Additions to the knowledge of Manota Williston (Diptera: Mycetophilidae) from the Neotropical region, with description of four new species.

The Neotropical species of the genus Manota Williston are studied, based on material of 146 specimens from French Guiana, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Dominica and the Dominican Republic. Four new species are described, viz. M. corniculata sp. n. (French Guiana), M. pseudocavata sp. n. (French Guiana), M. truuverki sp. n. (French Guiana) and M. vladi sp. n. (Dominican Republic). Manota defecta Williston, 1896, the type species of the genus, is listed from Dominica, representing the first record since its description more than a century ago from a Southern Caribbean Island, St. Vincent. New records of 13 additional species are provided: M. acutistylus Jaschhof Hippa, 2005 (Dominica), M. aligera Hippa, Kurina Sääksjärvi, 2017 (French Guiana), M. digitata Hippa, Kurina Sääksjärvi, 2017 (French Guiana), M. iota Hippa Kurina, 2013 (French Guiana), M. micula Hippa Kurina, 2013 (French Guiana), M. nordestina Kurina, Hippa Amorim, 2018 (French Guiana), M. parva Jaschhof Hippa, 2005 (Nicaragua), M. pauloides Hippa, Kurina Sääksjärvi, 2017 (Ecuador), M. perplexa Kurina, Hippa Amorim, 2017 (Nicaragua), M. rotundistylus Jaschhof Hippa, 2005 (Ecuador), M. serrulata Hippa, Kurina Sääksjärvi, 2017 (French Guiana), M. spinosa Jaschhof Hippa, 2005 (French Guiana), M. subaristata Kurina, Hippa Amorim, 2017 (Ecuador). The number of Neotropical Manota species has risen to 96.

Just a Fragment of Undescribed Diversity: Twenty New Oriental and Palearctic Species of Sciaroidea (Diptera), including DNA Sequence Data and Two New Fossil Genera.

The following 17 extant new species of Sciaroidea (Diptera: Bibionomorpha) are described: Bolitophila nikolae Sevcík sp. nov. (Bolitophilidae, Taiwan), Catocha jingfui sp. nov. (Cecidomyiidae, Taiwan), Catocha manmiaoe sp. nov. (Cecidomyiidae, Taiwan), Catocha shengfengi sp. nov. (Cecidomyiidae, Taiwan), Planetella taiwanensis sp. nov. (Cecidomyiidae, Taiwan), Diadocidia pseudospinusola sp. nov. (Diadocidiidae, Taiwan), Asioditomyia bruneicola sp. nov. (Ditomyiidae, Brunei), Asioditomyia lacii sp. nov. (Ditomyiidae, Taiwan), Ditomyia asiatica sp. nov. (Ditomyiidae, Thailand), Chetoneura davidi sp. nov. (Keroplatidae, Brunei), Euceroplatus mantici sp. nov. (Keroplatidae, Thailand), Setostylus fangshuoi sp. nov. (Keroplatidae, Taiwan), Platyceridion yunfui sp. nov. (Keroplatidae, Hainan), Terocelion adami sp. nov. (Keroplatidae, Taiwan), Hadroneura martini sp. nov. (Mycetophilidae, Taiwan), Paratinia furcata sp. nov. (Mycetophilidae, Czech Republic, Slovakia), and Nepaletricha sikorai sp. nov. (Sciaroidea incertae sedis, Thailand). Two new genera are described from the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber, Burmasymmerus gen. nov. (Ditomyiidae, type species Burmasymmerus korneliae sp. nov., including also B. wieslawi sp. nov.), representing the first record of the family Ditomyiidae from the Mesozoic, and Burmatricha gen. nov. (Sciaroidea incertae sedis, type species Burmatricha mesozoica sp. nov.). Molecular phylogeny of Ditomyiidae, based on two DNA markers (28S, COI), as well as that of Catocha Haliday, 1833, based on the mitochondrial COI and 16S fragments, are also presented.

New data on the genus Manota Williston (Diptera: Mycetophilidae) from Africa, with an updated key to the species.

