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Sexually selected weapons, such as the antlers of deer, claws of crabs, and tusks of beaked whales, are strikingly diverse across taxa and even within groups of closely related species. Phylogenetic comparative studies have typically taken a simplified approach to investigate the evolution of weapon diversity, examining the gains and losses of entire weapons, major shifts in size or type, or changes in location. Less understood is how individual weapon components evolve and assemble into a complete weapon. We addressed this question by examining weapon evolution in the diverse, multi-component hind-leg and body weapons of leaf-footed bugs, superfamily Coreoidea (Hemiptera: Heteroptera). Male leaf-footed bugs use their morphological weapons to fight for access to mating territories. We used a large multilocus dataset comprised of ultraconserved element loci for 248 species and inferred evolutionary transitions among component states using ancestral state estimation. Our results suggest that weapons added components over time with some evidence of a cyclical evolutionary pattern-gains of components followed by losses and then gains again. Furthermore, our best estimate indicated that certain trait combinations evolved repeatedly across the phylogeny, suggesting that they function together in battle or that they are genetically correlated. This work reveals the remarkable and dynamic evolution of weapon form in the leaf-footed bugs and provides insights into weapon assembly and disassembly over evolutionary time., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Society for the Study of Evolution (SSE).)

The type specimen of Lopesiodinia alvarengai Prado is lost. It is being redescribed and illustrated based on specimens from the type locality (Jacareacanga, Par, Brazil) and the neotype is here designated with the purpose of clarifying the taxonomic status and objectively securing stability of nomenclature.

Our world is becoming increasingly urbanized with a growing human population concentrated around cities. The expansion of urban areas has important consequences for biodiversity, yet the abiotic drivers of biodiversity in urban ecosystems have not been well characterized for the most diverse group of animals on the planet, arthropods. Given their great diversity, comparatively small home ranges, and ability to disperse, arthropods make an excellent model for studying which factors can most accurately predict urban biodiversity. We assessed the effects of (i) topography (distance to natural areas and to ocean) (ii) abiotic factors (mean annual temperature and diurnal range), and (iii) anthropogenic drivers (land value and amount of impervious surface) on the occurrence of six arthropod groups represented in Malaise trap collections run by the BioSCAN project across the Greater Los Angeles Area. We found striking heterogeneity in responses to all factors both within and between taxonomic groups. Diurnal temperature range had a consistently negative effect on occupancy but this effect was only significant in Phoridae. Anthropogenic drivers had mixed though mostly insignificant effects, as some groups and species were most diverse in highly urbanized areas, while other groups showed suppressed diversity. Only Phoridae was significantly affected by land value, where most species were more likely to occur in areas with lower land value. Los Angeles can support high regional arthropod diversity, but spatial community composition is highly dependent on the taxonomic group., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Army ants provide nourishment to a large variety of animals. This includes birds that feed on animals flushed out by army ant raids, symbiotic arthropods that consume the ants' prey or their brood, and other arthropods that scavenge on army ant refuse deposits. The latter have not received much attention, and the few published studies lack detailed species identifications. Here we provide a first systematic inventory of the beetle fauna associated with refuse deposits of Eciton army ants, with a focus on Eciton burchellii . We collected 8364 adult beetles, 511 larvae, and 24 eggs from 34 deposits at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. We used a combination of DNA barcoding and morphology to identify a subset of 436 specimens to species level. The samples included several new species, and we here formally describe two water scavenger beetles (Hydrophilidae). Refuse deposits harbored a diverse beetle fauna. The identified subset consisted of 91 beetle species from 12 families, with rove beetles being the most abundant and diverse visitors. Of the 85 species found with E. burchellii , 50 species were collected from only one or two refuse deposits. Conversely, seven species were found in 10 or more refuse deposits, indicating a certain level of habitat specialization. We matched adults and immatures for 22 beetle species via DNA barcodes, demonstrating that army ant middens also serve as a beetle nursery. The present survey highlights the significant ecological function of army ants as promoters of biodiversity and their status as keystone species in tropical rainforests., Competing Interests: The authors have no competing interests., (© 2023 The Authors. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Target capture is widely used in phylogenomic, ecological and functional genomic studies. Bait sets that allow capture from a diversity of species can be advantageous, but high-sequence divergence from baits can limit yields. Currently, only four experimental comparisons of a critical target capture parameter, hybridization temperature, have been published. These have been in vertebrates, where bait divergences are typically low, and none include invertebrates where bait-target divergences may be higher. Most invertebrate capture studies use a fixed, high hybridization temperature to maximize the proportion of on-target data, but many report low locus recovery. Using leaf-footed bugs (Hemiptera: Coreoidea), we investigate the effect of hybridization temperature on capture success of ultraconserved elements targeted by (i) baits developed from divergent hemipteran genomes and (ii) baits developed from less divergent coreoid transcriptomes. Lower temperatures generally resulted in more contigs and improved recovery of targets despite a lower proportion of on-target reads, lower read depth and more putative paralogues. Hybridization temperatures had less of an effect when using transcriptome-derived baits, which is probably due to lower bait-target divergences and greater bait tiling density. Thus, accommodating low hybridization temperatures during target capture can provide a cost-effective, widely applicable solution to improve invertebrate locus recovery., Competing Interests: We have no competing interests., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Intra- and interspecific communication is crucial to fitness via its role in facilitating mating, territoriality and defence. Yet, the evolution of animal communication systems is puzzling-how do they originate and change over time? Studying stridulatory morphology provides a tractable opportunity to deduce the origin and diversification of a communication mechanism. Stridulation occurs when two sclerotized structures rub together to produce vibratory and acoustic (vibroacoustic) signals, such as a cricket 'chirp'. We investigated the evolution of stridulatory mechanisms in the superfamily Coreoidea (Hemiptera: Heteroptera), a group of insects known for elaborate male fighting behaviours and enlarged hindlegs. We surveyed a large sampling of taxa and used a phylogenomic dataset to investigate the evolution of stridulatory mechanisms. We identified four mechanisms, with at least five evolutionary gains. One mechanism, occurring only in male Harmostini (Rhopalidae), is described for the first time. Some stridulatory mechanisms appear to be non-homoplastic apomorphies within Rhopalidae, while others are homoplastic or potentially homoplastic within Coreidae and Alydidae, respectively. We detected no losses of these mechanisms once evolved, suggesting they are adaptive. Our work sets the stage for further behavioural, evolutionary and ecological studies to better understand the context in which these traits evolve and change., Competing Interests: We have no competing interests., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Mycomya quadrimaculata sp. nov. is described from specimens collected in southeast Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. A key and type photographs of known Australian and New Zealand Mycomya species are provided. The relative abundance, observed distribution, and morphological affinities of the new species suggests that it is adventive and a recent introduction to New Zealand. Wing characters indicate that the new species is most closely aligned with a subgroup of the Australian Mycomya fauna.

