Sphenempis, a new Empis subgenus (Diptera, Empididae) from the Eastern Palaearctic Region.

Empis (Sphenempis Saigusa) subgen. nov. (Diptera, Empididae) and its included species, Empis (Sphenempis) bicoloriventris Saigusa sp. nov. from the Ryukyus, Japan and Empis (Sphenempis) oshimai Saigusa sp. nov. from Kyushu, Japan are described. Empis (Lissempis) amurensis Shamshev, 1998 from Amur, Russia is newly included in the subgenus Sphenempis.

A new primitive genus of the family Psychidae having long-scaled female antennae from the Ryukyus, Japan (Lepidoptera, Tineoidea).

The Psychid genus Lepidoceropsyche Saigusa Sugimoto, gen. nov. and its type species Lepidoceratopsyche manoi Saigusa Sugimoto, sp. nov. (Lepidoptera, Psychidae) are described based on the female with long-scaled antennal flagella and well-developed wings from the Ryukyus, Japan.

Revision of the types of the genus Rhamphomyia species (Diptera, Empididae) described by R. Frey from the collection of the Zoological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg.

Type material for 36 species of the genus Rhamphomyia Meigen described by R. Frey from the collection of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg is discussed. Habitus photo, label data, type locality and condition of the primary type specimen are provided for 30 species. Lectotype designations are made for the following 20 species (original combinations): Rhamphomyia antennata Frey, 1915; R. (Ctenempis) chrysodactyla Frey, 1950; R. (C.) gripha Frey, 1935; R. (C.) ussuriensis Frey, 1950; R. (Dasyrhamphomyia) ornithorhampha Frey, 1950; R. (D.) pleciaeformis Frey, 1950; R. (D.) taimyrensis Frey, 1950; R. (Eorhamphomyia) basispinosa Frey, 1950; R. (E.) multisinuosa Frey, 1950; R. (E.) principalis Frey, 1950; R. (E.) setitibia Frey, 1950; R. (Megacyttarus) cymbella Frey, 1950; R. (Pararhamphomyia) barbipalpis Frey, 1950; R. (P.) mendicula Frey, 1950; R. (P.) semipellucida Frey, 1950; R. (P.) stackelbergi Frey, 1950; R. (P.) transversipyga Frey, 1950; R. (Rhamphomyia) filipjefi Frey, 1950; R. (R.) paraleucoptera Frey, 1950; R. (R.) subtibialis Frey, 1950.

The first record of the Nearctic genus Kearfottia Fernald, 1904 (Lepidoptera, Psychidae) from the Palaearctic Region (Japan).

Kearfottia japonica Saigusa Sugimoto, sp. nov. (Lepidoptera, Psychidae) is described from Japan. This species is the second species of the genus Kearfottia hitherto known only from one Nearctic species, K. albifasciella Fernald, 1904. Bionomics of the Japanese species, systematic position and zoogeography of the genus are discussed.

Rhamphomyia Meigen of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Greenland and Iceland (Diptera: Empididae).