A total of 346 male specimens of Manota collected from 13 countries in Africa are studied. They belong to 40 different species including 12 new to science. The new species are: M. burundiensis (Burundi), M. cornuta (Ghana), M. fuscinula (Ghana), M. geniculata (Gabon), M. kirkspriggsi (Madagascar), M. kjaerandseni (Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire), M. leptochaeta (Madagascar), M. limai (São Tomé and Principe), M. oronnai (Nigeria), M. platychaeta (Madagascar), M. polylobata (Nigeria) and M. triseta (Ghana, Guinea). New records of the following 28 species are presented: M. aculifera Hippa Kurina, 2012 (Ghana), M. afra Hippa Kurina, 2012 (Ghana, Democratic Republic of Congo), M. clinochaeta Hippa, 2008 (Madagascar), M. clurina Hippa Kurina, 2012 (Côte d'Ivoire), M. comata Hippa Kurina, 2012 (Ghana, Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda), M. cultigera Hippa, 2008 (Madagascar), M. dissidens Hippa Kurina, 2012 (Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire), M. foliolata Hippa Kurina, 2012 (Cameroon), M. ghanaensis Hippa Kurina, 2012 (Ghana), M. grootaerti Kurina Hippa, 2014 (Democratic Republic of Congo), M. katusabei Hippa Kurina, 2012 (Ghana, Guinea, Uganda), M. lachaisei Matile, 1972 (Democratic Republic of Congo), M. mabokeensis Matile, 1972 (Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda), M. macrodon Hippa, 2008 (Madagascar), M. mazumbaiensis Søli, 1993 (Ghana, Guinea, Uganda), M. natalensis Jaschhof Mostovski, 2006 (Republic of South Africa), M. peltata Kurina Hippa, 2014 (Ghana), M. peltigera Kurina Hippa, 2014 (Ghana, Uganda), M. petiolata Hippa Kurina, 2012 (Ghana), M. phyllochaeta Hippa, 2008 (Madagascar), M. pilosa Hippa Kurina, 2012 (Ghana, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria), M. pinnata Hippa Kurina, 2012 (Democratic Republic of Congo), M. pinnulata Hippa Kurina, 2012 (Ghana), M. reclinata Kurina Hippa, 2014 (Ghana, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire), M. relicina Hippa Kurina, 2012 (Uganda), M. senticosa Hippa Kurina, 2012 (Ghana, Gabon, Guinea, Central African Republic), M. uncinata Hippa, 2008 (Madagascar) and M. whiteleyi Jaschhof Mostovski, 2006 (Ghana, Cameroon). An updated key to the Afrotropical Manota species is provided and their distribution briefly discussed. Altogether 68 species of Manota are now known from the Afrotropical region, while the genus holds 314 described species worldwide.

Notes on Manota Williston (Diptera: Mycetophilidae) from Australia and Papua New Guinea, with description of two new species.

Two new species, Manota williamsi sp. n. and Manota kerri sp. n., are described from Australia and Papua New Guinea, respectively. The former represents the second Manota species recorded from continental Australia. Characterised by setose anepisternum and non-setose laterotergite, M. williamsi is similar to M. gemella Hippa, 2007, but the presence of the mid tibial organ would group it together with five species from New Zealand. Manota kerri resembles M. alulata Kurina Hippa, 2015 in having a bilobed gonostylus and sternite 9 entirely fused with the gonocoxa, but differs by other details of the hypopygium. New records of M. subspathula Hippa, 2007 from Australia and Papua New Guinea, and M. biungulata Hippa, 2007, M. evexa Hippa 2007, M. hamulata Colless, 1966, M. perissochaeta Hippa, 2007 and M. serawei Hippa, 2007 from Papua New Guinea are presented.

A contribution to the systematics of the genus Manota Williston (Diptera: Mycetophilidae) in Brazil.

