Review of the genus Cratyna Winnertz (Diptera: Sciaridae) in Korea, including the description of a new species.

The genus Cratyna Winnertz, 1867 (Diptera: Sciaridae) is studied in the Korean peninsula. Cratyna (s. str.) suwonensis Shin, Menzel & Lee sp. nov. is described as new to science. Additionally, three species are redescribed and illustrated as new to Korea: C. (s. str.) ambigua (Lengersdorf, 1934), C. (s. str.) nigerrima (Mohrig & Krivosheina, 1979), and C. (Peyerimhoffia) vagabunda (Winnertz, 1867). A key to the Korean species is given. 

The number of Estonian black fungus gnats (Diptera, Sciaridae) doubled: the first records of 64 species.

Background: Adult sciarid flies are small to medium-sized, delicate insects, typically black in colour and belonging to the superfamily Sciaroidea within the order Diptera. They exhibit a uniform appearance. Distinguishing them from other families of Sciaroidea is primarily achieved through their typical wing venation. Sciaridae are common in both natural and semi-natural ecosystems, where they play a significant role in decomposition during their larval stage. Prior to the current study, only one specific research project had been conducted on Sciaridae in Estonia. The number of sciarid species identified in Estonia was set at 67. New information: This research, conducted in north-eastern Estonia during 2015 and 2016, presents a comprehensive overview of Sciaridae diversity, shedding light on previously understudied aspects of Estonia's biodiversity. A total of 1038 specimens were identified, representing 91 species, amongst which 64 were previously unknown to Estonia. Notably, Corynopterawinnertzi (Mohrig, 1993) emerged as the most abundant species, followed by Corynopterairmgardis (Lengersdorf, 1930), Corynopteracrassistylata (Frey, 1948) and Bradysiatrivittata (Staeger, 1840). The genus Corynoptera Winnertz, 1867 exhibited the highest diversity, consistent with findings from broader European studies. This study underscores the importance of ongoing surveys for better understanding the distribution and composition of Sciaridae species in Estonia, emphasising the need for further research to delve into the intricate ecology and biology of these insects.

Molecular phylogeny of black fungus gnats (Diptera: Sciaroidea: Sciaridae) and the evolution of larval habitats.

The phylogeny of the family Sciaridae is reconstructed, based on maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian analyses of 4809bp from two mitochondrial (COI and 16S) and two nuclear (18S and 28S) genes for 100 taxa including the outgroup taxa. According to the present phylogenetic analyses, Sciaridae comprise three subfamilies and two genus groups: Sciarinae, Chaetosciara group, Cratyninae, and Pseudolycoriella group+Megalosphyinae. Our molecular results are largely congruent with one of the former hypotheses based on morphological data with respect to the monophyly of genera and subfamilies (Sciarinae, Megalosphyinae, and part of postulated "new subfamily"); however, the subfamily Cratyninae is shown to be polyphyletic, and the genera Bradysia, Corynoptera, Leptosciarella, Lycoriella, and Phytosciara are also recognized as non-monophyletic groups. While the ancestral larval habitat state of the family Sciaridae, based on Bayesian inference, is dead plant material (plant litter+rotten wood), the common ancestors of Phytosciara and Bradysia are inferred to living plants habitat. Therefore, shifts in larval habitats from dead plant material to living plants may have occurred within the Sciaridae at least once. Based on the results, we discuss phylogenetic relationships within the family, and present an evolutionary scenario of development of larval habitats.

Review of the genus Camptochaeta Hippa & Vilkamaa (Diptera, Sciaridae), with the description of nine new species.

The following new species of the genus Camptochaeta Hippa & Vilkamaa, 1994 are described and illustrated: Camptochaeta anceps, C. fihfera, C. formosa, C. kajsae, C. inixta, C. orthochaeta, C. spatula, C. truncata, and C. winchesteri. For some previously described species, morphological characters are redefined. Camptochaeta pentacantha Komarova, Hippa & Vilkamaa, 2007 is regarded as a junior synonym of C. subcamptochaeta (Mohrig, 1992).

Notes on the taxonomy of the Holarctic Corynoptera Winnertz sensu lato (Diptera, Sciaridae), with description of six new species.

Six new species of Corynoptera Winnertz from northern Finland, Japan and North America are newly described and illustrated: Corynoptera captiosa sp. n., C. cracentis sp. n., C. inari sp. n., C. salmelai sp. n., C. spiciforceps sp. n. and C. tuomikoskii sp. n.. Corynoptera subvariegata Rudzinski, 1992 is redescribed and C. perochaeta (Mohrig & Menzel, 1990) and C. variegata Mohrig, 1985 are illustrated and their characters discussed. The new species studied show unusual characters for the genus, and do not fit well into currently defined species groups.

Contribution to the molecular phylogeny of Sciaridae (Diptera) with special attention to the genera emBradysia/em and emCorynoptera/em.

