The Males of Rhynchomicropteron (Diptera: Phoridae)

The genus Rhynchomicropteron Annandal (1912) has distinctive, myrmecophilous, flightless females. The females of the 17 Oriental species are keyed by Disney & Kistner (1998), supplemented by Disney (1999, 2010). Until Brown (1992) reared R. nudiventer Papp in Thailand, the males had been assigned to the genus Gymnoselia Schmitz (1927). This ‘genus’ contained the type species, R. curvescens (Schmitz 1927) and R. nudicosta (Brues 1907). Neither of these have been linked to their females. Recently Lengyel (2011) has described both sexes of a species from Israel, and reported the presence of this genus in Africa and Australia. The males remain poorly known. The purpose of this paper is to provide a key to the known males, even though most remain unknown and some are given code numbers only until they can be linked to their females

Revision of the Megaselia giraudii and M. densior species complexes of Europe, including ecological notes (Diptera, Phoridae).

Die Megaselia giraudii/densior-Artengruppe umfaßt 21 beschriebene Arten in Europa. Acht Arten werden neu beschrieben: M. citrinella Buck sp. n., M. glabrimargo Buck sp. n., M. hexanophila Buck sp. n., M. immodensior Disney sp. n. (= M. densior auctt., nec Schmitz), M. labellaspinata Disney sp. n. (= M. septentrionalis auctt., nec Schmitz), M. mimodensior Buck sp. n., M. raruvesiculae Disney sp. n. und M. xanthophila Buck sp. n. Megaselia phoenicura (Schmitz), M. badia Schmitz und M. hayleyensis Disney (alle allein von Männchen beschrieben) werden synonymisiert mit M. quadriseta (Schmitz) (bisher nur bekannt im weiblichen Geschlecht). Viele Individuen, die früher für M. badia gehalten wurden, gehören tatsächlich zu M. densior Schmitz, und M. coulsoni Disney wird mit letzterer synonymisiert. Lectotypen werden festgelegt für M. albicans (Wood), M. densior, M. offuscata Schmitz, M. phoenicura und M. quadriseta, sowie ein Neotyp für M. comosa (Schmitz). Die Männchen von M. rubricornis (Schmitz) und Weibchen von M. correlata (Schmitz), M. haraldlundi Disney und M. parnassia Disney werden erstmals beschrieben. Das mutmaßliche Männchen von M. sanguinea (Schmitz) und wahrscheinliche Weibchen von M. albicans werden ebenfalls zum ersten Mal beschrieben. Die Identität anderer Arten wird aufgeklärt inklusive vier Arten, die nicht zum giraudii/ densior-Komplex gehören (M. nigrescens (Wood), M. opacicornis Schmitz, M. rubida (Schmitz) und M. ustulata (Schmitz)). Ein revidierter Bestimmungsschlüssel für Männchen und ein neuer Schlüssel für Weibchen werden vorgestellt. Dabei wird neuen taxonomischen Merkmalen wie den subkutikularen Sensillen innerhalb des dritten Fühlersegments sowie der Morphologie des weiblichen Ovipositors bzw. Vaginalsklerite besondere Beachtung geschenkt. Für die meisten Arten werden außerdem Informationen zur Biologie mitgeliefert (Brutsubstrate der Larven, Köder-, Farb- und Biotoppräferenzen der Imagines).StichwörterDiptera, Phoridae, Megaselia, taxonomy, rearing, saprophages, bait trap, Europe.Nomenklatorische Handlungencomosa Santos Abréu, 1921 (Aphiochaeta), Neotype; syn. n. of Megaselia giraudii (Egger, 1862)phoenicura Schmitz, 1926 (Aphiochaeta), Lectotype; syn. n. of Megaselia quadriseta (Schmitz, 1918)albicans Wood, 1908 (Megaselia), Lectotype described as Phora albicansbadia Schmitz, 1938 (Megaselia), syn. n. of Megaselia quadriseta (Schmitz, 1918)bayleyensis Disney, 1987 (Megaselia), syn. n. of Megaselia quadriseta (Schmitz, 1918)citrinella Buck, 2001 (Megaselia), spec. n.coulsoni Disney, 1987 (Megaselia), syn. n. of Megaselia densior Schmitz, 1927densior Schmitz, 1926 (Megaselia), Lectotypeglabrimargo Buck, 2001 (Megaselia), spec. n.hexanophila Buck, 2001 (Megaselia), spec. n.immodensior Disney, 2001 (Megaselia), spec. n.labellaspinata Disney, 2001 (Megaselia), spec. n.mimodensior Buck, 2001 (Megaselia), spec. n.offuscata (Schmitz, 1921) (Megaselia), Lectotype described as Phiochaeta offuscataquadriseta (Schmitz, 1918) (Megaselia), Lectotype described as Aphiochaeta lutea var. quadrisetararuvesiculae Disney, 2001 (Megaselia), spec. n.xanthophila Buck, 2001 (Megaselia), spec. n.rata Collin in Wood, 1908 (Phora), Lectotype now a synonym of Megaselia giraudii (Egger, 1862)The Megaselia giraudii and M. densior species groups are revised to include a total of twenty-one described European species. Eight species are new to science: M. citrinella Buck sp. n., M. glabrimargo Buck sp. n., M. hexanophila Buck sp. n., M. immodensior Disney sp. n. (= M. densior auctt., nec Schmitz), M. labellaspinata Disney sp. n. (= M. septentrionalis auctt., nec Schmitz), M. mimodensior Buck sp. n., M. raruvesiculae Disney sp. n., and M. xanthophila Buck sp. n.. Megaselia phoenicura (Schmitz), M. badia Schmitz and M. hayleyensis Disney (all described from males only) are synonymised with M. quadriseta (Schmitz) (previously only known in the female sex). Many specimens previously assigned to M. badia are recognised as being M. densior Schmitz, and M. coulsoni Disney is synonymised with this species. Lectotypes are designated for M. albicans (Wood), M. densior, M. offuscata Schmitz, M. phoenicura and M. quadriseta, and a neotype is designated for M. comosa (Schmitz). The males of M. rubricornis (Schmitz) and females of M. correlata (Schmitz), M. haraldlundi Disney and M. parnassia Disney are described for the first time. The putative male of M. sanguinea (Schmitz) and the putative female of M. albicans are also described for the first time. The recognition of other species is clarified including four species that do not belong to the giraudii/densior complex (M. nigrescens (Wood), M. opacicornis Schmitz, M. rubida (Schmitz), and M. ustulata (Schmitz)). A revised key to males and a new key to females is provided, utilising the novel taxonomic character of the subcuticular sensilla inside the third antennal segment, and giving special attention to the morphology of the female ovipositor and vaginal sclerite. Biological data (breeding substrates of larvae, bait, colour and habitat preference of adults) are reported for most species.KeywordsDiptera, Phoridae, Megaselia, taxonomy, rearing, saprophages, bait trap, Europe.Nomenclatural Actscomosa Santos Abréu, 1921 (Aphiochaeta), Neotype; syn. n. of Megaselia giraudii (Egger, 1862)phoenicura Schmitz, 1926 (Aphiochaeta), Lectotype; syn. n. of Megaselia quadriseta (Schmitz, 1918)albicans Wood, 1908 (Megaselia), Lectotype described as Phora albicansbadia Schmitz, 1938 (Megaselia), syn. n. of Megaselia quadriseta (Schmitz, 1918)bayleyensis Disney, 1987 (Megaselia), syn. n. of Megaselia quadriseta (Schmitz, 1918)citrinella Buck, 2001 (Megaselia), spec. n.coulsoni Disney, 1987 (Megaselia), syn. n. of Megaselia densior Schmitz, 1927densior Schmitz, 1926 (Megaselia), Lectotypeglabrimargo Buck, 2001 (Megaselia), spec. n.hexanophila Buck, 2001 (Megaselia), spec. n.immodensior Disney, 2001 (Megaselia), spec. n.labellaspinata Disney, 2001 (Megaselia), spec. n.mimodensior Buck, 2001 (Megaselia), spec. n.offuscata (Schmitz, 1921) (Megaselia), Lectotype described as Phiochaeta offuscataquadriseta (Schmitz, 1918) (Megaselia), Lectotype described as Aphiochaeta lutea var. quadrisetararuvesiculae Disney, 2001 (Megaselia), spec. n.xanthophila Buck, 2001 (Megaselia), spec. n.rata Collin in Wood, 1908 (Phora), Lectotype now a synonym of Megaselia giraudii (Egger, 1862

