., Ins martinorum (Painter, 1962), n. comb., Ins minas (Macquart, 1848), n. comb., and Ins pleuralis (Williston, 1901), n. comb. Two new species, Ins pectorcolumbo Evenhuis, n. sp. from El Salvador and Ins zanouts Evenhuis, n. sp. from Panama and Costa Rica are described and illustrated. The holotype of Anthrax divisa Walker, 1852, has been examined and found to be conspecific with Ins minas (Macquart, 1848), n. syn., and Anthrax galathea Osten Sacken, 1886 is found to be synonymous with Ins constituta (Walker, 1852), n. syn. Two other South American species currently in Hemipenthes, H. melaleuca (Wiedemann), and H. ruficollis (Bigot) are here transferred to Chrysanthrax, n. combs. A key to species in the genus is given.

New Pieza Evenhuis (Diptera, Mythicomyiidae, Mythicomyiinae) from Northeast Brazil.

The genus Pieza Evenhuis, 2002 has 11 known species but only one recorded from Brazil. In this paper, eight new species, P. ankh sp. nov., P. aurislepus sp. nov., P. bittencourti sp. nov., P. parakake sp. nov., P. parnasecon sp. nov., P. rafaeli sp. nov., P. silvanae sp. nov. and P. yeatesi sp. nov., are described from Maranhão and Piauí in the Northeast of Brazil. A key to genera of Mythicomyiinae of the world (modified from Rafael and Limeira-de-Oliveira 2014) and the Brazilian species of Pieza is provided. In addition, a distribution map for the Brazilian species of Pieza is presented.

The family Bombyliidae in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Diptera: Brachycera: Asiloidea).

Bombyliidae, also known as "Bee flies", is one of the dipteran families that have species of potential use as biological control agents, as their larvae are predators or parasitoids of eggs, larvae, prepupae or pupae of other insects. The hosts of Bombyliidae are found within six orders of insects: Lepidoptera, Orthoptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera, and Neuroptera, in addition to the arachnid order Araneae (Spiders). However, almost half of all host records are from bees and wasps (Hymenoptera). The present work provides a catalogue of bee flies (Family Bombyliidae) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Old World synonymies, type localities, world distributions by biogeographic realm(s) and country, Saudi Arabian localities and dates of collection are provided. A total of 116 species belonging to 40 genera, 12 tribes and 10 subfamilies has been catalogued. Hosts and/or habitat data, where known, are given under the proper genera and/or species. Colored photographs of some species are provided.

Moderate fire severity is best for the diversity of most of the pollinator guilds in Mediterranean pine forests.

Fire, a frequent disturbance in the Mediterranean, affects pollinator communities. We explored the response of major pollinator guilds to fire severity, across a fire-severity gradient at different spatial scales. We show that the abundance of all pollinator groups responded to fire severity, and that bees and beetles showed in addition a significant species-diversity response. Bees, sawflies, and wasps responded to fire severity at relatively small spatial scales (250-300 m), whereas flies and beetles responded at larger spatial scales. The response of bees, sawflies, and wasps was unimodal, as predicted by the intermediate disturbance hypothesis, whereas flies and beetles showed a negative response. A possible explanation is that the observed patterns (spatial scale and type of response) are driven by taxa-specific ecological and life-history traits, such as nesting preference and body size, as well as the availability of resources in the postfire landscape. Our observational study provides an insight into the effect of fire severity on pollinators. However, future research exploring the explicit link between the pre- and postfire landscape structure and pollinator traits and responses is required for further establishment and understanding of cause-effect relationships.

One hundred years of solitude ended: A second species of Marmasoma White, 1916 (Diptera, Bombyliidae, Bombyliinae, Eclimini) from Australia.

Known as a monotypic genus for over a century, Marmasoma White, 1916 is an endemic Australian bee fly genus belonging to the tribe Eclimini of the subfamily Bombyliinae. A new species: Marmasoma hortorum sp. nov. is described based on a series of specimens from Western Australia and South Australia. This new species can be easily distinguished from the congener by the inconspicuous pale wing markings and mostly white to pale yellow scales on the body, as well as characters of both male and female genitalia. M. sumptuosum is found in south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania, and some specimens have been collected on Kangaroo Island, South Australia. M. hortorum sp. nov. occurs in south Western Australia, and a pair of specimens has been taken just north of Port Augusta in South Australia. A key to species of Marmasoma is provided.

The genus Antonia Loew in Egypt: A. gabalensis El-Hawagry, a new synonym of A. fedtschenkoi Loew (Antoniinae, Bombyliidae, Diptera).

Antonia gabalensis El-Hawagry, 2009 is hereby synonymized with Antonia fedtschenkoi Loew, 1873. Two homeotypes of A. fedtschenkoi and the primary types of A. gabalensis have been examined and found conspecific. Synonyms, diagnoses and photographs of dorsal habitus and male genitalia of the Egyptian species of Antonia are presented.

Review of Marmasoma White with lectotype designation of M. sumptuosum White and an identification key to the Australasian/Oceanian genera of Ecliminae (Diptera, Bombyliidae).

The bombyliid genus Marmasoma White is restricted to Australia. Marmasoma sumptuosum White, the only known species of the genus, is studied and a lectotype and paralectotypes are designated. Based on the type series and on additional material, a redescription of the species is presented and the main characters of the external morphology of adults are illustrated and photographed, including male and female genitalia. In addition, the remarkable aedeagus of M. sumptuosum, unique among all Ecliminae species by the presence of serrated projections on its apical portion, is described and photographed in detail for the first time. An identification key to the Australasian/Oceanian genera of Ecliminae and a distribution map with the known geographic records of Marmasoma are also included.

Floral polymorphism and the fitness implications of attracting pollinating and florivorous insects.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Floral polymorphism is frequently attributed to pollinator-mediated selection. Multiple studies, however, have revealed the importance of non-pollinating visitors in floral evolution. Using the polymorphic annual daisy Ursinia calenduliflora, this study investigated the importance of different insect visitors, and their effects on fitness, in the maintenance of floral polymorphism. METHODS: The spatial structure of a discrete floral polymorphism was characterized based on the presence/absence of anthocyanin floret spots in U. calenduliflora. A 3-year observational study was then conducted in polymorphic populations to investigate differences in visitation rates of dominant visitors to floral morphs. Experiments were performed to explore the floral preference of male and female Megapalpus capensis (the dominant insect visitor) and their effectiveness as pollinators. Next, floral damage by antagonistic florivores and the reproductive success of the two floral morphs were surveyed in multiple populations and years. KEY RESULTS: Floral polymorphism in U. calenduliflora was structured spatially, as were insect visitation patterns. Megapalpus capensis males were the dominant visitors and exhibited strong preference for the spotted morph in natural and experimental observations. While this may indicate potential fitness benefits for the spotted morph, female fitness did not differ between floral morphs. However, as M. capensis males are very efficient at exporting U. calenduliflora pollen, their preference may likely increase the reproductive fitness of the spotted morph through male fitness components. The spotted morph, however, also suffered significantly greater costs due to ovule predation by florivores than the spotless morph. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that pollinators and florivores may potentially exert antagonistic selection that could contribute to the maintenance of floral polymorphism across the range of U. calenduliflora. The relative strength of selection imposed by each agent is potentially determined by insect community composition and abundance at each site, highlighting the importance of community context in the evolution of floral phenotypes.