Puparium of Merosargus cingulatus Schiner, 1868 and Ptecticus lanei James, 1941 (Diptera: Stratiomyidae: Sarginae), with new geographical records for the species and a list of all known immatures of the subfamily.

The puparia of Merosargus cingulatus Schiner, 1868 and Ptecticus lanei James, 1941, two Neotropical species of Sarginae (Stratiomyidae), are described and illustrated based on 19 and 17 immatures of each species, respectively. The specimens were collected in rotting vegetal material in Carambe, state of Paran, Brazil. Images of reared adults of both species are provided, allowing future identifications of specimens. New distributional records include the first occurrences of M. cingulatus in the Brazilian states of Cear, Maranho, Mato Grosso do Sul, and Rio de Janeiro. With these two new descriptions, immature stages (6th instar and/or puparium) of 29 species of Sarginae are now known, with only eight species known from the Neotropical Region.

Large Flies Overlooked: the Genus Hermetia Latreille, 1804 (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) in the Neotropics, with 11 Synonyms and a New Species to Brazil.

Hermetia Latreille, 1804 is currently globally distributed, with ~ 80 species, but is especially diverse in tropical regions. Hitherto, 52 species occur in the Neotropics. However, apart from H. illucens (Linnaeus, 1758) and a few other common species, the group is still poorly studied. One of the main persistent problems is the limited knowledge about the identity of most species, resulting in difficulties regarding species determination and discovery of new taxa. In our efforts to revise this genus, we address several of these issues and propose the following 11 synonyms after examination of 17 type specimens: H. ampulla James, 1938 syn. nov. and H. panamensis Greene, 1940 syn. nov. of H. aurinotata Lindner, 1935; H. burmeisteri Lindner, 1949 syn. nov. of H. cornithorax (Lindner, 1928); H. fimbriata (Lindner, 1931) syn. nov. of H. crabro Osten Sacken, 1886; H. geniculata Macquart, 1855 syn. nov. of H. illucens; H. coarctata Macquart, 1846 syn. nov. and H. scutellata Macquart, 1855 syn. nov. of H. pulchra Wiedemann, 1830; H. reinhardi James, 1935 syn. nov. of H. relicta Osten Sacken, 1886; H. tincta (Walker, 1851) syn. nov. of H. rufitarsis Macquart, 1846; and H. mitis Curran, 1934 syn. nov. and H. nana Lindner, 1935 syn. nov. of H. teevani Curran, 1934. Moreover, a new striking species with a pattern of abdominal coloration resembling social wasps of Brachygastra Perty, 1833 is described from Brazil-H. brachygastropsis sp. nov.-and two species are removed from the Brazilian fauna: H. aeneipennis Giglio-Tos, 1893 and H. sexmaculata Macquart, 1834.

An illustrated checklist of Stratiomyidae (Diptera: Brachycera) from Paraguay, with three new synonyms and 22 new records of species for the country.

