New records of moth flies (Diptera, Psychodidae) for the Dutch Fauna.

Background: Prior to this study, the moth flies in The Netherlands were represented by 61 species. Our findings derive from a citizen-science expedition in the Vondelpark in Amsterdam, one of the oldest public parks and best known parks in The Netherlands. The combination of citizen science and the exploration of a well-known urban park has allowed us to contribute to the knowledge of moth fly species present in The Netherlands. The findings from this study provide valuable insights into the distribution, taxonomy and genetic resources of Psychoda and Panimerus species, enhancing our understanding of insect biodiversity and promoting future research in this field. New information: Our study provides two new geographical records of the moth flies in The Netherlands, namely, Psychodauniformata Haseman, 1907 and Panimerusmaynei (Tonnoir, 1920) elevating the total number of species to 63. Furthermore, we provide re-descriptions of the females of Panimerusnotabilis (Eaton, 1893) and P.goetghebueri (Tonnoir, 1919). Additionally, we make available for the first time, the sequence of the 5'-end of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene or COI Barcodes for Panimerusnotabilis, P.goetghebueri and P.maynei. These COI Barcodes serve as valuable tools for future species identification within the genus.

Alepia viatrix sp. nov. (Diptera: Psychodidae), a new species of a Neotropical genus found on the Azores Archipelago (Portugal).

A new species of the Neotropical genus Alepia Enderlein, 1937 is described from the Azores Archipelago based on morphological characters and DNA barcodes from male and female specimens. Images of the new species as well as a discussion of the origin of this species are also provided. Moreover, we include an identification key for the adult male Psychodidae species recorded on the Azores Archipelago and comment on each species present on these islands. This is the first record of the genus Alepia from Azores.

First record of Lepidiella Enderlein, 1937 from the Oriental Region (Diptera, Psychodidae).

We provide the first record of the genus Lepidiella Enderlein, 1937 from the Oriental Region with the description of Lepidiellalimicornis sp. nov., based on two male specimens collected in Thailand. Additionally, we provide a list of the world species of Lepidiella and discuss the diagnosis and taxonomic placement of the genus.

Description of Perithreticusneglectus sp. n. from the West Usambara Mountains, Tanzania (Diptera, Psychodidae).

Background: The Psychodinae of the Afrotropical Region remain poorly understood. Slightly under 200 species have been described, but many countries have received very little attention from collectors and even countries where significant collection efforts have taken place have rarely had their collections studied in detail by specialist taxonomists. New information: Perithreticusneglectus sp. n. is described from the West Usambara Mountains, Tanzania, based on a male specimen collected in 1990. The new species is similar to Perithreticusanderseni Kvifte, 2015, which occurs in the same forest reserve, but can be separated by several genitalic characters, including the hypandrium well-developed with sclerotised anterior and posterior margins, gonocoxites narrower, the gonostyles with the slender apex shorter, the parameres shorter without pronounced basolateral projections and the surstylus with slightly fewer tenacula. The world fauna of Perithreticus now comprises five described species, of which two occur in the Afrotropical Region.

Checklist of aquatic Diptera (Insecta) of Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia, a UNESCO world heritage site.

Studies on aquatic Diptera in the Plitvice Lakes National Park (Croatia) conducted in the last 50 years have produced 157 species and 7 taxa of aquatic Diptera placed in 13 families. Samples were collected at 25 sampling sites representing the four main types of karst aquatic habitats: spring, stream, tufa barriers and lakes. All records of all the aquatic families of Diptera in Plitvice Lakes NP are summarized, including previously unpublished data. Twelve species new for Plitvice Lakes NP are recorded for the first time, belonging to the families: Chironomidae - Labrundinia longipalpis (Goetghebuer, 1921), Nilothauma brayi (Goetghebuer, 1921), Potthastia longimanus Kieffer, 1922, Polypedilum (Polypedilum) nubeculosum (Meigen, 1804), Tanytarsus brundini Lindeberg, 1963; Dixidae - Dixella autumnalis (Meigen, 1838); Scathophagidae - Acanthocnema latipennis Becker, 1894 and Stratiomyidae - Oxycera pardalina Meigen, 1822, Oxycera limbata Loew, 1862, Oxycera turcica Ustuner & Hasbenli, 2004, Nemotelus pantherinus (Linnaeus, 1758), Oplodontha viridula (Fabricius, 1775). The most species-rich family was the Chironomidae with 62 species (and an additional seven taxa), followed by the Empididae with 22 species and Limoniidae with 19 species. The highest number of species was recorded in springs. The relatively low number of species in certain families and the complete absence of some aquatic families shows that further research into the aquatic Diptera in Plitvice Lakes NP is needed.

