Psychodid flies and their implicated role in human myiasis and pseudomyiasis.

Several psychodid flies are commonly associated with human-inhabited environments and have been increasingly implicated in cases of human myiasis. However, the basic biology of psychodid larvae is not well-suited for survival in the human intestinal or urogenital tract, making true, prolonged myiasis unlikely. In this review, we performed a systematic literature review of published cases of purported myiasis caused by psychodid flies, their identification, associated clinical findings, and treatment. We also discuss the anatomy and lifecycle of psychodid flies in relation to their purported ability to use human tissue as a nutritive source and survive in the human alimentary or urogenital tracts. Based on the range of non-specific and varied reported clinical manifestations, lack of observed collections, life cycle patterns of psychodid flies, the mechanics of their mouthparts, and breathing requirements, we conclude that most cases likely represent incidental findings, or in rare cases possibly pseudomyiasis, rather than true myiasis, and provide recommendations for clinical evaluation and reporting so that disease misclassification and unnecessary therapy do not occur.

Paleotelmatoscopus, a proposed new genus for some fossil moth flies (Diptera, Psychodidae, Psychodinae) in Eocene Baltic amber, with description of a new species.

Few species of Baltic amber Psychodinae have been described to date. Some were incorrectly classified in Pericoma Walker based on an early, broad definition of the genus and holotypes were not specified. We examined approximately 50 specimens of Baltic amber Psychodinae in addition to reviewing the original series studied by Fernand Meunier. Lectotypes for Pericoma formosa Meunier and P. speciosa Meunier are designated and Paleotelmatoscopus gen. nov. is proposed to include P. formosa and P. madrizi sp. nov. Characters included in the diagnosis of this new genus and species have implications for future descriptions of Baltic amber Psychodinae. Parts of the head capsule, such as antennae, are often well-preserved and visible, and can be useful for separating species. However, these character complexes are prone to homoplasy and should not be used alone to define genera. Since it is impossible to view internal genitalic characters in fossil species, refinement of generic and species diagnoses based on external morphology is a critical factor in describing the amber fauna.

Redescription of Aposycorax chilensis (Tonnoir) (Diptera, Psychodidae, Sycoracinae) with the first identification of a blood meal host for the species.

Adults of Aposycorax chilensis were collected from several sites during fieldwork in Chilean Patagonia, December 2013. Specimens were swept or aspirated from roadside seeps and found in greatest numbers during the morning hours. DNA was extracted from a recently blood-fed female and was subjected to the polymerase chain reaction using vertebrate-specific 16S primers. An amplicon was obtained and the resulting sequence was found to have over 99% identity with two frogs in the genus Batrachyla, thus establishing this species' preference for amphibian hosts. The diagnosis and description of adult A. chilensis are revised, including the first description of the complete male genital tract. Habitat characteristics for this species and rotation of the male genitalia are discussed.

Four new species of Tonnoira Enderlein (Diptera: Psychodidae: Psychodinae) from the Brazilian Atlantic forest.

Four species of Tonnoira from the Brazilian Atlantic forest are described and illustrated: Tonnoira brisolaii sp. nov, Tonnoira ferreirai sp. nov., Tonnoira andradei sp. nov. and Tonnoira galatiae sp. nov.