The Stratiomyidae (Diptera) of Paraguay is cataloged and illustrated, and information is given on distributions, name-bearing types, synonyms, and pertinent literature. Previously to this study, the fauna of soldier flies in the country comprised 18 genera and 29 species, which has been raised up to 35 genera and 63 species, of which only nine are assigned to morphospecies level. The list of species is based on the examination of the original descriptions of all nominal species, all other references known to us containing taxonomic and distributional information, and new material examined from various collections. Images of 45 species are herein provided, which include type specimen images of seven valid species, of which three are exclusively found in the country. One subfamily is newly reported from Paraguay: Chrysochlorininae. Fourteen genera are newly reported from Paraguay: Acanthinomyia Hunter, 1900; Archistratiomys Enderlein, 1913; Auloceromyia Lindner, 1969; Chrysochlorina James, 1939; Gowdeyana Curran, 1928; Hoplitimyia James, 1934; Leucoptilum James, 1943; Neoberis Lindner, 1949; Myxosargus Brauer, 1882; Nothomyia Loew, 1869; Panacris Gerstaecker, 1857; Promeranisa Walker, 1854; Psellidotus Rondani, 1863; and Raphiocera Macquart, 1834. Twenty-two species are newly reported from Paraguay: Acanthinomyia elongata (Wiedemann, 1824); Archistratiomys rufipalpis (Wiedemann, 1830); Auloceromyia pedunculata Pimentel & Pujol-Luz, 2000; Chordonota inermis (Wiedemann, 1830); Chrysochlorina albipes James, 1939; Chrysochlorina incompleta (Curran, 1929); Gowdeyana vitrisetosus (Lindner, 1935); Hermetia flavipes Wiedemann, 1830; Hermetia pulchra Wiedemann, 1830; Hermetia teevani Curran, 1934; Leucoptilum plaumanni James, 1943; Merosargus cingulatus Schiner, 1868; Merosargus coxalis Lindner, 1949; Merosargus golbachi James in James & McFadden, 1971; Merosargus nebulifer James in James & McFadden, 1971; Merosargus obscurus (Wiedemann, 1830); Merosargus stigmaticus (Lindner, 1949); Neoberis brasiliana Lindner, 1949; Panacris nigribasis Lindner, 1949; Promeranisa nasuta (Macquart, 1850); Raphiocera armata (Wiedemann, 1830); and Sargus thoracicus Macquart, 1834. Four species are removed from the Paraguayan fauna: Cyphomyia albitarsis (Fabricius, 1805), Euryneura pygmaea (Bellardi, 1862), and Nemotelus niger Bigot, 1879 have no specimens known from Paraguay, so the inclusion of Paraguay in their distribution is a typing error; and Nemotelus eburneopictus James (1974) has its type locality corrected to Argentina. The examination of the material allows the proposition of three specific synonyms: Cyphomyia imitans Curran, 1925 syn. nov. of C. gracilicornis Gerstaecker, 1857, Panacris breviseta Lindner, 1964 syn. nov. of P. nigribasis Lindner, 1949, and Dicranophora brevifurca James, 1943 syn. nov. of Dicamptocrana jorgenseni Frey, 1934 (this species is newly recorded to Brazil, state of São Paulo), after removing D. brevifurca out of synonymy with Dicranophora bispinosa (Wiedemann, 1830). Additionally, a female lectotype is designated for Rhingiopsis enderleini Lindner, 1928.

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.

A catalog of Stratiomyidae (Diptera: Brachycera) from Chile, with a new synonym and notes on the species.

A list of all 24 genera and 73 species of Stratiomyidae from Chile is provided, along with all their synonyms and photos of the type specimens of 20 species (including 12 primary types). Only one species is assigned to morphospecies level. All references known to us from the taxonomic and biological literature, including information about name, author, year of publication, page number, type specimens, type locality, and references are given. The geographic distribution of each species is given based on bibliographic and collection data. Three species are removed from the Chilean fauna: Nemotelus tenuivena James, 1974 is only known from the type locality in Argentina; Promeranisa nasuta (Macquart, 1850), which has its type locality corrected to Bolivia, Chiquitos Province; and Ptecticus pomaceus Loew, 1855, referred to Chile due to a locality information error, is a junior synonym of P. trivittatus Say, 1829, syn. nov.

New findings on the Neotropical species Hermetia goncalvensi Albuquerque, 1955 (Diptera: Stratiomyidae): redescription, puparium, and geographical records.

Hermetia goncalvensi Albuquerque, 1955 (Diptera: Stratiomyidae: Hermetiinae) has been known from only the male holotype collected in 1951 from the state of Bahia, Brazil, but currently lost or destroyed. No specimens have been reported over the last 60 years since its description. Here we bring together records of additional specimens of both sexes-one male and 28 females-from 13 localities in five Brazilian states, in addition to the type locality. A detailed redescription of the species is provided which includes the puparium, male and female terminalia, biological information, and a distribution map.

Endemism within endemism: a new species of Austroleptis Hardy, 1920 (Diptera: Austroleptidae) from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest highlands.