Rhamphomyia of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Greenland and Iceland, comprising 23 species, including five new species, are revised: R. (Ctenempis) albopilosa Coquillett, R. (Dasyrhamphomyia) erinacioides Malloch, R. (Dasyrhamphomyia) hovgaardii Holmgren, R. (Dasyrhamphomyia) leptidiformis Frey, R. (Dasyrhamphomyia) nigrita Zetterstedt, R. (Eorhamphomyia) shewelli Sinclair, Vajda, Saigusa Shamshev sp. nov., R. (Pararhamphomyia) diversipennis Becker, R. (Pararhamphomyia) filicauda Henriksen Lundbeck, R. (Pararhamphomyia) frigida Sinclair, Vajda, Saigusa Shamshev sp. nov., R. (Pararhamphomyia) helleni Frey, R. (Pararhamphomyia) hilariformis Frey, R. (Pararhamphomyia) hoeli Frey, R. (Pararhamphomyia) kjellmanii Holmgren, R. (Pararhamphomyia) lymaniana Sinclair, Vajda, Saigusa Shamshev sp. nov., R. (Pararhamphomyia) omissinervis Becker, R. (Pararhamphomyia) petervajdai Sinclair, Vajda, Saigusa Shamshev sp. nov., R. (Pararhamphomyia) septentrionalis Sinclair, Vajda, Saigusa Shamshev sp. nov., R. (Pararhamphomyia) simplex Zetterstedt, R. (Pararhamphomyia) ursinella Melander, R. herschelli Malloch, R. hirtula Zetterstedt, R. laevigata Loew, R. setosa Coquillett. The following six new synonyms are proposed: R. calvimontis Cockerell, 1916 and R. wuorentausi Frey, 1922 = R. albopilosa Coquillett, 1900; R. fridolini Frey, 1950 = R. laevigata Loew, 1861; R. hirticula Collin, 1937 = R. setosa Coquillett, 1895; R. uralensis Becker, 1915 = R. kjellmanii Holmgren, 1880; R. zaitzevi Becker, 1915 = R. hovgaardii Holmgren, 1880. Lectotypes are designated for the following species: R. diversipennis Becker, R. filicauda Henriksen Lundbeck, R. helleni Frey, R. herschelli Malloch, R. hirticula Collin, R. hoeli Frey, R. leptidiformis Frey, R. omissinervis Becker, R. setosa Coquillett, R. uralensis Becker, R. wuorentausi Frey, R. zaitzevi Becker. A neotype is designated for R. laevigata Loew. Keys to male and female species of Rhamphomyia and distribution maps of this region are provided. DNA barcode data are presented for 16 species of arctic Rhamphomyia.

Revision of the Holarctic genus Gloma Meigen (Diptera: Empidoidea: Brachystomatidae: Trichopezinae).

The Holarctic genus Gloma Meigen is revised and includes five species (G. fuscipennis Meigen, G. fuscipes Melander, G. luctuosa Melander, G. pectinipes Melander, G. pyricornis Saigusa Sinclair sp. nov.) and two undescribed species from China, presently known only from females. The monotypic Baltic amber genus Palaeoparamesia Meunier is discussed as possibly congeneric with Gloma. The Baltic amber species Gloma hirta Loew is considered a nomen dubium. A lectotype is designated for Gloma luctuosa. All species are described or diagnosed, and their geographic distributions mapped. A World key to the species of Gloma is provided. Phylogenetic placement of the genus, including a possible new relationship with Oreogeton Schiner is considered, and the relationships and zoogeographic history of the species are discussed based on a morphological cladistic analysis.

Mitochondrial Genomes Provide Insights into the Phylogeny of Culicomorpha (Insecta: Diptera).

Culicomorpha is a monophyletic group containing most bloodsucking lower dipterans, including many important vectors of pathogens. However, the higher-level phylogenetic relationships within Culicomorpha are largely unresolved, with multiple competing hypotheses based on molecular sequence data. Here we sequenced four nearly complete mitochondrial (mt) genomes representing four culicomorph families, and combined these new data with published mt genomes to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships of all eight extant culicomorph families. We estimated phylogenies using four datasets and three methods. We also used four-cluster likelihood mapping to study potential incongruent topologies supported by the different datasets and phylogenetic questions generated by the previous studies. The results showed that a clade containing Ceratopogonidae, Thaumaleidae and Simuliidae was the sister group to all other Culicomorpha; in another clade, the Dixidae was basal to the remaining four families; Chaoboridae, Corethrellidae and Culicidae formed a monophyletic group and the Chironomidae was the sister group to this clade; Culicidae and Corethrellidae were sister groups in all trees. Our study provides novel mt genome data in Culicomorpha for three new family representatives, and the resulting mt phylogenomic analysis helps to resolve the phylogeny and taxonomy of Culicomorpha.

Gondwanamyia, a new empidoid (Diptera) genus of uncertain placement.

A new minute-size empidoid fly genus, Gondwanamyiagen. n. and two new species (Gondwanamyia chilensis Cumming & Saigusa, sp. n., Gondwanamyia zealandica Sinclair & Brooks, sp. n.) are described, illustrated, and their distributions mapped. The family and subfamily assignments remain uncertain, but features of the female terminalia potentially suggest Trichopezinae (Brachystomatidae).

