Species inventory,ecology, and seasonal distribution patterns of Culicidae (Insecta: Diptera) in the National Park Donau-Auen (Lower Austria)

In order to improve the limited database on species inventories and ecology of Culicidae in Austria, we monitored hydrological and physico-chemical parameters of breeding habitats of the Culicidae species of Danubean wetlands from March to October 2011 in the National Park Donau-Auen (Lower Austria). A total of 34 eggrafts, 1022 larval, 80 pupal, and 221 adult Culicidae were collected. We detected 15 mosquito species belonging to the genera Anopheles Meigen, 1818, Culex Linnæus, 1758, Culiseta Felt, 1904, Coquillettidia Dyar, 1905, Aedes Meigen, 1818 and Ochlerotatus Lynch Arribalzaga, 1891. In the larval and pupal stage, Ochlerotatus geniculatus (Olivier, 1791) (64.1%) and Culex territans Walker, 1856 (18.7%) were most abundant. Based on abiotic and biotic parameters, sampling sites were grouped into four clusters. The results show that water level and -persistence, pH, conductivity, and phosphate concentrations had a significant influence on species distribution, and that floodplain dynamics are a key factor for the seasonal and spatial distribution of mosquito larvae in the National Park.     

Rove beetles of the subtribe Scopaeina Mulsant & Rey (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) in the West Palaearctic: Phylogeny, biogeography and species catalogue

A cladistic analysis of the West Palaearctic Scopaeina Mulsant & Rey, 1878 (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae: Paederinae) is presented along with bionomic and biogeographic information. A total of 76 morphological characters were coded for the 88 currently known West Palaearctic species, except for S. bifossicapitata (Outerelo & Oromi, 1987). Results show that Scopaeina comprises two well-supported monophyletic groups in the West Palaearctic, Micranops Cameron, 1913 and Scopaeus Erichson, 1840, which are considered to represent distinct genera. Phylogenetic relationships to Orus Casey, 1884, distributed in North and South America, are briefly discussed. Whereas Micranops is only represented by M. pilicornis (Baudi, 1869) in the region under study, 87 species of Scopaeus are currently known from the West Palaearctic. Within Scopaeus, the cladistic analysis yielded many well-supported monophyletic species groups, most of which are restricted to the West Palaearctic. However, except for Hyperscopaeus Coiffait, 1984, they are not in agreement with the widely used subgeneric concept sensu Coiffait (1952–1984). The following polyphyletic subgenera are consequently synonymized: Alloscopaeus Coiffait, 1968, Anomoscopaeus Coiffait, 1968, Geoscopaeus Coiffait, 1960, and Hyposcopaeus Coiffait, 1960 synn. n. = Scopaeus Erichson, 1840. Nivorus Herman, 1965, and Microscopaeus Coiffait, 1981 synn. n. = Micranops Cameron, 1913. The monotypical genus Coecoscopaeus Coiffait, 1984, established for C. coecus (Peyerimhoff, 1906), is excluded from Scopaeina. Scopaeus mitratus perroti Ochs, 1953 is raised to species rank, and S. nigellus Wollaston, 1864, formerly a synonym of S. minimus Erichson, 1939, is revalidated. Finally, we present a catalogue of species and synonyms of West Palaearctic Scopaeina along with distributional data and five new synonymies of species group names: S. bordei Peyerimhoff, 1914 syn. n. = S. portai Luze, 1910; S. tassiliensis Jarrige, 1958, S. mauretanicus Coiffait, 1960 synn. n. = S. crassipes Wollaston, 1867; S. saoudiensis Coiffait, 1981 = S. sinaicus Coiffait, 1970; S. mateui Coiffait, 1953 syn. n. = S. didymus Erichson, 1840. A lectotype is designated for S. didymus Erichson, 1840.See also Electronic Supplement (Parts 13) at http://www.senckenberg.de/odes/02-02.htm     

Habitat Associations of the Larvae of the Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sphegina</Emphasis> Meigen, 1822 (Diptera,Syrphidae) with Xylobiont Insects

The paper presents the first data on the life histories of the larvae of five species of the genus Sphegina Meigen, 1822 (Diptera, Syrphidae) and their habitat associations with other xylobiont larvae of ambrosia insects: xylomycetophagous bark beetles (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae), flies of the families Axymyiidae and Syrphidae (Diptera), and other insects. The biotopes of Sphegina larvae are divided into two types: the main biotope where larval development takes place and the additional biotope where pupation occurs.     

