Hybotidae

Abstract: A cladistic analysis of the Empidoidea and basal lineages of the Cyclorrhapha, based on morphological characters, confirms the monophyly of both groups as well as that of the Eremoneura. The resulting final trees are used to revise the classification of the Empidoidea to include the following five families: Empididae, Hybotidae, Atelestidae (including Nemedininae n. subfam.), Brachystomatidae rev. stat. (comprising the subfamilies Brachystomatinae, Ceratomerinae and Trichopezinae), and Dolichopodidae s.lat. The family Microphoridae is not recognized, and the Microphorinae and Parathalassiinae are assigned to the Dolichopodidae s.lat. The Dolichopodidae s.str. includes 15 subfamilies that were previously recognized within the family. Within the Empidoidea we found support for Atelestidae as the sister group to the Hybotidae and for the monophyly of Parathalassiinae + Dolichopodidae s.str. The Empididae remains poorly defined and the genera Homalocnemis Philippi, Iteaphila Zetterstedt, Anthepiscopus Becker, and Oreogeton Schiner are classified as incertae sedis within the Empidoidea. In addition, the following higher taxa are proposed: Symballophthalmini n. tribe, Bicellariini n. tribe, Oedaleinae rev. stat., and Trichininae rev. stat., which are all assigned to the Hybotidae. The genus Sematopoda Collin is tentatively assigned to Trichopezinae, and Xanthodromia Saigusa is transferred from Hemerodromiinae to Brachystomatinae. All morphological characters are extensively discussed and illustrated, including details of the antennae, mouthparts, internal thoracic structures, wings, and male and female terminalia. In addition, a key to families and unplaced genus groups of the Empidoidea is provided. Feeding habits are also discussed in terms of the empidoid ground plan condition.

Abstract: Crossopalpus is a rather diverse genus of tachydromiine flies, but regionally the genus is nowhere very speciose. Knowledge on the South American Crossopalpus before this paper included two described species from Andean related habitats, with several biomes from the eastern part of the continent being completely unexplored. Herein, we describe four new species of Crossopalpus from eastern South America, namely: C. albivertex sp. nov., C. aliceae sp. nov., C. goliathus sp. nov., and C. xanthogaster sp. nov. New diagnoses and high quality photographs are made available for C. armipes (Bezzi, 1909) and C. pennescens (Melander, 1918), including some characters used for the first time to distinguish South American species. We provide a key for identification of the six South American species, discussion about the position of Crossopalpus in Drapetidini, and some biogeographical insights including preferred habitats and seasonality of the South American species. We discuss the apparent loss of tergite 10 in females of Drapetidini, introducing a reinterpretation where the sclerite may be present in some genera of the tribe, but fused to the cerci and/or sternite 10.

Abstract: A new species of Chvalaea Papp & Foldvari, 2002 is discovered after a photo on a social network and later collected in nature. Chvalaea yolkamini sp. nov. is described and illustrated here. In addition, for the first time we describe eggs with scanning electron microscopy and report on adult hunting behavior.

Abstract: Drapetis is a genus of tiny predaceous hybotid flies found frequently on the bark of trees. From a single locality in province Skane (S Sweden) we report the co-existence of seven species of Drapetis. One is new and described as D. abrollensis sp. nov., and four species, D. assimilis (Fallen), D. completa Kovalev, D. infitialis Collin and D. stackelbergi Kovalev, are relatively recent additions to the list of Swedish Diptera. A key to males of the 14 species of Drapetis known from NW Europe is given. Special emphasis is given to modifications of the midleg cuticle observed in males of several species that belong to the D. exilis-species group. As shown by SEM images these modifications differ greatly between the species, both at light microscopic and ultrastructural levels. These modifications are introduced as a new set of characters in the identification key. Finally, brochosomes were detected on the midleg of three SEM-examined Drapetis species, documenting indirectly that small leafhoppers are regularly used as prey.