A total of 286 male specimens of Manota from 38 different collecting sites in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest were analysed. They belong to 32 different species, including 20 described as new to science and 12 recognized as previously described species. The new species are M. abbreviata sp. n., M. atlantica sp. n., M. carioca sp. n., M. cavata sp. n., M. hirta sp. n., M. lamasi sp. n., M. lanei sp. n., M. nordestina sp. n., M. oliveirai sp. n., M. paniculata sp. n., M. papaveroi sp. n., M. periotoi sp. n., M. perparva sp. n., M. pseudoiota sp. n., M. rostrata sp. n., M. sanctavirginae sp. n., M. securiculata sp.n., M. silvai sp. n., M. tavaresi sp. n. and M. unispinata sp. n. The taxonomic context of the newly described species is discussed. Manota palpalis Lane, 1948, the type of which is considered lost, is redescribed and discussed, based on the original description, the original illustrations, and the type-locality. Our specimens of the previously described species belong to M. aligera Hippa, Kurina Sääksjärvi, 2017, M. anfracta Hippa Kurina, 2013, M. appendiculata Hippa Kurina, 2013, M. caribica Jaschhof Hippa, 2005, M. diversiseta Jaschhof Hippa, 2005, M. micula Hippa Kurina, 2013, M. panda Hippa Kurina, 2013, M. pustulosa Hippa, Kurina Sääksjärvi, 2017, M. quantula Hippa Kurina, 2013, M. serrulata Hippa, Kurina Sääksjärvi, 2017 and M. subaristata Kurina, Hippa Amorim, 2017. Among the species dealt with here, ten have a wide distribution in South America or the Neotropics, six are known from only a single site, nine are widespread along the Atlantic Forest, and seven are known only from southern Brazil/northwestern Argentina. A discrepancy between the distribution patterns of Manota species and the general areas of endemism known for flies in the Atlantic Forest is discussed, and a non-destructive sequencing reverse workflow protocol for Manota specimens proposed.        Including the species described here, the Neotropical region closely approaches the Oriental region in terms of the number of described species (92 and 102, respectively), while the genus now includes 300 species worldwide.

Comprehensive inventory of true flies (Diptera) at a tropical site.

Estimations of tropical insect diversity generally suffer from lack of known groups or faunas against which extrapolations can be made, and have seriously underestimated the diversity of some taxa. Here we report the intensive inventory of a four-hectare tropical cloud forest in Costa Rica for one year, which yielded 4332 species of Diptera, providing the first verifiable basis for diversity of a major group of insects at a single site in the tropics. In total 73 families were present, all of which were studied to the species level, providing potentially complete coverage of all families of the order likely to be present at the site. Even so, extrapolations based on our data indicate that with further sampling, the actual total for the site could be closer to 8000 species. Efforts to completely sample a site, although resource-intensive and time-consuming, are needed to better ground estimations of world biodiversity based on limited sampling.

Remarkable fly (Diptera) diversity in a patch of Costa Rican cloud forest: Why inventory is a vital science.

Study of all flies (Diptera) collected for one year from a four-hectare (150 x 266 meter) patch of cloud forest at 1,600 meters above sea level at Zurquí de Moravia, San José Province, Costa Rica (hereafter referred to as Zurquí), revealed an astounding 4,332 species. This amounts to more than half the number of named species of flies for all of Central America. Specimens were collected with two Malaise traps running continuously and with a wide array of supplementary collecting methods for three days of each month. All morphospecies from all 73 families recorded were fully curated by technicians before submission to an international team of 59 taxonomic experts for identification.        Overall, a Malaise trap on the forest edge captured 1,988 species or 51% of all collected dipteran taxa (other than of Phoridae, subsampled only from this and one other Malaise trap). A Malaise trap in the forest sampled 906 species. Of other sampling methods, the combination of four other Malaise traps and an intercept trap, aerial/hand collecting, 10 emergence traps, and four CDC light traps added the greatest number of species to our inventory. This complement of sampling methods was an effective combination for retrieving substantial numbers of species of Diptera. Comparison of select sampling methods (considering 3,487 species of non-phorid Diptera) provided further details regarding how many species were sampled by various methods.        Comparison of species numbers from each of two permanent Malaise traps from Zurquí with those of single Malaise traps at each of Tapantí and Las Alturas, 40 and 180 km distant from Zurquí respectively, suggested significant species turnover. Comparison of the greater number of species collected in all traps from Zurquí did not markedly change the degree of similarity between the three sites, although the actual number of species shared did increase.        Comparisons of the total number of named and unnamed species of Diptera from four hectares at Zurquí is equivalent to 51% of all flies named from Central America, greater than all the named fly fauna of Colombia, equivalent to 14% of named Neotropical species and equal to about 2.7% of all named Diptera worldwide. Clearly the number of species of Diptera in tropical regions has been severely underestimated and the actual number may surpass the number of species of Coleoptera.        Various published extrapolations from limited data to estimate total numbers of species of larger taxonomic categories (e.g., Hexapoda, Arthropoda, Eukaryota, etc.) are highly questionable, and certainly will remain uncertain until we have more exhaustive surveys of all and diverse taxa (like Diptera) from multiple tropical sites.        Morphological characterization of species in inventories provides identifications placed in the context of taxonomy, phylogeny, form, and ecology. DNA barcoding species is a valuable tool to estimate species numbers but used alone fails to provide a broader context for the species identified.