A third species of the southern temperate tabanomorph genus Austroleptis Hardy, 1920 (Diptera: Austroleptidae)-A. camposgerais sp. nov.-from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest is described and illustrated. A key for the species of the genus in Brazil is provided. Shared derived features indicate a sister group relationship between the new species and A. longirostris Fachin et al., 2018. Whatever the relationships among the species of this clade, however, there is a process of endemism within endemism in the Atlantic Forest: species at higher altitudes undergo vicariance process that do not affect lowland species distributed around the mountain chains. The low number of specimens known from highland species and the very restricted geographic distribution of each species strongly indicate the urgency to protect the natural environments at higher altitudes in Brazil.

Taxonomic revision of the Neotropical genus Himantigera James, 1982 (Diptera: Stratiomyidae: Sarginae), including the description of two new species and a key to the known species.

The Neotropical genus Himantigera James in James McFadden, 1982, is revised. Two new species are described and illustrated-H. amauroptera nov. sp. (Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia), and H. xanthopoda nov. sp. (Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica). Three species are transferred from Himantigera to Sargus Fabricius, 1798-S. dichrous (Schiner, 1868) comb. nov., S. flavoniger Lindner, 1928 comb. rev. and S. fulvithorax (Bigot, 1879) comb. nov. One species is transferred to Microchrysa Loew, 1855-M. splendens (Schiner, 1868) comb. nov. Himantigera jamesi Lindner, 1969 syn. nov. is proposed as a junior synonym of H. superba Lindner, 1949. The type species H. silvestris McFadden, 1982, as well as H. nigrifemorata Macquart, 1847 and H. superba Lindner, are herein redescribed and illustrated. Photographs of the type specimens of these three species are provided. Two unnamed species of Himantigera (sp. A and sp. B) are also described given that they have slight differences, but because we had only one specimen of each species, we did not officially describe them. This updates the total number of extant Himantigera from eight sensu Woodley (2001) to seven species. The species Merosargus apicalis Lindner, 1935, although never referred to the genus Himantigera or Himantoloba McFadden 1970, is also transferred to the genus Sargus. A key to all species of Himantigera and a map expanding geographical distribution of the genus are also presented, with the first records of the genus for Nicaragua, Colombia, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Ecuador and Bolivia.

First two species of Austroleptis Hardy (Diptera: Brachycera: Austroleptidae) from Brazil.

Two new species of the genus Austroleptis Hardy, so far known only from Australia and Chile, are described from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest-A. longirostris nov. sp. and A. papaveroi nov. sp. The species share clear apomorphic features of the genus, as the subdivision of female tergite 8. Both new species share a distinctive wing pattern, and a flagellomere 1 that is as wide as the more distal flagellomeres, features that clearly differentiate them from the Chilean and Australian species. It is likely that the Brazilian species compose a small clade apart from the Chilean species of the genus. A. longirostris nov. sp. has a particular long proboscis, even for the standards of non-tabanid tabanomorphs, while A. papaveroi nov. sp. has a stump on M3. The scutum coloration also helps to discriminate between both species. This is an additional example of a group in southern Brazil with southern temperate connections, i.e., involving southern Chile and Argentina and either Australia, New Zealand or both. Additional records and illustrations of Austroleptis atriceps Malloch and           A. penai Nagatomi Nagatomi from Chile are provided.

Soldier flies (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) on semideciduous seasonal forest fragments, with a list of species for São Paulo State, Brazil, and two new records of species for the country

ABSTRACT Although the species richness of Stratiomyidae (Diptera) in Brazil (~340 species) is one of the highest for the family worldwide, we still do not know the actual number of species, the extent of their distribution, or the species seasonal dynamics for a single area in the Neotropics. The soldier fly fauna in the semideciduous seasonal forests, which cover a major area of the countryside of the state of São Paulo, is poorly known compared to the best-known areas in the Atlantic Forest for stratiomyids, such as the ombrophilous forests on the southeast coast. With the constant habitat fragmentation of the remnants of the semideciduous forests in the state for crops and pastures for cattle, we are losing valuable data about biodiversity. This study details the stratiomyids for a single area in the Neotropical Region, using a standardized collecting methodology with Malaise traps, from May 2010 to December 2011. Here, we provide a list of 41 stratiomyid species and 25 genera in eight subfamilies from a total of 1,533 specimens collected in the Reserva Biológica e Ecológica Augusto Ruschi, Sertãozinho, Brazil. The current number of species/morphospecies reported for the state of São Paulo is raised to 113, with Merosargus golbachi James, 1971 in James and McFadden, 1971 and M. tripartitus James, 1971 in James and McFadden, 1971 reported for the first time to Brazil. Our analyses estimate even higher richness in the studied area, probably between 48 to 114 species, indicating that further collection efforts are needed.

