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The Japanese species of the genus Cordilura Fallén are taxonomically revised. Three species, namely Cordilura katoi sp. nov., C. shinonagai sp. nov., and C. yezoana sp. nov. are described as new to science. The previous described Japanese species C. cuspidata Sasakawa, 1986 and C. nubecula Sasakawa, 1986 are remarked. Three species, C. albipes (Fallén, 1819), C. remmi Elberg, 1972, and C. richterae Ozerov & Krivosheina, 2015 are recorded from Japan for the first time. An identification key to the Japanese species of Cordilura is also provided.

A new monotypic genus, Tapantiomyia gen. nov., is proposed for a new species of muscid fly, T. enigmatica sp. nov., found in the Tapantí National Park, Costa Rica. It is only known by a single male specimen taken in a Malaise trap in tropical cloud forest, but deserves immediate attention because of its bizarre, stilt-legged appearance in combination with several other unique apomorphies that preclude placement in any known genus of Muscidae. Tapantiomyia enigmatica is so strange that it tend to run out to Scathophagidae rather than Muscidae in keys to families of Diptera. However, the morphology of the male genitalia provides decisive evidence for a placement in Coenosiinae, a large and diverse group of predatory Muscidae. Two tribes, Limnophorini and Coenosiini, are currently recognized within Coenosiinae, but the monophyly of Limnophorini remains uncertain. Tapantiomyia is tentatively assigned to the Limnophorini.

Morphological features of a Japanese fly that developes in orchids, Orchidophaga gastrodiacola Kato, 2006, assigned to the family Scathophagidae, are reviewed and this species is proposed as a junior synonym of Chyliza vittata Meigen, 1826, of the family Psilidae. Morphological features of specimens from Japan correspond well with those from European. Japanese specimens of this transpalaearctic species utilize buds and stems of the achlorophyllous mycoheterotrophic Gastrodia elata Blume. This association is an exceptional habitat in comparisons to other congeners and European specimens of the same species.

Scathophaga stercoraria (Linnaeus, 1758) is a well-established insect model species involved in numerous investigations on behavior, biology, phylogeny, genetics and evolution. The antennal sensilla of S. stercoraria are examined via scanning electron microscopy in order to emphasize their importance on taxonomy and phylogeny. On antennal scape and pedicel, both microtrichiae and several sharp-tipped mechanoreceptors are observed, while another two structures, setiferous plaques and pedicellar button, are also detected on antennal pedicel. One type of sensory pit and four types of antennal sensilla, including trichoid sensilla, basiconic sensilla, coeloconic sensilla and clavate sensilla, are observed on antennal funiculus. Similarity and disparity of setiferous plaques among different calyptrate groups are analyzed in terms of phylogeny. The phylogenetic results supported by morphology of setiferous plaques strongly accord with the cladistic relations based on known molecular tree, implying the potential taxonomic and phylogenetic implications of the plaques in Calyptratae.

Cordilura Fallen, 1810 is one of the largest genera within the family Scathophagidae. According to new species descriptions and recent catalogues ( e.g . Sifner, 2008), the genus currently comprises 86 species in the World distributed primarily in the Holarctic Region: 50 species are known in Palaearctic and 43 in Nearctic, with 7 species with a Holarctic distribution; and other 2 species are recorded in Oriental Region (Ozerov & Krivosheina, 2012a; 2013). In Russia, 33 species are known, 25 of them in the Russian Far East (Ozerov & Krivosheina, 2014).

Flies of the genera Cleigastra Macquart, 1835, Gonarcticus Becker, 1894, Gonatherus Rondani, 1856, Hexamitocera Becker, 1894, Nanna Strobl, 1894, Orthacheta Becker, 1894 and Spathephilus Becker, 1894 (all Scathophagidae) of the fauna of Russia are reviewed. Key to genera, generic descriptions and keys for determination of species are given, and data on geographical distribution are summarized. One species, Nanna cryophila sp. nov., is described as new to science. One new synonymy is proposed: Nanna kamtschatkense (Hendel, 1930) = Nanna tibiella (Zetterstedt, 1838). Orthacheta cornuta (Loew, 1863) is recorded from Europe for the first time. Gonarcticus arcticus (Becker, 1907) is newly recorded from the Palaearctic Region and Russia. Additionally, Nanna flavipes (Fallen, 1819) is newly recorded from China, and Spathephilus nigriventris (Loew, 1864) is newly recorded from Kazakhstan.