New species and new records of Manota Williston from Colombia, Brazilian Amazonia, and Costa Rica (Diptera, Mycetophilidae).

The following five species are described as new: Manota clavasp. n. (Colombia), Manota multilobatasp. n. (Colombia), Manota perplexasp. n. (Costa Rica), Manota setilobatasp. n. (Colombia) and Manota subaristatasp. n. (Colombia). In addition, new records for the following 11 species are presented: Manota acuminata Jaschhof & Hippa, 2005 (Costa Rica), Manota arenalensis Jaschhof & Hippa, 2005 (Costa Rica), Manota corcovado Jaschhof & Hippa, 2005 (Costa Rica), Manota costaricensis Jaschhof & Hippa, 2005 (Costa Rica), Manota diversiseta Jaschhof & Hippa, 2005 (Colombia, Brazilian Amazonia, Costa Rica), Manota minutula Hippa, Kurina & Sääksjärvi, 2017 (Brazilian Amazonia), Manota multisetosa Jaschhof & Hippa, 2005 (Costa Rica), Manota parva Jaschhof & Hippa, 2005 (Colombia, Costa Rica), Manota pisinna Hippa & Kurina, 2013 (Brazilian Amazonia), Manota spinosa Jaschhof & Hippa, 2005 (Colombia) and Manota squamulata Jaschhof & Hippa, 2005 (Costa Rica). Distribution patterns include (1) species known only locally in Costa Rica or Colombia, (2) distributions connecting Central America to west Andes lowlands, and (3) north-west Neotropical components, extending from Central America to Brazilian Amazonia. The possible biogeographical and taxonomical context of Manota species with a widespread distribution is considered.

The genus Manota Williston (Diptera: Mycetophilidae) in Peruvian Amazonia, with description of sixteen new species and notes on local species richness.

A comprehensive study of material of the worldwide fungus gnat genus Manota Williston, sampled from the Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve in Peruvian Amazonia, was conducted. The following 16 species are described as new: M. aligera sp. n., M. aristoseta sp. n., M. calva sp. n., M. ciliata sp. n., M. exigua sp. n., M. digitata sp. n., M. flabellata sp. n., M. iquitosensis sp. n., M. limulata sp. n., M. micella sp. n., M. minutula sp. n., M. nuda sp. n., M. parvula sp. n., M. pauloides sp. n., M. pustulosa sp. n. and M. serrulata sp. n. In addition, the following 16 species are recorded: M. acuminata Jaschhof & Hippa, 2005, M. acutistylus Jaschhof & Hippa, 2005, M. anfracta Hippa & Kurina, 2013, M. appendiculata Hippa & Kurina, 2013, M. aristata Hippa & Kurina, 2013, M. bisulca Hippa & Kurina, 2013, M. diversiseta Jaschhof & Hippa, 2005, M. iota Hippa & Kurina, 2013, M. micula Hippa & Kurina, 2013, M. papillosa Hippa & Kurina, 2013, M. paula Hippa & Kurina, 2013, M. penicillata Jaschhof & Hippa, 2005, M. pisinna Hippa & Kurina, 2013, M. quantula Hippa & Kurina, 2013, M. spinosa Jaschhof & Hippa, 2005 and M. virgata Hippa & Kurina, 2013. Altogether 67 species of Manota are now known from the Neotropical region.

Notes on Oriental and East Palaearctic Manota Williston (Diptera, Mycetophilidae), with the description of seven new species.

