A recent contribution to the black scavenger flies (Diptera: Sepsidae) in Iran

Abstract. In order to study the family Sepsidae in Iran, a survey was conducted in East Azerbaijan province during [2009][2010][2011][2012]. Two genera and six species of the family are recognized. Three species, Nemopoda nitidula (Fallén, 1820), Sepsis biflexuosa Strobl, 1893, S. punctum (Fabricius 1794) are recorded for the first time from Iran. An identification key to the Iranian sepsids is prepared as well the localities and photos of identified species in this study are given

A contribution to the knowledge of the family Dolichopodidae (Diptera) in East Azerbaijan province of Iran

Based on specimens collected from East Azerbaijan province during 2009-2011, four genera and eleven species of the family Dolichopodidae are recognized. Seven species (Diaphorus sublautus Negrobov, Dolichopus austriacus Parent, D. campestris Meigen, D. immaculatus Becher, D. subpennatus Fonseca, D. ungulatus (Linnaeus), Hercostomus phoebus Parent are recorded from Iran for the first time. Photos and an adapted key to species of the family Dolichopodidae occurring in this region are given

The scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) of Iran with the description of Mahabadphora aesthesphora as a new genus and species.

Scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) are mega-diverse and often synanthropic insects that play superb roles in various ecosystems. Identification of this group of insects is challenging due to their small size, morphological identification difficulties, niche diversity, and lack of taxonomic keys. To pave the way, an in-depth investigation was directed toward the scuttle flies in Iran using morphological and molecular data. A dichotomous key was also developed to identify the genus and species of the phorids reported in the country. The faunistic findings revealed the presence of about 22,000 (13,903 male and 8,097 female) phorid materials organized into 11 genera. Megaselia species (n = 13768), made up about 99% of the specimens studied. Moreover, 71 morphologically defined species belonging to nine genera were molecularly characterized using COI, 28S rRNA, and Arginine kinase datasets. Excluding four Megaselia Rondani, 1856 species, our results specified that morphologically delimited species were in agreement with the molecular analyses inferred from the COI/28S rRNA and COI/Arginine kinase sequences with genetic distances and phylogenetic trees. According to the results of the present study and previously published data, the Phoridae recorded for Iran are a total of 97 species that are ordered in 13 genera and three subfamilies, including Chonocephalinae, Metopininae and Phorinae. By comparing the known world phorid genera, a new monotypic genus of scuttle flies, Mahabadphora aesthesphora gen. nov., sp. nov., was identified based on its morphological and molecular characteristics and included in an updated key. Our results could comprehensively determine the taxonomic status of scuttle flies in Iran, scrutinize their phylogenetic structures and facilitate their identification

NEW RECORDS OF LONG-LEGGED FLIES (DIPTERA: DOLICHOPODIDAE) FROM IRAN

In this study, the following six long-legged fly species (Diptera, Dolichopodidae) collected in the East Azerbaijan province during 2010-2013 are new records for the Iranian fauna: Chrysotimus molliculus (Fallén, 1823); Hercostomus apollo (Loew, 1869); Hydrophorus balticus (Meigen, 1824); Medetera meridionalis Negrobov, 1967; Orthoceratium lacustre (Scopoli, 1763) and Poecilobothrus principalis (Loew, 1861). General geographic distribution of the species and supplementary figures are provided

Nine new species of scuttle flies, including one new genus (Diptera: Phoridae) from Iran

AbstractNamaki-Khameneh and Disney describe nine new species and one new genusIranphora sharafkhaneensisgen. n., sp. n.,Megaselia caveonectergatasp. n.,M. distinctasp. n.,M. fereagaricisp. n.,M. flavucrurussp. n.,M. paluventersp. n.,M. polysetosissp. n.,Phalacrotophora flavidussp. n., andPhora iranensissp. n. from Iran. As a result, this study increased the total number of reported phorids genera and species from Iran to 12 and 78, respectively.</jats:p

An integrative approach in the assessment of species delimitation and structure of the Merodon nanus species group (Diptera: Syrphidae)

The Merodon nanus group (Diptera, Syrphidae) is a small group of closely related species with high morphological similarity. Until now, based on morphological characters, this group consisted of five species: M. nanus Sack, 1931; M. telmateia Hurkmans, 1987; M. kopensis Vuji et Hayat, 2015; M. neonanus Vuji et Taylor, 2015; and M. rasicus Vuji et Radenkovi, 2015. Here, using an integrative approach based on molecular characters (sequences of the D2-3 region of the nuclear 28S rRNA gene and the mitochondrial COI gene) and data obtained from geometric morphometry of wing shape, we distinguish all five previously morphologically defined species of the group. Additionally, we identify one species as being new to science, M. vladimiri Vuji et Koi Tubi sp. n. We emphasize the separation of this newly described species according to the sequences obtained from the slowly evolving 28S rRNA gene, which demonstrated four to five mutation positions between this species and morphologically the most similar M. neonanus species. Also, our results show a clear division of M. telmateia into at least three population groups that we designate as the subspecies: M. telmateia mediterraneus Aanski et Koi Tubi subsp. n. and M. telmateia samosensis Aanski et Koi Tubi subsp. n. exhibiting western distributions (western Anatolia and the Greek island of Samos, respectively) and the nominative subspecies M. telmateia telmateia with an eastern Anatolian distribution.Peer reviewe

Some of the grass flies (Diptera, Chloropidae) fauna of West Azarbaijan province - Iran

Khaghaninia, Samad, Namaki, Roya (2015): Some of the grass flies (Diptera, Chloropidae) fauna of West Azarbaijan province - Iran. Linzer biologische Beiträge 47 (2): 1573-1579, DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.528446

Study of the family Conopidae (Diptera) in Hatam Mesesi forest, with a new record for Iran

Khaghaninia, Samad, Kazerani, Farzaneh (2015): Study of the family Conopidae (Diptera) in Hatam Mesesi forest, with a new record for Iran. Linzer biologische Beiträge 47 (2): 1397-1401, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.528231

A contribution to the knowledge of the family Dolichopodidae (Diptera) in East Azerbaijan province of Iran

Based on specimens collected from East Azerbaijan province during 2009-2011, four genera and eleven species of the family Dolichopodidae are recognized. Seven species (Diaphorus sublautus Negrobov, Dolichopus austriacus Parent, D. campestris Meigen, D. immaculatus Becher, D. subpennatus Fonseca, D. ungulatus (Linnaeus), Hercostomus phoebus Parent are recorded from Iran for the first time. Photos and an adapted key to species of the family Dolichopodidae occurring in this region are given