The genus Climaciella Enderlein, 1910 is a remarkable group of mantidflies (Neuroptera: Mantispidae: Mantispinae) distributed from Canada to Argentina, including parts of the Caribbean. This genus comprises nine valid extant species plus an extinct species from the late Oligocene of France. Species exhibit Batesian mimicry with vespid wasps (Vespidae). Herein, six species of Climaciella from French Guiana are documented. Before this study only C.semihyalina (Le Peletier de Saint Fargeau & Audinet-Serville in Latreille et al. 1825) was known from this territory. Two new species, C.elektroptera Ardila-Camacho, Winterton & Contreras-Ramos, sp. nov. and C.nigriflava Ardila-Camacho, Winterton & Contreras-Ramos, sp. nov. , are described as well as the first records of C.amapaensis Penny, 1982, and C.tincta (Navás, 1914) provided from French Guiana. An unknown species recorded from a single female specimen is also presented. Based on the examination of material of C.amapaensis recorded here, a specimen previously recorded from Colombia as belonging to this species is herein proposed as a new species, C.risaraldensis Ardila-Camacho, sp. nov. A taxonomic key and high-resolution images of the species from French Guiana are provided., (Adrian Ardila-Camacho, Shaun L. Winterton, Atilano Contreras-Ramos.)

The genera Lagenosoma Brauer, 1882 (= Peratomastix Enderlein, 1914 syn. n.), Elissoma White, 1916 (= Pycnothorax Kertész, 1923 syn. n.) and Ampsalis Walker, 1859 (Stratiomyidae: Clitellariinae) are revised. Three species of Elissoma are redescribed (i.e., E. australis (Kertész, 1923) comb. n., E. brunnea, Hardy, 1933, and E. lauta White, 1916) and seven species are described as new. Similarly, three species of Lagenosoma are redescribed (i.e., L. dispar Brauer, 1882 (= Peratomastix australis Enderlein, 1914 syn. n.), L. pictum Brauer, 1882 and L. propinquum Brauer, 1882) and seven species are described as new. Ampsalis sensu lato is represented by two species in Indonesia and two species in Madagascar; here the Indonesian species are circumscribed as Ampsalis sensu stricto (i.e., A. geniata Walker, 1859 and A. iterabilis (Walker, 1859)) with two additional species described from northern Australia. Eudmeta Wiedemann, 1830 is diagnosed and a new synonymy identified (i.e., E. marginata (Fabricius, 1805) (= E. coerulemaculata Yang, Wei et Yang, 2010 syn. n.)). A revised key to Clitellariinae genera of the Oriental and Australian regions is presented, as well as keys to species of Ampsalis, Elissoma, Eudmeta and Lagenosoma.