A new enigmatic apterous cyclostome genus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from the Greek Islands

A new West Palaearctic genus Achaiabracon gen. n. with the type species A. aenigmatus sp. n. is described and illustrated from the Greek Islands Crete and Corfu. The position of this genus in the cyclostome group of subfamilies of Braconidae and its possible relation with rhyssaline genera are discussed. A new tribe Achaiabraconini trib. n. is proposed.     

Patterns of formation of the flea (Siphonaptera) fauna in the Caucasus

Fleas of the Caucasus belong to 155 species of 40 genera, constituting 17% and 43% of the species and generic composition of the Palaearctic fauna, respectively. The Caucasian fauna includes 23 endemic species but no endemic genera or subgenera. In the number of species, the Caucasian fauna is similar to that of the Mediterranean Subregion and is significantly poorer than the faunas of the Euro-Siberian (by 2.2 times) and Irano-Turanian (by 1.7 times) Subregions. Based on taxonomic diversity, we can propose a hypothesis on the West and East Palaearctic sources of the Caucasian fauna. The West Palaearctic source has determined the distribution of pulicomorph fleas of the families Pulicidae and Coptopsyllidae from Africa, on the one hand, and of fleas of the genera Ctenopthalmus and Palaeopsylla from Europe, on the other hand. Fleas of the Holarctic genera, such as Ceratophyllus and Megabothris, entered the Caucasus by the north Asian route; fleas of the genera Neopsylla, Rhadinopsylla, and Hystrichopsylla migrated to the Caucasus from east and central Asia by the south Asian route, through Middle and Western Asia.     

Description of the external morphology of the puparia of eight species of bat flies (Diptera: Streblidae)

ABSTRACT

The Dipteran family Streblidae are ectoparasites of bats. These flies are viviparous and have an intrauterine larval life phase, a free-living sessile puparium phase and the adult obligate parasite. Here we describe the external morphology of the puparium of Aspidoptera phyllostomatis (Perty, 1833), Megistopoda aranea (Coquillett, 1899), M. proxima (Séguy, 1826), Noctiliostrebla morena Alcantara et al., 2019, Paradyschiria parvula Falcoz, 1931, Strebla consocia Wenzel, 1966, Trichobius joblingi Wenzel, 1966 and T. longipes (Rudow, 1871) and provide an identification key. We also describe the method we developed for collecting the puparia, which was done between April 2015 and August 2016. The characters that most differentiated the species were spiracles and ornaments.     

A new species of Ocydromia Meigen from China,with a key to species from the Palaearctic and Oriental Regions (Diptera,Empidoidea, Ocydromiinae)

Previously only one species of the genus Ocydromia Meigen was recorded from China. Here a second species of the genus from China, Ocydromia shanxiensis sp. n., is reported. A key to the species of the genus from the Palaearctic and Oriental regions is presented.     

Systematics of Pipizini and taxonomy of European Pipiza Fallén: molecular and morphological evidence (Diptera,Syrphidae)