A new species of frog-biting midge from Papua New Guinea with a key to the described Corethrellidae of the Australopapuan region (Diptera, Corethrellidae, Corethrella).

Corethrellaoppositophila Kvifte & Bernal, sp. n. is described based on one male and six female specimens collected at 2200 m a.s.l. on Mount Wilhelm, Papua New Guinea. The species is the fourth species of frog-biting midge described from this country and appears similar to Corethrellasolomonis Belkin based on pigmentation of legs and abdominal tergites. It differs from C.solomonis, however, in the shape of female flagellomeres I-III, and in the thorax which has a dark brown vertical stripe. The new species is named for its sexually dimorphic flagellomeres, which are short and squat in the female and elongate in the male. These differences in morphological characters are discussed in light of the likely sexual differences in functional uses of the antennae, as males use them for mating only whereas females use them both for mating and prey location. An emended key is presented to the described Australopapuan species of Corethrellidae.

New species and records of the Pericoma trifasciata group from Croatia (Diptera: Psychodidae).

Pericoma miljenkoi sp. nov. is described based on adult males from the Plitvicka jezera National Park, Croatia. Pericoma trifasciata is recorded from Croatia for the first time, and COI DNA barcodes are given from specimens collected in Germany. An emended key to adult Pericoma of the trifasciata group is presented. The Croatian Psychodidae fauna now stands at 35 species.

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.

A fossil biting midge (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from early Eocene Indian amber with a complex pheromone evaporator.

The life-like fidelity of organisms captured in amber is unique among all kinds of fossilization and represents an invaluable source for different fields of palaeontological and biological research. One of the most challenging aspects in amber research is the study of traits related to behaviour. Here, indirect evidence for pheromone-mediated mating behaviour is recorded from a biting midge (Ceratopogonidae) in 54 million-year-old Indian amber. Camptopterohelea odora n. sp. exhibits a complex, pocket shaped structure on the wings, which resembles the wing folds of certain moth flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) and scent organs that are only known from butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera) so far. Our studies suggests that pheromone releasing structures on the wings have evolved independently in biting midges and might be much more widespread in fossil as well as modern insects than known so far.

Review of the Psychodinae from Mallorca, Spain, with description of Pericoma unipennata, sp. n. (Diptera, Psychodidae).

We review the Psychodinae of Mallorca, recognising fifteen species based on recent collections and available literature. Previously unpublished data is presented for eleven species, of which Neoarisemus ibericus Wagner, 1978, Mormia tenebricosa (Vaillant, 1954), Clogmia albipunctata (Williston, 1893), Lepiseodina rothschildi (Eaton, 1913), Paramormia ustulata (Walker, 1856), Philosepedon pyrenaicus Vaillant, 1974 and Psychoda (Psycha) grisescens Tonnoir, 1922 are first records for Mallorca. An old record of Pericoma trifasciata (Meigen, 1804) is considered doubtful. Pericoma unipennata sp. n is described and illustrated based on a male collected at Deía. Distributional data are reviewed for all newly recorded species. Based on the Psychodinae fauna, the zoogeographical affinities of Mallorca are briefly discussed.

Blind Flight? A New Troglobiotic Orthoclad (Diptera, Chironomidae) from the Lukina Jama - Trojama Cave in Croatia.

The genus Troglocladius Andersen, Baranov et Hagenlund, gen. n. is erected based on T. hajdi Andersen, Baranov et Hagenlund, sp. n. collected at 980 m depth in the Lukina jama-Trojama cave system in Croatia. Morphological features such as pale color, strongly reduced eyes and very long legs make it a typical cave animal. Surprisingly, it has also retained large wings and appears to be capable of flight which would make T. hajdi the first flying troglobiont worldwide, disproving previous beliefs that bats are the only animals capable of flying in complete darkness. Morphologically the new species does not readily fit within any described genus, but shares characteristics with genera both in the tribes "Metriocnemini" and "Orthocladiini". Bayesian molecular phylogenetic analysis using the markers COI, 18S rDNAs, 28S rDNA, CADI, and CADIV groups it with the genera Tvetenia, Cardiocladius and Eukiefferiella in the tribe "Metriocnemini". Troglocladius hajdi may be parthenogenetic, as only females were collected. The discovery confirms the position of the Dinaric arch as a highly important hotspot of subterranean biodiversity.

New records of Trichoceridae (Diptera) from the island of Mallorca ​.