It is shown that a total of eight pre-existing genus-group names in Diptera were “borrowed” and deliberately given new identities in the systematic works of J.C. Fabricius: Bibio Fabricius, 1775, Ceria Fabricius, 1794, Hirtea Fabricius, 1798, Mulio Fabricius, 1798, Scatophaga Fabricius, 1805, Sicus Fabricius, 1798, Thereva Fabricius, 1798 and Voluccella Fabricius, 1794. These names are reviewed from the standpoint that they are nomenclaturally available as intentional homonymous proposals of names for new genus-group taxa. New type-species designations are made for Bibio Fabricius, Mulio Fabricius, and Scatophaga Fabricius. Bibio Fabricius, 1775 is recognized as a senior synonym of Thereva Latreille, 1797, syn. n., but is invalid as it is a junior homonym of Bibio Geoffroy, 1762. Scatophaga Fabricius, 1805 is recognized as a junior synonym of Psila Meigen, 1803, syn. n. The nominal species Musca suilla Fabricius, 1794 has been misinterpreted as a species of Scathophaga Meigen, 1803 by subsequent authors. Scathophaga spurca Meigen, 1826 is revived as the valid name for Scathophaga suilla auct. nec (Fabricius, 1794), stat. rev. A lectotype is designated for Musca suilla Fabricius and it is shown to belong to the scathophagid Norellisoma spinimanum (Fallen, 1819), syn. n. In order to maintain stability of nomenclature and prevailing usage, reversal of precedence is invoked to declare Cordylura spinimana Fallen, 1819 as a nomen protectum and Musca suilla Fabricius, 1794 as a nomen oblitum.

The Diptera genus-group names of Christian Rudolph Wilhelm Wiedemann are reviewed and annotated. A total of 50 available genus-group names in 25 families of Diptera are listed alphabetically for each name giving author, year and page of original publication, originally included species, type species and method of fixation, current status of the name, family placement, and a list of any emendations of it that have been found in the literature. Remarks are given to clarify nomenclatural or taxonomic information. A biography of Wiedemann is given with discussion of his works and his relationships with contemporaries. In addition, an index is given to all the species-group names of Diptera proposed by Wiedemann (1,775 of which 1,698 are available) with bibliographic reference to each original citation. An appendix gives a complete bibliography of all the known writings by Wiedemann, non-zoological as well as zoological.The following type species is designated herein: Eristalis chrysopygus Wiedemann, 1819 for Pachycephalus Wiedemann, 1830, by present designation [Syrphidae].Corrected or clarified type-species and methods of typification are given for: Colax Wiedemann, 1824 [Nemestrinidae]; Cyphomyia Wiedemann, 1819 [Stratiomyidae]; Philoliche Wiedemann, 1821 [Tabanidae]; Ropalomera Wiedemann, 1820 [Ropalomeridae]; Timia Wiedemann, 1824 [Ulidiidae].Acting as First Reviser, the following correct original spelling for multiple original spellings is selected: Maekistocera Wiedemann, 1820 [Tipulidae]. A previous First Reviser action for multiple original spellings missed by other workers is given for the following: Rhaphiorhynchus Wiedemann, 1821 [Pantophthalmidae].The following nominal genera enter into new synonymies: Ceratophyia Osten Sacken, 1858 of Ceratophya Wiedemann, 1824, n. syn. [Syrphidae]; Epopter Wiedemann, 1830 of Sphecomyia Le Peletier & Serville, 1825, n. syn. [Syrphidae]; Melophaga Wiedemann, 1830 of Melophagus Latreille, 1802, n. syn. [Hippoboscidae]; Midas Latreille, 1797 of Mydas Fabricius, 1794, n. syn. [Mydidae]; Nemestrina Latreille, 1809 of Nemestrinus Latreille, 1802, n. syn. [Nemestrinidae]; Pangonia Latreille, 1809 of Pangonius Latreille, 1802, n. syn. [Tabanidae]; Scatophaga Wiedemann, 1828 of Scathophaga Meigen, 1803, n. syn. [Scathophagidae]; Threneste Wiedemann, 1830 of Penthetria Meigen, 1803, n. syn. [Bibionidae].