Vuji?, A., Ståhls, G., A?anski, J., Bartsch, H., Bygebjerg, R. & Stefanovi?, A. (2013). Systematics of Pipizini and taxonomy of European Pipiza Fallén: molecular and morphological evidence (Diptera, Syrphidae). —Zoologica Scripta, 42, 288–305. In the present work the monophyly and molecular phylogenetic relationships of the genera of tribe Pipizini (Syrphidae) were investigated based on mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and nuclear 28S rDNA sequences, and the relationships among species of genus Pipiza Fallén, 1810 based on mtDNA COI sequences. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of Pipizini supported Pipiza as monophyletic and as sister group to all other Pipizini, and resolved other Pipizini genera as monophyletic lineages except for genus Heringia Rondani, 1856. To recognize the distinctness and maintain the monophyly the genus Heringia was redefined, generic rank was assigned to Neocnemodon Goffe, 1944 stat. n., and the genus Claussenia Vuji? & Ståhls gen. n., type‐species Claussenia hispanica (Strobl, 1909), was described. A revision of the European Pipiza species, including a discussion of taxonomic characters and a morphological redefinition of all included species, is presented. One new species, Pipiza laurusi Vuji? & Ståhls sp. n. was described. The taxa Pipiza carbonaria Meigen, 1822; Pipiza fasciata, Meigen 1822; Pipiza lugubris (Fabricius, 1775), Pipiza noctiluca (Linneaues, 1758), Pipiza notata Meigen, 1822 were redefined. Lectotypes are designated for 17 taxa, and neotypes were designated for seven taxa. Fourteen new synonymies were proposed. Male genitalia were illustrated for all the species, and a key of the 12 European species for males and females was provided. Geometric morphometrics of wing landmarks and extended sampling of mtDNA COI sequences was employed to delimitate taxa of the P. noctiluca and P. lugubris complexes. Despite subtle morphological differences, wing geometric morphometrics variables of wing size and shape showed highly significant differences among species within P. noctiluca and P. lugubris complexes, which were supported by the molecular data.     

A review of grassflies of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Meromyza</Emphasis> Meigen, 1830 (Diptera,Chloropidae) of the palaearctic fauna with a key to species,analysis of the synonymy,host specialization,and geographic distribution. Part 2

The second part of the paper considers the position of the genus Meromyza Meigen, 1830 in the system of the family Chloropidae, its intrageneric classification, species synonymy, food plants, habitat preferences, geographic distribution of its species, and the faunas of some regions in the Palaearctic. A list of literature is provided.     

Revision of the western Palaearctic Mesoleptus (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

The western Palaearctic species of the genus Mesoleptus Gravenhorst 1829 are redescribed and keys are given for their identification. Also a key for the identification of the three stilpnine genera (Atractodes, Mesoleptus, and Stilpnus) is given and the biology of the genus is discussed shortly. The following species are described as new: Mesoleptus hispanicus n. sp., M. sawoniewiczi n. sp. and M. tunisiensis n. sp. The male of Mesoleptus tobiasi Jonaitis is described for the first time. New combinations is M. incessor (Haliday). New synonyms number 143 and 34 lectotypes are chosen.     

Parasites of grass flies (Diptera, Chloropidae) from the order hymenoptera in the Holarctic region

Hymenopterous parasitoids of grass flies of the family Chloropidae from the Palaearctic and Nearctic regions are reviewed. These parasitoids belong to four superfamilies and 16 families of Hymenoptera and were reared from 39 species of Chloropidae in the Palaearctic (less than 6% of the fauna) and only from 10 species in the Nearctic Region. The majority of parasitoids are oligo-or polyphagous species. To a certain degree, the parasitoids are specialized on one of the three host groups: (1) species developing in shoots of cereal and meadow grasses; (2) forest species developing in cones of coniferous trees; and (3) species associated with the common reed, Phragmites australis. In the Palaearctic Region, the majority of parasitoids (91 species) were reared from Oscinella frit L. s. 1.; a significantly smaller number of these parasites is known from this host in the Nearctic Region, nearly half of the parasitoids being common for both regions. The next large group of parasitoids is associated with gall-inducing species of the genus Lipara Meigen (59 species) developing in the common reed. By contrast with two other groups of parasitoids, this one includes many species of the family Ichneumonidae. It should be noted that taxonomic diversity at the third trophic level is markedly greater than at the second level.     