BACKGROUND: The Trichoceridae are a small family distributed mainly in the Holarctic Region, most of which are associated with cold seasons and even snow. From the Iberian peninsula, 5 species have been recorded; however only a single previous occurence record exists from the Balearic islands. NEW INFORMATION: In this paper we present new records of two species from Mallorca, of which Trichocera (Saltrichocera) saltator (Harris, 1776) has not previously been recorded from the Balearic islands. Trichocera (Saltrichocera) annulata Meigen, 1818 is recorded for the first time from Mallorca. We furthermore discuss the species' distributions within the Mediterranean region and report new morphological data for the Mallorca island form of T. saltator.

The Afrotropical genera of Psychodini: Redefinition of the tribe, first Afrotropical record of Perithreticus Vaillant, 1973 and description of Soeliella gen. nov. (Diptera: Psychodidae: Psychodinae).

Psychodini is redefined based on morphological characters and newly recognized homologies in the male genitalia. It is hypothesised that the ground-plan aedeagus of Psychodini consists of a symmetrical bipartite aedeagus flanked by paired, symmetrical parameres; which in many lineages have become asymmetrical via the differentiation of phallomeres and parameres and/or via reduction of one paramere. The Afrotropical genera of Psychodini are reviewed and a key for their identification is provided. Perithreticus Vaillant, 1973 is recorded from Tanzania based on the new species Perithreticus anderseni sp. nov. The genus is redefined, characterised by an elongate symmetrical aedeagus with paired subtriangular parameres, and a broad M-shaped epiproct with a concave anterior margin. Soeliella gen. nov. is described to include Soeliella platypenis sp. nov.; characterised by the presence of paired subtriangular parameres and the distiphallic elements broadly fused into a spatulate plate. Rhipidopsychoda Vaillant, 1991 is raised from synonymy based on novel character interpretations. Rhipidopsychoda boettgeri (Wagner, 1979) comb. nov. is redescribed and a key to the world species is presented. The species Psychoda bilobata Quate, 1957 and Psychoda trilobata Quate, 1957, Psychoda morogorica Wagner & Andersen, 2007 and Philosepedon triangularis Eaton, 1913 are of dubious generic placement and need revision.

Nomenclature and taxonomy of Telmatoscopus Eaton and Seoda Enderlein; with a discussion of parameral evolution in Paramormiini and Pericomaini (Diptera: Psychodidae, Psychodinae).

Historically, Telmatoscopus Eaton, 1904 has been a nomenclaturally and taxonomically problematic taxon as different authors have used different type species to define their concepts of the genus. Here it is shown that Pericoma advena Eaton, 1893 is the valid type species rather than Pericoma morula Eaton, 1893. Furthermore, the genus Seoda Enderlein, 1935 is revived for the genus comprising Pericoma labeculosa Eaton, 1893, P. morula and their relatives. The differences between Telmatoscopus and Seoda are described in detail based on historical and freshly collected material of the three putative type species. Four new synonymies are proposed: Panimerus havelkai Wagner, 1975 and Telmatoscopus seguyi Vaillant, 1990 are synonymized with Telmatoscopus advena, and Telmatoscopus incanus Nielsen, 1964 and Telmatoscopus vaillanti Withers, 1986 are synonymized with Seoda morula. A potential phylogenetic pattern in the male genital sclerites is discussed in detail. In Telmatoscopus, the jointed appendages of the gonocoxally derived parameral complex are separate small sclerites found near the bases of the distiphallic lobes of the aedeagus. In Seoda, they are fused medially to form a small, moveable triangular or arrow-shaped sclerite. Medial parameral sclerite fusion in Psychodinae is otherwise known to occur only in Pericomaini and the paramormiine genus Psychomasina Jezek, 2004; however, many genera of Paramormiini show an apparently intermediate condition where the parameres are fused in one end to form a V- or U-shaped "furca". It is hypothesized that Paramormiini is paraphyletic with respect to Pericomaini, as suggested in a previous phylogenetic hypothesis based on molecular data.

New records of moth flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) from Croatia, with the description of Berdeniella keroveci sp.nov.

Berdeniella keroveci sp. nov. is described based on males collected in Croatia. Current knowledge of the psychodid fauna of Croatia is reviewed and new records of 16 species are presented. Short taxonomic notes on Pericoma pseudocalcilega Krek, 1972, Pneumia balkanica (Krek, 1990), Pneumia mutua (Eaton, 1893), Clogmia albipunctata (Williston, 1893) and Lepiseodina tristis (Meigen, 1810) are given. In total, 33 species of Psychodidae are known to occur in Croatia.