The following new species of Manota are described: M. adunca (Taiwan), M. incilis (Nepal), M. integra (China), M. mitrata (China), M. nepalensis (Nepal), M. tayal (Taiwan) and M. vesca (Philippines). New records of the following species are given: M. acutangula Hippa (China, Taiwan), M. curvistylus Hippa, Kjærandsen and Saigusa (China), M. oblonga Hippa (China), M. perlobata Hippa (China) and M. planilobata Hippa (China). Characters of the Chinese material of M. curvistylus are discussed and drawings of the hypopygium of a Chinese specimen are given.

New species of Claustropyga Hippa, Vilkamaa & Mohrig (Diptera, Sciaridae) from the Holarctic region.

The following four new species are described: Claustropyga clavulata sp. n. (Canada), C. lobigera sp. n. (Finland), C. modica sp. n. (Finland) and C. stupenda sp. n. (Canada, Russia). A fifth, probably new species is briefly discussed. Claustropyga stupenda has spectacular morphological characters in its hypopygium. There are now 23 species in Claustropyga.

A review of the South Pacific Manota Williston (Diptera, Mycetophilidae), with the description of thirteen new species.

The genus Manota is found to consist of 37 species in the South Pacific region. The following 13 species are described as new: M. acris sp. n. (Papua New Guinea (PNG)), M. alulata sp. n. (PNG), M. apentachaeta sp. n. (PNG), M. clivicola sp. n. (PNG), M. cordata sp. n. (PNG), M. feminea sp. n. (PNG), M. kaindiensis sp. n. (PNG), M. lunata sp. n. (PNG), M. nimia sp. n. (Solomon Is.), M. pentachaeta sp. n. (PNG), M. siciliculata sp. n. (PNG), M. sigma sp. n. (PNG) and M. unisetata sp. n. (Solomon Is.). New records of the following 11 species are presented: M. bicuspis Hippa, 2007 (PNG, Solomon Is.), M. biunculata Hippa, 2007 (PNG), M. evexa Hippa, 2007 (PNG), M. explicans Hippa, 2007 (PNG), M. hamulata Colless, 1966 (PNG), M. pacifica Edwards, 1928 (Samoa), M. parilis Hippa, 2007 (PNG, Vanuatu), M. perissochaeta Hippa, 2007 (PNG), M. serawei Hippa, 2007 (PNG), M. spathula Hippa, 2007 (PNG) and M. subspathula Hippa, 2007 (Australia). The latter is the first described species of Manota recorded from continental Australia. A redescription of M. pacifica Edwards, 1928 is given.

The genus Sciara Meigen (Diptera, Sciaridae) in New Caledonia, with the description of two new species.

The genus Sciara Meigen includes two species in New Caledonia, both newly described: Sciara insulana sp. n. and S. turgidula sp. n. The species are diagnosed and figured.

A remarkable new species of Chalcosyrphus Curran from the Oriental Region (Diptera: Syrphidae).

Chalcosyrphus blanki sp. nov. is described from material collected in China, Thailand and Burma. The new species is outstanding because of its size and metallic blue coloration. It is remarkable that only a few specimens have been found so far, all from different countries and only with Malaise traps. The species was only collected at altitudes above 2500 m. It fits very well in the genus Chalcosyrphus, but cannot be placed in any existing subgenus.

The genus Sphegina Meigen (Diptera, Syrphidae) in a biodiversity hotspot: the thirty-six sympatric species in Kambaiti, Myanmar.

The material of Sphegina collected by René Malaise in Kambaiti, Myanmar, in 1934 includes S. (Sphegina) kumaoniensis Mutin and the following 35 new species: S. (Sphegina) uncinata, S. (Asiosphegina) achaeta, S. (A.) adusta, S. (A.) atricolor, S. (A.) bidens, S. (A.) bilobata, S. (A.) carinata, S. (A.) cerina, S. (A.) crassispina, S. (A.) crucivena, S. (A.) culex, S. (A.) cultrigera, S. (A.) ensifera, S. (A.) falcata, S. (A.) forceps, S. (A.) forficata, S. (A.) furva, S. (A.) gigas, S. (A.) index, S. (A.) malaisei, S. (A.) minuta, S. (A.) mirifica, S. (A.) nasuta, S. (A.) pollex, S. (A.) pollinosa, S. (A.) parvula, S. (A.) pusilla, S. (A.) radula, S. (A.) raduloides, S. (A.) siculifera, S. (A.) simplex, S. (A.) sinesmila, S. (A.) subradula, S. (A.) trichaeta and S. (A.) trispina. A key to the studied species is given. The world fauna of Sphegina now comprises 120 species.

