New records of Pseudopomyzidae in Brazil and description of the male of Latheticomyia infumata Wheeler (Diptera: Brachycera).

Latheticomyia Wheeler is recorded for the first time from Brazil, with records of Latheticomyia infumata Wheeler and Latheticomyia longiterebra Hennig. The male of L. infumata is described and the terminalia are illustrated. New records of Pseudopomyzella flava Hennig for the Brazilian Amazon are presented.

A century of Achilixiidae Muir, 1923 (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Fulgoromorpha): taxonomic study of the genus Bebaiotes Muir, 1924 and description of eight new species from Brazil.

We describe the first species of Achilixiidae from Brazil with representatives of Bebaiotes. Eight new species of Bebaiotes Muir, 1924 were described viz. Bebaiotes amazonica sp. nov. (Amazonas, Par, Rondnia and Roraima); Bebaiotes bia sp. nov. (Acre); Bebaiotes dichromata sp. nov. (Amazonas); Bebaiotes macroptera sp. nov. (Amazonas and Amap Bebaiotes parallela sp. nov. (Amazonas); Bebaiotes pennyi sp. nov. (Amazonas and Maranho); Bebaiotes tigrina sp. nov. (Amazonas); Bebaiotes wilsoni sp. nov. (Amazonas). In addition, four species were revised, and their distribution expanded: Bebaiotes banksi (Metcalf, 1938) (BrazilAmazonas and Par Panam Bebaiotes dorsivittata Fennah, 1947 (BrazilAmap, Amazonas, Par, Rondnia and Roraima; Ecuador; Peru; Bebaiotes guianesus (Fennah, 1947) (BrazilAmazonas; Guiana); Bebaiotes pulla Muir, 1934 (BrazilAcre and Amazonas; Ecuador). Additionally, an identification key to males and females of the species is provided.

A new apterous species of Platypalpus Macquart (Diptera: Hybotidae, Tachydromiinae) from Ecuador.

Tachydromiinae is a very diverse subfamily of Hybotidae that comprises quite small predaceous flies. It is clearly monophyletic and its species are distinguished from other subfamilies by the apomorphic loss of vein M2 and cell dm, neither pterostigma nor pseudotracheae, phallus with the apex not articulated and ejaculatory apodeme not fused to the base of phallus (Sinclair & Cumming 2006). Platypalpus Macquart belongs to the tribe Tachydromiini and it is defined by the following characters: eyes bare, separated in both sexes, postpronotal lobe differentiated, scutum longer than broad (except in P brevicornis species-group), mid leg raptorial, mid femur thickened and armed with rows of spine-like ventral setae, mid tibia usually with a somewhat prominent apical projection, wing with veins A1 and CuA2 present (cell cup present) (Grootaert & Shamshev 2012). The genus is the most diverse of those in the Tachydromiinae, with approximately 550 species found almost worldwide, but preferentially inhabiting cold and temperate regions in the Nearctic and Palaearctic; it is particularly diverse in the latter region with 295 described species, whereas only 22 species are known from the Neotropics (Yang et al. 2007). In the tropics it is more diverse at higher altitudes and in cold regions, with few species known at lower altitudes and in tropical areas, where they likely compete with species of Elaphropeza Macquart that occupy similar habits and niches (Grootaert & Shamshev 2012). This apparent competitive exclusion is the probable reason the genus is not very diverse in tropical regions (op. cit.). This paper describes a very curious new wingless species of Platypalpus from the Parque Nacional Cajas, Ecuador. It is the first wingless species described in the genus and is the 23rd species known from the Neotropical Region.

A new species of Tozzita Kramer (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Neocoelidiinae) and first record of Tozzita ips Kramer from Brazil.

A new species of Tozzita Kramer, 1964, Tozzita bifida sp. nov., is described and illustrated. The new species can be distinguished from the other species of the genus by the following characteristics: (1) forewing with commissural brown band; (2) pygofer with dentiform process on ventral margin and apex not spatulate; (3) subgenital plates with macroseta at apex; (4) style with preapical lobe developed and produced posteriorly; (5) aedeagus symmetrical; (6) anal tube with bifid basal process. Tozzita ips Kramer, 1964 is firstly recorded from Brazil. Additionally, an updated genus description and an identification key to males of the species are provided.

Taxonomic revision of the Neotropical genus Scutops Coquillett, 1904 (Diptera: Periscelididae).

The Neotropical genus Scutops is revised, including the description of S. flavithorax sp. nov., S. ipixunensis sp. nov., S. melinus sp. nov., S. robustus sp. nov., S. spinophallus sp. nov., and the redescriptions of five species. A key to included species is provided and Scutops striatus Hennig, 1969 is transferred to Periscelis Loew.

Two new species of the genus Hoplopeza Bezzi (Diptera, Hybotidae, Ocydromiinae) from the high Andean forests of Colombia.

Two new Andean species of Hoplopeza Bezzi are described and illustrated: Hoplopeza colombiana sp. nov. and Hoplopeza rafaeli sp. nov. These species are the first record from the Andean ecosystem of Colombia. In addition, the genus is diagnosed, the first description of the female terminalia, as well as a key and distribution map of the Andean species of the genus are presented.

