First records of Chrysotoxum volaticum Séguy, 1961 from Europe and Platycheirus marokkanus Kassebeer, 1998 from Spain (Diptera: Syrphidae) together with additional records of Spanish Chrysotoxum Meigen, 1803

The first European records of Chrysotoxum volaticum Séguy, 1961 from Spain and France, and Platycheirus marokkanus Kassebeer, 1998 from Spain are provided. These are further examples of North African species also present in the Iberian Peninsula. Diagnostic characters are given to separate C. volaticum and the similar Chrysotoxum bicinctum (Linnaeus, 1758), and additional records of other Chrysotoxum Meigen, 1803 hoverflies from Spain are also reported. We also provide DNA barcodes for C. volaticum and discuss the utility of DNA barcoding to identify species in the genus Chrysotoxum.The study of the material of Chrysotoxum in the NHM was made possible by receiving support from the SYNTHESYS project http://www.synthesys.info/ which is financed by European Community Research Infrastructure Action under the FP6 “Structuring the European Research Area” Programme. Financial support was also provided by the Spanish Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (projects CGL2005-07213/BOS and CGL2006-13847-C02-01). Antonio Ricarte’s position (Ref. UATAL05) at the University of Alicante is funded by the ‘Vicerrectorado de Investigación y Transferencia de Conocimiento’

A multigene phylogeny of the eristaline flower flies (Diptera : Syrphidae), with emphasis on the subtribe Criorhinina

We present the first multigene phylogeny focused on Eristalinae (Diptera: Syrphidae) utilizing a dataset containing 120 flower fly species from across all four subfamilies and representing 13 out of 16 tribes. Eight genes were used in the construction of the phylogeny: mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and the nuclear genes 28S ribosomal DNA, Alanylt RNA Synthetase, the carbamoyl phosphate synthase domain of CAD, Period, RNA-binding Protein 15 (RBP-15, 5'), Casein Kinase 1 and TULP for a total of similar to 6.7 kB of data. Eristalinae is recovered as paraphyletic with strong support for the elevation of Cerioidini, Merodontini and Volucellini to subfamilial status. Deineches, Flukea and Malometasternum render Criorhinina paraphyletic with respect to the type genus Criorhina. A clade with Criorhina, Matsumyia and Sphecomyia is strongly supported. The generic concept of Criorhina is paraphyletic, while Sphecomyia is monophyletic and Matsumyia is monophyletic but requires expansion. Evidence supports the resurrection of Romaleosyrphus and the creation of new genera. Criorhinina (stat. rev.) is restricted to contain Criorhina, Matsumyia, Romaleosyrphus and Sphecomyia. Thirteen changes to the higher classification of Syrphidae are proposed.Peer reviewe

Faunistical overview of the European species of the genera Brachyopa Meigen, 1822 and Hammerschmidtia Schummel, 1834 (Diptera: Syrphidae)

The European fauna of the genera Brachyopa Meigen, 1822 and Hammerschmidtia Schummel, 1834 is reviewed. The distribution and phenology based on extensive literature and database research are provided. The biology of adults as well as larval habitats are treated. An illustrated key is presented for easy identification of the adults, including three species known from adjacent Mediterranean countries. A key to the larvae, based on the available literature, is also provided. The data originate from a study of available literature, from several databases and from the private collections of the authors. The data are compiled into one large dataset in which all the available information is gathered together with the source of the data. Based on the biology and trend analysis for each species it is indicated whether they show stable, fluctuating or extremely fluctuating populations. The habitat preferences of the adults and larvae are used to discuss possible threats to each of the species for future survival. Finally, the main habitat of all species is discussed from a conservation point of vie