Background: The small genus Coelophthinia Edwards, 1941 of the subfamily Gnoristinae (Diptera, Mycetophilidae) is so far known to harbour four species from the Palaearctic, Nearctic and Neotropical Regions. Extensive DNA barcoding of fungus gnats of the family Mycetophilidae through the International Barcode of Life project (iBOL) have initiated integrative studies resulting in taxonomic upgrades and a better understanding of many species and their delimitation. The opportunity was also taken to describe the mitogenome of a member of Coelophthinia for the first time., New Information: The integrative studies give evidence for splitting the European species C.thoracica Edwards, 1941 into three different species. Four new species are described from the USA, Japan and the Nordic Region in Europe, Coelophthiniacirra Kerr sp. n. , Coelophthiniaitoae Kurina sp. n. , Coelophthinialata Kjaerandsen sp. n. and Coelophthinialoraasi Kjaerandsen sp. n. , raising the number of Holarctic species from two to six. The mitogenome of Coelophthinialoraasi sp. n. is described and analysed.

The sequential breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea since the Middle Jurassic is one of the crucial factors that has driven the biogeographical patterns of terrestrial biotas. Despite decades of effort searching for concordant patterns between diversification and continental fragmentation among taxonomic groups, increasing evidence has revealed more complex and idiosyncratic scenarios resulting from a mixture of vicariance, dispersal and extinction. Aquatic insects with discreet ecological requirements, low vagility and disjunct distributions represent a valuable model for testing biogeographical hypotheses by reconstructing their distribution patterns and temporal divergences. Insects of the order Megaloptera have exclusively aquatic larvae, their adults have low vagility, and the group has a highly disjunct geographical distribution. Here we present a comprehensive phylogeny of Megaloptera based on a large-scale mitochondrial genome sequencing of 99 species representing >90% of the world genera from all major biogeographical regions. Molecular dating suggests that the deep divergence within Megaloptera pre-dates the breakup of Pangaea. Subsequently, the intergeneric divergences within Corydalinae (dobsonflies), Chauliodinae (fishflies) and Sialidae (alderflies) might have been driven by both vicariance and dispersal correlated with the shifting continent during the Cretaceous, but with strikingly different and incongruent biogeographical signals. The austral distribution of many corydalids appears to be a result of colonization from Eurasia through southward dispersal across Europe and Africa during the Cretaceous, whereas a nearly contemporaneous dispersal via northward rafting of Gondwanan landmasses may account for the colonization of extant Eurasian alderflies from the south., (© 2021 The Willi Hennig Society.)

Two new species of longhorned beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) from Central America are described and illustrated: Crossomeles copei sp. nov. and Crossomeles oscarcastilloi sp. nov. (Cerambycinae: Rhinotragini) from Mexico and Costa Rica, respectively. A key to the known species of Crossomeles Chemsak Noguera, 1993 is provided. Also, two new country records are reported: Crossomeles acutipennis Chemsak Noguera, 1993 from Panama; and Oncideres fisheri Dillon Dillon, 1946 (Lamiinae: Onciderini) from the United States of America.

The new genus Tarsobaenus and three new speciesTarsobaenus letourneauae, T. piper and T. hansoniare described from Costa Rica. Tarsobaenus is distinguished by the broad, subulate form of the plical excavation along the elytral suture, the lower margin of which is modified into a broad flattened flange; serrulate apical elytral margins; and the conspicuously large, shiny body. Two of the species are associates of Piper plants and their pharaoh ant symbionts. We provide a key to the three species of Tarsobaenus.

A new species of the New World genus Trivialia Malloch from Peru is described and illustrated, along with discussion of unusual head morphology in Lauxaniidae. This new species represents an odd case where only a single known species in an otherwise non-dimorphic genus displays extreme sexual dimorphism.

The stiletto fly genus Argolepida Metz Irwin, 2003 is revised. Members of this genus are diminutive, yet distinctive, flies restricted to southern South America. Argolepida rivulosa (Krber, 1928) is redescribed and seven new species are described and figured. A key to species is presented.

A new genus of Chamaemyiidae (Diptera: Lauxanioidea) is described, namely Leucotaraxis gen. nov. (type species Leucopis atrifacies Aldrich; other included species Leucotaraxis argenticollis (Zetterstedt), comb. nov., Leucotaraxis piniperda (Malloch), comb. nov., and Leucotaraxis sepiola sp. nov.). These species are predators of Adelgidae (Hemiptera) infesting Pinaceae. Leucotaraxis argenticollis is Holarctic, while the other three species are Nearctic. The phylogeny of Leucotaraxis with other representatives of Chamaemyiidae was elucidated using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences and the genus was found to be monophyletic. Egg and puparial stages are discussed or described and illustrated for all species except Leucotaraxis sepiola. A key is provided to all species of Chamaemyiidae known to attack Pinaceae-infesting Sternorrhyncha, an annotated list of these taxa is provided, and a habitus photograph is provided for each genus with such species. In addition, a lectotype is designated for Leucopis olivacea Meijere, and it is synonymized under Neoleucopis obscura (Haliday), syn. nov.

