Two new, brachypterous species of Limnellia are described from specimens collected in the Venezuelan Andes: L. vounitis (Trujillo: Bocon, La Cristalina (Andes; 09°14.7′N, 70°19.1′W; 2500 m)) and L. flavifrontis (Merida: Merida, Sierra Nevada National Park (Laguna Negra; 8°47.1'N; 70°48.4'W; 3300 m)). To facilitate identification of these unusual species, we have included a diagnosis of the tribe Scatellini and of the genus Limnellia and have also provided an annotated key to the South American genera of this tribe. The descriptions are supplemented with illustrations, photographs, and scanning electron micrographs of external structures and structures of the male terminalia.

Two new, brachypterous Limnellia species from the Venezuelan Andes (Diptera: Ephydridae).

With over 80 000 described species, Brachycera represent one of the most diverse clades of organisms with a Mesozoic origin. Larvae of the majority of early lineages are detritivores or carnivores. However, Brachycera are ecologically innovative and they now employ a diverse range of feeding strategies. Brachyceran relationships have been the subject of numerous qualitative analyses using morphological characters. These analyses are often based on characters from one or a few character systems and general agreement on relationships has been elusive. In order to understand the evolution of basal brachyceran lineages, 101 discrete morphological characters were scored and compiled into a single data set. Terminals were scored at the family level, and the data set includes characters from larvae, pupae and adults, internal and external morphology, and male and female terminalia. The results show that all infraorders of Brachycera are monophyletic, but there is little evidence for relationships between the infraorders. Stratiomyomorpha, Tabanomorpha, and Xylophagomorpha together form the sister group to Muscomorpha. Xylophagomorpha and Tabanomorpha are sister groups. Within Muscomorpha, the paraphyletic Nemestrinoidea form the two most basal lineages. There is weak evidence for the monophyly of Asiloidea, and Hilarimorphidae appear to be more closely related to Eremoneura than other muscomorphs. Apsilocephalidae, Scenopinidae and Therevidae form a clade of Asiloidea. This phylogenetic evidence is consistent with the contemporaneous differentiation of the main brachyceran lineages in the early Jurassic. The first major radiation of Muscomorpha were asiloids and they may have diversified in response to the radiation of angiosperms in the early Cretaceous.

Relationships of extant lower Brachycera (Diptera): a quantitative synthesis of morphological characters

The larval host associations and mode of parasitism of Bombyliidae (bee flies) are summarized and analysed within an evolutionary framework. We discuss difficulties in extracting information from the (almost 1000) host records, noting that most observations are made by chance, often imprecise, and distributed unevenly across bombyliid taxa. These caveats aside, the vast majority of Bombyliidae are ectoparasitoid; endoparasitoids are known in only three tribes belonging to two distandy related subfamilies, the Toxophorinae (Gerontini and Systropodini) and Anthracinae (Villini). The recorded host range of Bombyliidae spans seven insect Orders and the Araneae; almost half of all records are from bees and wasps (Hymenoptera). No Bombyliidae have evolved structures to inject eggs directly into the host as is the case in many hymenopterous parasitoids. Bombyliid larvae usually exhibit hyper-metamorphosis, and contact their host while it is in the larval stage. Bee fly larvae consume the host when it is in a quiescent stage such as the mature larva, prepupa or pupa. Records of hyperparasitism by Bombyliidae are uncommon, most occurring in genera of the Anthracinae. All bombyliids recorded as hyperparasitoids do not appear to have evolved in any close association with the primary host, and are best termed pseudohyperparasitoids. Both facultative and obligate pseudohyperparasitism has been recorded. Bombyliidae are difficult to place in the koinobiont/idiobiont classification used most extensively in Hymenoptera but they share most features of koinobionts. Provision-directed cleptoparasitism has been recorded in one genus. We propose an evolutionary scenario progressing from an ancestral substrate-zone free-living predator to ectoparasitoid, a broadening of host range to include the consumption of orthopteran egg pods, and the independent development of endoparasitism in two lineages. The suggestion that host range narrows as the intimacy of encounter between female parasitoid and host increases is supported in the Bombyliidae. Amongst the basal subfamilies which are parasitoids, host range is narrowest in the Toxophorinae. In the more derived subfamilies host range is generally broad, and is dictated by ecological context rather than host phylogeny. Bombyliidae violate the prediction of increased species richness in parasitic groups, and the broad host range of most bee flies is a possible explanation.