The SISBIOTA-Diptera Brazilian Network: A long-term survey of Diptera from unexplored Brazilian Western Arc of Amazon, Cerrado, and Pantanal

ABSTRACT The SISBIOTA-BRASIL was a three-year multimillion-dollar research program of the Brazilian government to document plants and animals in endangered/understudied areas and biomes in Brazil. Distributional patterns and the historical events that generated them are extensively unknown regarding Brazilian fauna and flora. This deficiency hinders the development of conservation policies and the understanding of evolutionary processes. Conservation decisions depend on precise knowledge of the taxonomy and geographic distribution of species. Given such a premise, we proposed to research the diversity of Diptera of the Brazilian western arc of Amazon, Cerrado, and Pantanal in the states of Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, and Rondônia. Three important biomes of the South American continent characterize these Brazilian states: Amazon forest, Cerrado (Brazilian Savannah), and Pantanal. Besides their ecological relevance, these biomes historically lack intensive entomological surveys. Therefore, they are much underrepresented in the Brazilian natural history collections and in the scientific literature, which is further aggravated by the fact that these areas are being exponentially and rapidly converted to commercial lands. Our project involved over 90 collaborators from 24 different Brazilian institutions and one from Colombia among researchers, postdocs, graduate and undergraduate students, and technicians. We processed and analyzed nearly 300,000 specimens from ~60 families of Diptera collected with a large variety of methods in the sampled areas. Here, we provide a detailed overview of the genera and species diversity of 41 families treated. Our results point to a total of 2,130 species and 514 genera compiled and identified for the three states altogether, with an increase of 41% and 29% in the numbers of species and genera known for the three states combined, respectively. Overall, the 10 most species-rich families were Tachinidae, Cecidomyiidae, Tabanidae, Psychodidae, Sarcophagidae, Stratiomyidae, Bombyliidae, Syrphidae, Tephritidae, and Asilidae. The 10 most diverse in the number of genera were Tachinidae, Stratiomyidae, Asilidae, Mycetophilidae, Syrphidae, Tabanidae, Muscidae, Dolichopodidae, Sarcophagidae, and Chloropidae. So far, 111 scientific papers were published regarding taxonomic, phylogenetic, and biogeographical aspects of the studied families, with the description of 101 new species and three new genera. We expect that additional publications will result from this investigation because several specimens are now curated and being researched by specialists.

FAMILY XYLOPHAGIDAE.

This family is recorded for the first time to Colombia, with only one undescribed species of genus Rachicerus.

FAMILY STRATIOMYIDAE.

The family Stratiomyidae has more than 2,800 described species, of which 1001 species belongs to the Neotropics. This catalog for Colombia presents 87 species distributed in 32 genera, and ten subfamilies. Merosargus gracilis and the genus Microchrysa, with a single species M. bicolor are recorded for the first time to Colombia. The fauna is very expressive but still poorly known, representing nearly one tenth of the Neotropical diversity of the family in numbers of species, and one fifth of generic diversity.

FAMILY XYLOMYIDAE.

This family is poor known in Colombia with only two known species of two genera, Solva tuberculata and Arthropeina colombiana.

An illustrated catalogue of the types of Stratiomyidae (Diptera: Brachycera) in the collection of Museu Nacional, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

A catalogue of the type specimens of Stratiomyidae (Diptera: Brachycera) held in the collection of Museu Nacional, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (MNRJ) is presented. A total number of 50 type specimens of 18 valid Neotropical species were recognized and are listed in alphabetical order of subfamily, genus and specific epithet. Photos of 12 primary types of the species and bibliographical data of the original descriptions, labels and condition of all type specimens are also provided.