The genus Epidapus Haliday (Diptera, Sciaridae) in New Caledonia, with the description of four new species.

The following species of the genus Epidapus Haliday, 1851 are recognized from New Caledonia: Epidapus (s. str.) aciculatus sp. n., E. (Pseudoaptanogyna) angulatus sp. n., E. (s. str.) formosus sp. n., E. (Zuhalia) primus Mohrig, 2004 and E. (s. str.) triquetrus sp. n. The new species are described, and a key to the local species is given. 

The genus Manota Williston (Diptera: Mycetophilidae) in the Congo basin with description of five new species.

The Manota species in the Congo basin are reviewed and 17 species are recorded. The following five new species are described: M. grootaerti sp. n., M. peltata sp. n., M. peltigera sp. n., M. reclinata sp. n., and M wittei sp. n. New records of the following species are presented: M. freerki Hippa & Kurina, 2012, M. issongo Matile, 1972, M. kibaleensis Hippa & Kurina, 2012, M. lachaisei Matile, 1972, M. mabokeensis Matile, 1972, M. mazumbaiensis Søli, 1993, M. petiolata Hippa & Kurina, 2012, M. pilosa Hippa & Kurina, 2012, M. relicina Hippa & Kurina, 2012, M. senticosa Hippa & Kurina, 2012 and M. teocchii Matile, 1972. Manota issongo is redescribed, including detailed illustration of the male hypopygium. The number of Afrotropical Manota species is increased to 56.

Diversity of manota williston (Diptera, mycetophilidae) in ulu temburong national park, brunei.

A total of 15 species of Manota Williston, 1896 are recorded from Brunei, based on the investigations in 2013-2014. Thirteen species are recorded from Ulu Temburong National Park and three species from the Universiti Brunei Darussalam Campus in Tungku. Six species are described as new to science: Manota belalongensis sp. n., M. kaspraki sp. n., M. macrothrix sp. n., M. megachaeta sp. n. and M. pileata sp. n. from Ulu Temburong, and M. ricina sp. n. from Tungku. New records of the following species are given: Manota bifida Hippa & Papp, M. bruneiensis Hippa & Sevcík, M. hyboloma Hippa & Sevcík, M. oligochaeta Hippa, M. pappi Hippa, M. perangulata Hippa & Sevcík, M. pollex Hippa, M. procera Hippa and M. simplex Hippa.

New species and new records of Manota Williston (Diptera: Mycetophilidae) in the Neotropical region.

The following 17 new species are described: Manota anfracta (Ecuador), M. appendiculata (Ecuador, French Guyana), M. aristata (Ecuador), M. bisulca (Ecuador), M. depilis (Ecuador), M. inermis (Ecuador), M. iota (Ecuador, French Guyana), M. micula (Ecuador), M. panda (Argentina), M. papillosa (Ecuador), M patula (French Guyana), M. paula (Ecuador), M. pisinna (French Guyana), M. quantilla (Ecuador), M. quantula (Ecuador), M. senta (Nicaragua), M. virgata (Ecuador). New records of the following species are given: Manota acuminata Jaschhof and Hippa (Ecuador), M. acutistylus Jaschhof and Hippa (Ecuador, French Guyana), M. diversiseta Jaschhof and Hippa (Ecuador, French Guyana), M. ibanezi Hippa and Huerta (Ecuador, French Guyana, Peru), M. inornata Jaschhof & Hippa (French Guyana), M. multise tosa Jaschh of and Hippa (Ecuador), M. parva Jaschhof and Hippa (Ecuador), M. rotundistylus Jaschhof and Hippa (Ecuador), and M. squamulata Jaschhof and Hippa (Ecuador).