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.

Revision of the Japanese species of Trichoclinocera Collin (Diptera: Empididae: Clinocerinae).

The Japanese species of Trichoclinocera are revised and include nine species, of which seven are new species (T. dasy-scutellum (Saigusa), T. fuscipennis Saigusa, T. gracilis sp. nov., T. grandis sp. nov., T. miranda sp. nov., T. setigera sp. nov., T. shinogii sp. nov., T. stigmatica sp. nov., T. takagii sp. nov.). A key to all nine species is provided, their distributions mapped and affinities discussed.

A new genus and species of the subtribe Thyreophorina (Diptera, Piophilidae) from Japan.

A new genus, Diacanthomyia gen. nov. assigned to the subtribe Thyreophorina of the family Piophilidae is described based on a new species, Diacanthomyia okidoi sp. nov. recently found in Honshu and Kyushu, Japan. The new genus is somewhat similar to the European Centrophlebomyia of the subtribe. However, the new genus is distinguished from the known genera of the subtribe by the following combination of characters: body extensively pollinose or pruinose, 2 pairs of strong reclinate fronto-orbital bristles, 1-2 strong subvibrissal bristles in addition to 2 strong vibrissae, prosternum setose, 1 presutural dorsocentral, 1 strong anterior postsutural intra-alar, scutellum with 2 pairs of scutellar bristles without additional setulae, extensively microtrichose wing membrane, a dark round spot at r-m crossvein and a dark stripe covering m-m crossvein, and vein CuA+CuP abruptly terminated distant from wing margin. The type species inhabits evergreen broadleaved and deciduous broadleaved forests and adults appear during the cold season from December to March. Adults are attracted to decaying carcasses of Japanese deer and wild boar and traps baited with decaying pork spareribs and chicken meat with bones. The larvae of this species feed on decaying meat and marrow of deer, take less than 2 months to grow to mature larvae, and enter into diapause in the soil until autumn.

Japanese species of the genus Proutia Tutt, 1899 (Lepidoptera: Psychidae).

Two new species of the genus Proutia are described from Japan based on both sexes. Proutia maculatella sp. nov. is distinctive in having maculated forewing upperside. Proutia nigra, sp. nov. has unicolorous blackish brown forewing upperside and similar to the European species, P. betulina, but differs from the latter in the longer processes of the male valvae and shorter female antennae.

Phylogeny, biogeography, and host-plant association in the subfamily Apaturinae (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) inferred from eight nuclear and seven mitochondrial genes.

The subfamily Apaturinae consists of 20 genera and shows disjunct distributions and unique host-plant associations. Most genera of this subfamily are distributed in Eurasia South-East Asia and Africa, whereas the genera Doxocopa and Asterocampa are distributed mainly in South America and North America, respectively. Although the Apaturinae larvae mainly feed on the Cannabaceae, those of the genus Apatura are associated with Salix and Populus (Salicaceae), which are distantly related to the Cannabaceae. Here, we infer the phylogeny of Apaturinae and reconstruct the history of host shifting and of colonization in the New World. We analyzed 9761 bp of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequence data, including the genes encoding EF1a, Wg, ArgK, CAD, GAPDH, IDH, MDH, RpS5, COI, COII, ATPase8, ATPase6, COIII, ND3, and ND5 for 12 apaturine genera. We also inferred the phylogeny with six additional genera using mitochondrial sequence data alone. Within the Apaturinae, two major clades are recovered in all the datasets. These clades separate the New World genera, Doxocopa and Asterocampa, indicating that dispersal to the New World occurred at least twice. According to our divergence time estimates, these genera originated during the Early Oligocene to the Early Miocene, implying that they migrated across the Bering Land Bridge rather than the Atlantic Land Bridge. The temporal estimates also show that host shifting to Salix or Populus in Apatura occurred more than 15 million years after the divergence of their host plants. Our phylogenetic results are inconsistent with the previously accepted apaturine genus groups and indicate that their higher classification should be reconsidered.