New or little-known Neotropical Dolichopodidae (Diptera) (II): genus Hercostomus Loew excluded from the Neotropics.

The Neotropical species of Hercostomus Loew are revised and the following new combinations are proposed: Paraclius panamensis (Van Duzee, 1931) comb. nov. (Panama), P. plumitarsis (Parent, 1931) comb. nov. (Bolivia), P. problematicus (Parent, 1930) comb. nov. (Brazil and Guyana) and Tachytrechus flavimanus (Van Duzee, 1934) comb. nov. (Brazil, Ecuador and Guyana). The type of Hercostomus petulans Parent, 1939 is lost, the species cannot be confidently identified and is here treated as a nomen dubium. As a result, the genus Hercostomus is formally excluded from the Neotropical Region. Paraclius problematicus comb. nov., P. latipes (Aldrich) and Tachytrechus flavimanus comb. nov. are redescribed based on additional material and photographs of type specimens. In addition, Paraclius maculipennis (Van Duzee, 1934) is regarded as a junior synonym of P. problematicus comb. nov. A new species of Paraclius from Costa Rica, P. norrbomi sp. nov. is described in the newly proposed latipes-group, along with P. aberrans Robinson, P. latipes and P. panamensis comb. nov.

Species of Paraclius Loew (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) with bi-lamellate antennal stylus: new combination, new synonym, and two new species.

The species of Paraclius Loew with bi-lamellate arista-like stylus are revised and P. americanus (Schiner, 1868) comb. nov. is transferred from Tachytrechus Haliday and regarded as the senior synonym of P. diplacocerus Capellari, 2013 syn. nov. In addition, two new species with similar antennal morphology are described and illustrated from Brazil: P. bilamellatus sp. nov. (States of Espírito Santo and Goiás) and P. vulcanoae sp. nov. (State of São Paulo). A distribution map and a key to the males of known species of Paraclius with bi-lamellate arista-stylus are provided.

A new species of Neorhinotora Lopes, 1934 (Diptera: Heleomyzidae) and new records of the genus from Northeastern Brazil.

The Neotropical genus Neorhinotora Lopes is currently represented by five species: N. amapaensis Guimares & Papavero, N. aristalis (Fischer), N. diversa (Giglio-Tos), N. elsalvadorensis Menezes, Calhau & Ale-Rocha, and N. mutica (Schiner). A new species is described and illustrated: Neorhinotora fapema, sp. nov. from Maranho, Brazil, bringing the number of valid species to six. A revised key is provided for species identification.

New species and records of Caenidae Newman, 1853 (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) from Rondnia State, Northern Brazil.

Caenidae is a globally widespread family, inhabiting a variety of aquatic habitats. In South America, only 35 species are recognized, maybe as a consequence of the few studies until the first decade of the 21st century. Despite recent advances, large portions of Brazil, such as Rondnia State, are still characterized by Linnean and Wallacean shortfalls. Rondnia is an area predicted to have high mayfly richness, but with no record of Caenidae. From this perspective, the objective of this study is to provide the first access to primary biodiversity data of Caenidae (Ephemeroptera) from Rondnia. As result, we report five species (Brasilocaenis elidioi, Brasilocaenis irmleri, Caenis chamie, Caenis fittkaui, Latineosus sigillatus) and describe a new species based on all life stages (Caenis urupa sp. nov.).

Study of the Neotropical genus Bennarella Muir, 1930 with description of six new species (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Cixiidae).

Six new species of Bennarella Muir, 1930 viz. B. guidai sp. nov., B. henriquesi sp. nov., B. maculipennis sp. nov., B. rafaeli sp. nov., B. vittata sp. nov. and B. xavieri sp. nov., are described and illustrated. An updated description of B. bicoloripennis Muir and B. fusca Muir, together with illustrations, pictures, and new data of records, are provided. Additionally, an identification key to males and females of the species is provided.

New records and species of Pseudogaurax Malloch, 1915 (Diptera: Chloropidae) from the Amazon basin.

Pseudogaurax Malloch is a speciose genus of Chloropidae in the Neotropical region. The South American fauna is understudied, particularly in the Amazon basin. Here we provide a taxonomic revision of the Amazonian species of Pseudogaurax, including the description of five new species-P. flaviscutellatus sp. nov., P. infulatus sp. nov., P. longitriangularis sp. nov., P. pallidus sp. nov. and P. poseidoni sp. nov.-and a key to all Brazilian species. Including our results, Pseudogaurax is known from 19 species from Brazil, 10 of which occur in the Amazon Forest.

New species and records of Caenidae Newman, 1853 (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) from Northeastern Brazil.

New distributional records for four species and the description of a new species of Caenis Stephens from Parnaba River Basin, in a semiarid region of the state of Piau, Northeastern Brazil are given. Characters and illustrations to distinguish Caenis marataoan sp. nov. from all other species in Caenis are provided. The new species can be distinguished by the following combination of characters: 1) body length of male 1.52.0 mm, female 2.52.8 mm; 2) base of antennal flagellum not dilated; 3) forceps apically rounded, covered with trichomes and with 23 minute spines at apex; 4) styliger plate short with posterior margin convex; 5) penis fused and not laterally projected; 6) eggs oval-shaped; micropyle linear with narrow and long micropylar canal, preceded by an oval sperm guide.