The systematics of the dipteran family Sciaridae is based mainly on morphological characters and has remained quite controversial. In this study, we used two mitochondrial DNA markers (CO1, 16S) and a nuclear one (28S) to take a glimpse into phylogenetic relationships of part of the North and Central European Sciaridae. A total of 91 species from 19 genera were analysed using Maximum Likelihood based phylogenetics (depending on the availability of valid sequences, 50-70 per gene). We strengthen the suggestion of the Chaetosciara group as an independent subfamily. Within the subfamily Megalosphyinae, two separate Bradysia clades were identified, suggesting a close relation between the genera Zygoneura, Austrosciara, and Scatopsciara. The genus Alpinosciara gen. n. is established to place the species of the former Corynoptera crassistylata group inside the subfamily Megalosphyinae. This new genus now includes 22 species.

Twenty years of Dipterology through the pages of Zootaxa.

We present a summary and analysis of the Diptera-related information published in Zootaxa from 2001 to 2020, with a focus on taxonomic papers. Altogether, 2,527 papers on Diptera were published, including 2,032 taxonomic papers and 1,931 papers containing new nomenclatural acts, equivalent to 22% of all publications with new nomenclatural acts for Diptera. The new nomenclatural acts include 7,431 new species, 277 new genera, 2,003 new synonymies, and 1,617 new combinations. A breakdown by family of new taxa and new replacement names proposed in the journal during the last two decades is provided, together with a comparison of Zootaxa's output to that of all other taxonomic publications on Diptera. Our results show that the journal has contributed to 20% of all biodiversity discovery in this megadiverse insect order over the last 20 years, and to about 31% in the last decade.

Morphology and DNA barcodes of two species of Bradysia Winnertz from China (Diptera, Sciaridae), with the description of Bradysia minorlobus Yang, Shi amp; Huang sp. n.

Two morphologically similar species of the fungicola species group of Bradysia Winnertz, 1867 were studied in China: Bradysia chenjinae Yang, Zhang Yang, 1993 and Bradysia minorlobus Yang, Shi Huang sp. n. The morphological species concepts were supported by the DNA barcodes of COI sequences. The genetic distances of 16 Bradysia fungicola group species were analyzed and a neighbor-joining tree was constructed. The morphological characters of both Chinese species were described and illustrated.

Austrosciara Schmitz & Mjöberg, 1924, a senior synonym of Ctenosciara Tuomikoski, 1960 (Diptera: Sciaridae) and the description of a new brachypterous species in the genus.

Three species of wing-reduced Sciaridae, obtained from pitfall trap material collected from Nothofagus forests in Victoria, Australia, were examined. The females, which were all very similar, do not belong to any of the wing-reduced sciarid genera known to us so far. They instead appear to be females of the genus Austrosciara Schmitz & Mjöberg, 1924, according to the original description and illustration, and one of the species appears to be conspecific with Austrosciara termitophila Schmitz & Mjöberg. The shape of the male hypopygium, as well as the tibial organ of this species in both sexes show typical features of species previously classified as Ctenosciara Tuomikoski, 1960. The genus Ctenosciara Tuomikoski, 1960 n. syn. has therefore to be considered a junior synonym of Austrosciara Schmitz & Mjöberg. A further species described as Austrosciara pedibusa sp. n., based on female specimens, is typically characterized by a deep sensory pit on the basal segment of the palpus. The female of a third species, listed as Austrosciara sp., is illustrated as well.

Ctenosciara alexanderkoenigi sp. n. (Diptera: Sciaridae), an exotic invader in Germany?

A new species of the genus Ctenosciara Tuomikoski, 1960 is here described based upon a single specimen, obtained from collectings in the garden at Museum Alexander Koenig in Bonn. Ctenosciara alexanderkoenigi sp. n. differs from all other congeneric European species by its striking coloration and distinct male genitalia. However, DNA barcoding reveals associations with two specimens from New Zealand. Therefore a recent migration of Ctenosciara species from the Australasian Region, the likely center of origin of the genus, is discussed. A key to the European species of Ctenosciara is provided. Barcoding results reveale that Ctenosciara exigua is not clearly distinguished from Ctenosciara hyalipennis by its COI sequence (both share the same BIN BOLD:AAH3983) and that its species status may be questionable.

Peyerimhoffiajaschhoforum (Diptera, Sciaridae), a new deadwood inhabiting species from Canada.

A new species of black fungus gnat from Canada, Peyerimhoffiajaschhoforum sp. n., is presented with a description, illustrations, biotope information and a brief discussion of the placement and concept of the genus Peyerimhoffia. P.jaschhoforum is characterized by a unique gonostylar structure where the apex is hollowed but not enclosed and contains a mass of mega setae housed within. P.jaschhoforum was reared from decomposing jack pine (Pinusbanksiana Lamb.) deadwood using both in-situ and ex-situ photoeclectors. We documented three additional specimens originating from Fennoscandia that resemble P.jaschhoforum but differ based on a broader tegmen, placement of setigerous papillae behind the tegmen and the fused intercoxal area. Based on this, these specimens are assigned to a new subspecies, Peyerimhoffiajaschhoforumfennoscandica ssp. n.