FIRST RECORD OF FORENSIC SPECIES CONICERA SIMILIS (Haliday, 1833) (DIPTERA: PHORIDAE) ON EXHUMED RABBIT CARCASSES IN TURKEY

Scuttle fly is often observed in forensic cases especially on buried remains. Two genus of Phoridae is very important for buried remains in forensic cases. One of them is Conicera sp., and its literature is very limited. The aim of this study is to find the Conicera sp. in buried carcasses. Two rabbit carcasses were used as bait in Ankara province of Turkey. The insects collected included Conicera similis (Haliday, 1833) (Diptera, Phoridae), which was recorded for the first time in Turkey after the carcasses were exhumed in 45 day

New Records, Including a New Species, of Scuttle Flies (Diptera: Phoridae) Associated with Leaf Cutter Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Brazil

Among scuttle flies caught at colonies of leaf cutter ants were Apterophora bragancai Disney new species, and new host records for other species

New Species of Scuttle Flies (Diptera: Phoridae) Associated with a Ponerine Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Brazil

Among scuttle flies caught at colonies of the ant Dinoponera lucida Emery (Ponerinae) were Apocephalus exlucida Disney new species and females of two species of Megaselia Rondani that, which in our present state of knowledge, cannot be named until associated with their males

A new genus of scuttle fly (diptera: phoridae) from Malaysia

Imparphora gen. nov., a new genus of scuttle fly is described from Malaysia. The Imparphora pahangensis sp. nov. is the type species of the new genus. A total of six mature females species and a male were collected from baited traps along UKM’s Trail at Fraser’s Hill Research Centre, Pahang. These findings expand the species diversity of scuttle flies in Malaysia especially in the highland forest. The comparisons with the nearest genera were explained herein

New records of three closely identical species of Megaselia Rondani (DIPTERA: PHORIDAE) from Bangi, Selangor, peninsular Malaysia

Megaselia nigella Beyer, 1960, Megaselia scabra Schmitz, 1926 and Megaselia shiyiluae Disney, 1995 were described for the first time from Bangi, Selangor, Peninsular Malaysia. All three species were collected from baited white pan traps with decomposed beef liver at a secondary forest of Forensic Science Simulation Site, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Bangi, Selangor. In the laboratory, the phorid specimens were dissected and mounted on microscope slides for species identification. Megaselia nigella, M. scabra and M. shiyiluae looked almost similar from gross examination, based on their small, dark bodies, short costal veins in both sexes and short anal tubes of the hypopygia in males. However, these species can be distinguished, among others, according to the disposition of bristles on frons in both sexes. The discovery of these three species brings the total number of Megaselia from Peninsular Malaysia to 34. The results can be used as precursors to further understand the diversity of Phoridae from this region

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

Records of Woodiphora Schmitz (Diptera: Phoridae) from animal carcasses in Bangi, Malaysia

Four species of Woodiphora Schmitz were collected from rabbit carcasses placed in concealed environments in Bangi, Malaysia. A male Woodiphora distans (Borgmeier) was collected from a rabbit carcass placed inside a luggage case. The other three female Woodiphora were recorded from a rabbit carcass placed inside a water tank and could not be named until linked to their males. This report extends the knowledge of Woodiphora in this region and its association with animal carcasses

New records of Megaselia (Diptera: Phoridae) reared from fungus sporophores in Japan, including five new species

Megaselia donaldsonae Disney sp. nov., M. flava (Fallén), M. gotoi Disney, M. kanekoi Disney, M. margaretae Disney sp. nov., M. nakayamai Disney sp. nov., M. salteri Disney sp. nov. and M. stepheni Disney sp. nov. were reared from sporophores of fungi