A new species of the rare Neotropical genus Auloceromyia Lindner, 1969 (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) and the first record of the male of A. pedunculata Pimentel & Pujol-Luz, 2000.

A new species of the Neotropical genus Auloceromyia Lindner-A. pachypoda nov. sp.-is described and illustrated based on one male from Argentina and twelve females from Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil. The male of A. pedunculata Pimentel & Pujol-Luz is described and illustrated for the first time, together with the first description of the female terminalia. A key to the known species of the genus is provided.

Taxonomic revision and cladistic analysis of the Neotropical genus Acrochaeta Wiedemann, 1830 (Diptera: Stratiomyidae: Sarginae).

The Neotropical genus Acrochaeta Wiedemann is revised and a cladistics analysis of the genus based on morphological characters is presented. This paper raises the total number of extant Acrochaeta species from 10 to 14 with the description of nine new species, the synonymy of one species, the transfer of five species to other genera and the transfer of one species of Merosargus to Acrochaeta. The new species described (of which eight are from Brazil and one from Bolivia and Peru) are Acrochaeta asapha nov. sp., A. balbii nov. sp., A. dichrostyla nov. sp., A. polychaeta nov. sp., A. pseudofasciata nov. sp., A. pseudopolychaeta nov. sp., A. rhombostyla nov. sp. A. ruschii nov. sp. and A. stigmata nov. sp. The primary types of all Acrochaeta species were studied at least from photos, when possible with the study of dissected male or female terminalia. A. mexicana Lindner is proposed as a junior synonym of A. flaveola Bigot. M. chalconota (Brauer) comb. nov., M. degenerata (Lindner) comb. nov., M. longiventris (Enderlein) comb. nov. and M. picta (Brauer) comb. nov. are herein transferred from Acrochaeta to Merosargus Loew, and Chrysochlorina elegans (Perty) comb. nov. is transferred from Acrochaeta to Chrysochlorina James. A. convexifrons (McFadden) comb. nov. is transferred from Merosargus to Acrochaeta. The limits of the genus and its insertion in the Sarginae are considered, and an updated generic diagnosis is provided. All species of the genus are redescribed and diagnosed, and illustrated with photos of the habitus, thorax, wing, and drawings of the antenna and male and female terminalia. Distribution maps are provided for the species, along with an identification key for adults of all species. Parsimony analyses were carried out under equal and implied weight. Our matrix includes 43 terminal taxa--of which 26 are outgroup species from four different sargine genera--and 59 adult morphological characters. The phylogenetic analysis supports the monophyly of Acrochaeta based on features of the head, thorax and abdomen. An inner clade (Acrochaeta flaveola species group) within the genus was clearly recovered based on characters of male and female terminalia. There is good evidence for the paraphyly of Merosargus with Acrochaeta as a subclade, demanding a wider study of the subfamily for a sound solution for the genus Merosargus.

A catalogue of the types of Stratiomyidae (Diptera: Brachycera) in the collection of the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil.

Following a recommendation of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, a catalogue of the type specimens of Stratiomyidae (Diptera: Brachycera) held in the collection of the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil (MZUSP) is provided, with information on 30 type specimens (including 14 primary types) of 17 Neotropical species.

Taxonomic revision of the Neotropical genus Arthropeina Lindner, 1949 (Diptera: Xylomyidae).

Five new species are herein described for the Neotropical genus Arthropeina previously known only from the type-species, A. fulva Lindner: A. colombiana, sp. nov., A. diadelothorax, sp. nov., A. lindneri, sp. nov., A. melanochroma, sp. nov. and A. pseudofulva, sp. nov. The new species are described and habitus, antenna, palpus, thorax, wing, and male and female genitalia, including genital fork and spermathecae, are illustrated. A key to the species of the genus is provided. The diagnosis of Arthropeina is emended to include these new species. Additionally, the genus is recorded for the first time for Guyana, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.