The evolutionary pattern of host use in the Bombyliidae (Diptera): a diverse family of parasitoid flies

The importance of Eurasian red wood ants (RWAs) (Formica rufa group) in forest and heath ecosystems has long been recognized. One key function of RWAs is the role of their nests in supporting an intriguing ecosystem of a highly diverse group of obligate myrmecophiles and facultative guests. In this review we list 125 obligate arthropod myrmecophiles that occur in RWA mounds or in the near vicinity of the mounds. More than 40 % of them are Coleoptera, but also Hemiptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, Acari and Araneae are well represented. RWAs are estimated to be the primary hosts for 49 species. 24 species were hitherto only recorded to be associated with RWAs, 12 with both RWAs and other mound-building Formica species and 9 were found to be associated with both mound-building and non-mound-building Formica species. The remaining associates are less specific and can be found with other ant genera or ant subfamilies. Other mound-building Formica ants (Coptoformica, F. uralensis and F. truncorum) support fewer species, most of which are known to also occur with RWAs. We discuss the biology of the different obligate myrmecophilous groups and give general notes on the facultative guests found in RWA mounds. We stress the importance of the conservation of RWAs as hosts of one of the richest and diverse associations known to date in insects.

A highly diverse microcosm in a hostile world: a review on the associates of red wood ants ( Formica rufa group)

A new genus and species of flower flies (Diptera: Syrphidae: Syrphinae: Syrphini) are described from central Africa (Kenya & Uganda), Afrostoma quadripunctatum. A key to the Afrotropical genera of the subfamily Syrphinae is given. A review of the melanostomine [Bacchini] genera and subgenera is provided along with a key to them. Phylogenetic placement of Afrostoma is included based on mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) data.

/pdf/afrotropical-flower-flies-diptera-syrphidae-a-new-genus-and-3n2jkypi9p.pdf

Afrotropical flower flies (Diptera: Syrphidae). A new genus and species from Kenya, with a review of the melanostomine group of genera.

Characters separating the genera Platycheirus and Melanostoma are discussed. The name Melanostoma Schin. is restricted to species with a distinct type of metasternum present in the type species, M. mellinum L. Lectotypes are designated for Scaeva ambigua Fall., S. transfuga Zett., and S. dubia Zett. The two firstmentioned belong to Platycheirus and the latter to Melanostoma s. str.

Taxonomic Notes on the Genera Pl atycheirus and Melanostoma (Dipt., Syrphidae) With Lectotype Designations

Glabellula arctica (Zett.) is recorded from three Swedish provinces as an ant guest, living in the nests of four Formica species. Some details of the behaviour of the adult and the larva are described as well as the morphology of the last larval instar, the pupa and the malc and fcmale abdomina. The systematic position of the species is discussed.

Studies on the Myrmecophilous Fly, Glabellula arctica (Zett.) (Dipt. Bombyliidae)

Anthophilina pallida Zetterstedt, 1838, Sapromyza unguicella Zetterstedt, 1838, Anthomyza neglecta Collin, 1944, Anthomyza dissors Collin, 1944, and Anthomyza dissors var. dorsata Collin, 1944, are revised and lectotypes designated. The valid species Anthomyza pallida (Zetterstedt), A. dissors Collin, A. dorsata Collin, A. neglectu Collin, and A. paraneglecta Elberg are briefly described and the male and female terminalia figured. Distributional and ecological data from Sweden are presented.

Revision of the Anthomyza species of Northwest Europe (Diptera: Anthomyzidae) I. The gracilis group

Chyromya miladae n.sp. is described on material from Czechoslovakia. The new species is compared with Ch. flava (L.) and Ch. femorella (Fall.) of which details of the male genitalia are figured.

Chyromya miladae n.sp. from Czechoslovakia (Diptera: Chyromyidae)

Four European species of Limnellia Malloch are recognized, one of which, L. surturi, is described as new on material from Iceland. Wings, male abdomina, and male genitalia of the four species are figured. For L. quadrata (Fall.) and L. stenhammari (Zett.) lectotypes are designated. L. surturi n.sp. is recorded as new to the British Isles and L. fallax Czerny as new to Sweden. A simplified key to the species is given.

The European Species of Limnellia (Dipt., Ephydridae)

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