Population dynamics and resource utilization by larval Chironomidae (Diptera) in a backwater area of the River Danube

1. The five most abundant species of the larval chironomid community in a backwater area of the River Danube were analysed in terms of population dynamics and utilization of space from July 1985 to July 1986. The life histories of Prodiamcsa olivacea (Meigen), Cryptochironomus defectus (Kieffer), Harnischia curtilamellata (Malloch), Polypedilum laetum (Meigen) and Polypedilum scalaenum Schrank were described; the number of estimated generations per year was two for P. olivacea, H. curtilamellata, P. laetum and P. scalaenum and three for C. defectus. A decline in larval densities of P. olivacea and P. scalaenum was significantly correlated with increasing cumulative water discharge in an area close to a dam (P<0.01). 2. Spatial overlap and resource width were estimated for these chironomid species across four ranges of water depth, in three sections of the River Danube. An increasing mean spatial overlap between larval species coincided significantly with higher mean resource utilization in all cross-sections during the sampling period. Simulations of spatial overlap between randomized species associations were conducted for analyses of coexistence and dispersion between larval populations. On the basis of comparison with a neutral model, in which patches of individuals were randomly reassigned to habitat units, spatial segregation was significantly (P<0.05) different from chance for seventy-three out of 263 species pairs examined through the year. 3. An analysis of the spatial dispersion of each chironomid species (using the standardized Morisita index) suggested temporally and spatially varying patterns of dispersion, whereas the mean spatial segregation between patches of larval species might have resulted from temporary formations of random patches in this backwater area of the River Danube. 4. Spatial stability estimated as the minimum positive eigenvalue of the species matrix was significantly positively related to mean spatial segregation, indicating that a lower habitat segregation between patches of larval species pairs may lead to a destabilization of the larval species assemblage.     

Reassessment of the enigmatic Lepidopteran family Lypusidae (Lepidoptera: Tineoidea; Gelechioidea)

Abstract. The genus Lypusa Zeller, 1852 has been assigned to Tineoidea (Lepidoptera) with varying family positions. The systematic affinities of this genus, currently placed in its own family Lypusidae, were studied using extensive data derived from larval, pupal and adult morphology and certain behavioural traits. In total, 193 characters were considered. On the basis of the results of a parsimony analysis, Lypusa is transferred to the superfamily Gelechioidea, in a monophyletic, exclusively Palaearctic assemblage with the genera Amphisbatis and Pseudatemelia. Several phylogenetically relevant characters support this position, including similarly constructed larval cases, densely porose larval head, and a modification of the pupal abdominal segment 8. The composition of the family Amphisbatidae is discussed and it is proposed that it be delimited as comprising solely the Palaearctic genera Pseudatemelia, Amphisbatis and Lypusa. A detailed diagnosis of the genus Lypusa is given.     

A review of the ecological grouping of species of the genus Phyllonorycter Hübner, [1822] (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae: Lithocolletinae), associated with fagaceae

A review of the species belonging to the genus Phyllonorycter Hübner, [1822] (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae), which are trophically associated with fagacean plants, is given, being provided with a new determination key and short diagnoses for 20 species recorded for the fauna of Russia. A contribution to the taxonomy of the genus Phyllonorycter is made based on the comparative morphology of the male genitalia of 54 Palaearctic species developing on Fagaceae, with 13 new taxonomic groups established within this ecological unit. Lectotype of Phyllonorycter suberifoliella (Zeller, 1850) is designated.     

A preliminary list of the Muscidae (Diptera) of the Magadan region,Russia

A preliminary list is given of the species of the Muscidae (Diptera) of the Magadan region, including 93 species in 23 genera. Eighty-one species are newly recorded from this territory. Six species [Spilogona aenea Huckett, 1965, S. bifimbriata Huckett, 1965, S. fulvibasis Huckett, 1965, S. incerta Huckett, 1965, S. separata Huckett, 1965, S. trigonifera (Zetterstedt, 1838)] are newly recorded for Russia. All these species, except Spilogona trigonifera, are newly recorded for the Palaearctic region. The species list includes the material examined, ecological data of some species, the distribution and all known references to each species. According to preliminary estimates, this list reflects 60% of expected species in the Magadan region. Two new synonyms are proposed: Coenosia shumshuensis Shinonaga & Zhang, 2000, n. syn. for C. alaskensis Huckett, 1965, and Coenosia remissa Huckett, 1965, n. syn. for C. ciliata Hennig 1961.