Revision of the New Zealand endemic genus Pseudoscelolabes Collin (Diptera: Hybotidae: Ocydromiinae).

Pseudoscelolabes Collin, 1933, an endemic New Zealand genus, is revised, including the description of a new species, P. lesagei Sinclair Barros sp. nov. The male and female terminalia of the genus are described and illustrated for the first time. An identification key to the two included species and a map with distribution records are provided. The relationships of the genus within Ocydromiinae are discussed.

Vertical stratification of insect abundance and species richness in an Amazonian tropical forest.

Tropical forests are among the most biodiverse biomes on the planet. Nevertheless, quantifying the abundance and species richness within megadiverse groups is a significant challenge. We designed a study to address this challenge by documenting the variability of the insect fauna across a vertical canopy gradient in a Central Amazonian tropical forest. Insects were sampled over two weeks using 6-m Gressitt-style Malaise traps set at five heights (0 m-32 m-8 m intervals) on a metal tower in a tropical forest north of Manaus, Brazil. The traps contained 37,778 specimens of 18 orders of insects. Using simulation approaches and nonparametric analyses, we interpreted the abundance and richness of insects along this gradient. Diptera, Hymenoptera, and Coleoptera had their greatest abundance at the ground level, whereas Lepidoptera and Hemiptera were more abundant in the upper levels of the canopy. We identified species of 38 of the 56 families of Diptera, finding that 527 out of 856 species (61.6%) were not sampled at the ground level. Mycetophilidae, Tipulidae, and Phoridae were significantly more diverse and/or abundant at the ground level, while Tachinidae, Dolichopodidae, and Lauxaniidae were more diverse or abundant at upper levels. Our study suggests the need for a careful discussion of strategies of tropical forest conservation based on a much more complete understanding of the three-dimensional distribution of its insect diversity.

New species and new record of Neotropical Metatrichia Coquillett (Diptera: Scenopinidae).

Two species of the genus Metatrichia Coquillett, from South America, are described as new to science: Metatrichia barbata sp. nov. and Metatrichia brunneipennis sp. nov. Their relationships with related species are discussed. Metatrichia bulbosa (Osten Sacken, 1877) is registered to Brazil for the first time. A key to New World species of Metatrichia is presented.

A catalog of the Hybotidae of Chile (Diptera: Empidoidea).

A catalog of the Hybotidae of Chile is provided. We present all valid names and synonyms for the 27 species and 10 genera distributed in the country, including information about name, author, year of publication, page number, type species, type depository, type locality and references. The geographical distribution of the species was recorded from bibliographic data and revised collections. Two species previously recorded for the Hybotidae fauna of Chile must be deleted: Drapetis armipes Bezzi, described from Tacna Peru, and Ocydromia philippii Bigot, a synonym junior of Hyperperacera nemoralis (Philippi), now in Brachystomatidae (Trichopezinae). Bicellaria collina (Philippi) and Austrodromia? valdiviana (Philippi) are maintained in Hybotidae waiting for clarification of correct taxonomic assignment.

Description of a new species of Neorhinotora Lopes, 1934 (Diptera: Heleomyzidae) from Central America.

A new species of Neorhinotora Lopes, 1934 (Diptera, Heleomyzidae) is described: Neorhinotora elsalvadorensis sp. nov., from El Salvador, Central America, with illustrations of external and internal morphological characters and update of the identification key.

First record of Loisirella Holzinger, Holzinger amp; Egger, 2013 and description of a new species from Brazil (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Cixiidae).

A second species of the genus Loisirella Holzinger, Holzinger Egger, 2013, L. xanthosa sp. nov., is described from Amazonas State, Brazil. The new species can be distinguished from L. erwini Holzinger, Holzinger Egger, 2013, type species of the genus, by the coloration of the body and wing and male genitalia. This species represents the first record of Loisirella from Brazil.

Review of Brazilian species of Syneches Walker (Diptera, Hybotidae, Hybotinae), with description of ten new species.

We increase the knowledge on the taxonomy of Brazilian Syneches describing 10 new species: S. amorimi sp. nov., S. barrettoi sp. nov., S. digitatus sp. nov., S. fasciatus sp. nov., S. flaviscutellatus sp. nov., S. fuscus sp. nov., S. nordestino sp. nov., S. plaumanni sp. nov., S. sinclairi sp. nov., and S. smithi sp. nov., and redescribing three species: S. catarinae Smith, 1962, S. luteus (Wiedemann, 1830) and S. tomentosus Smith, 1962. Syneches ruficollis (Walker, 1852) is proposed as a nomen dubium since the type is lost and the original description does not allow identification. An identification key, high-resolution images of relevant characters, short diagnoses and maps of geographic records for all 34 Brazilian species now included in the genus are provided, as well as a checklist for the South American species of Syneches.