The Neotropical genus Lopesiodinia Prado is represented by two species, L. diversa Prado (Brazil: Rio de Janeiro) and L. alvarengai Prado (Brazil: Par). The genus is reviewed here, and three new species are described and illustrated: Lopesiodinia marcusi sp. nov. (Brazil: Amazonas, Maranho), L. argentata sp. nov. (Brazil: Amazonas) and L. pontarolloi sp. nov. (Brazil: Amazonas, Maranho). A key to identify the subfamilies and extant genera and the species of Traginopinae from the Neotropical Region is presented.

We present a summary and analysis of the Diptera-related information published in Zootaxa from 2001 to 2020, with a focus on taxonomic papers. Altogether, 2,527 papers on Diptera were published, including 2,032 taxonomic papers and 1,931 papers containing new nomenclatural acts, equivalent to 22% of all publications with new nomenclatural acts for Diptera. The new nomenclatural acts include 7,431 new species, 277 new genera, 2,003 new synonymies, and 1,617 new combinations. A breakdown by family of new taxa and new replacement names proposed in the journal during the last two decades is provided, together with a comparison of Zootaxa's output to that of all other taxonomic publications on Diptera. Our results show that the journal has contributed to 20% of all biodiversity discovery in this megadiverse insect order over the last 20 years, and to about 31% in the last decade.

In South America, the stiletto fly subfamily Agapophytinae (Diptera: Therevidae) occurs predominantly in the Patagonian region where it is represented by four genera: Pachyrrhiza Philippi, Melanothereva Malloch, Entesia Oldroyd and Sigalopella Irwin Winterton. Here we revise the genus Pachyrrhiza with an additional four new species described and figured.

A new species of the delicate lacewing, Joguina Navás, 1912 (Chrysopidae: Apochrysinae) is described and figured from south-western India. A key to species of Joguina is presented as well as revised diagnoses of both Joguina and its sister genus, Lainius Navás, 1913 stat. rev.

Taxonomical and morphological notes on the species in the "cruciata-group" of Rhiginia Stål, 1859 (Heteroptera, Reduviidae, Ectrichodiinae, Ectrichodiini) are provided. Photographs of the type specimens of R. bimaculata Breddin, 1914, R. cinctiventris (Stål, 1872), R. crucifera (Stål, 1872), and R. crudelis Stål, 1862 are presented. Rhiginia lourdesae sp. nov. and Rhiginia nicholsae sp. nov. are described based on male specimens from Mexico and considered as members of the "cruciata-group". We also provide an updated key to the New World genera of Ectrichodiinae that includes the genus Tribelocodia Weirauch, 2010 to reflect recent taxonomic changes to the classification of the subfamily.

A new species of Amplisegmentum Webb (Therevidae: Therevinae) is described from Venezuela, a previously monotypic genus otherwise known only from Ecuador. A revised diagnosis of the genus and a key to species is presented.

The millipede assassin bug genus Abelocephala Maldonado, 1996 (Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Ectrichodiinae: Abelocephalini) is currently comprised of seven Oriental species. Two macropterous males, representing two new species, were recently collected from Taiwan in Malaise trap samples: A. baliensis sp. nov. and A. yilanensis sp. nov. Habitus and structural images are provided for each new species. A revised diagnosis of Abelocephala and an updated identification key to all species of the genus are given.

Stiletto-flies (Diptera: Therevidae) are highly diverse and species-rich in Australia and New Zealand, yet relatively few species have been recorded from neighbouring Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and throughout the remainder of Oceania. Indeed, in New Caledonia only a single species of the widely distributed Australasian genus Anabarhynchus Macquart (Therevinae) is previously known. Herein we describe two new agapophytine genera (i.e., Jeanchazeauia gen. nov. ), together comprising nine charismatic new species; this represents a first record of the subfamily from New Caledonia. The new genera and species are described and figured.Calophytus gen. nov. ), together comprising nine charismatic new species; this represents a first record of the subfamily from New Caledonia. The new genera and species are described and figured.

A fully annotated catalog of genus- and species-group names of Neotropical Lauxaniidae (Diptera: Lauxanioidea) is presented, providing details of references to these names in literature, and providing additional details such as distributions, generic combinations, synonymies, misspellings and emendations, information on types, notes on unusual situations, etc. As this catalog is meant to supplement the older Catalog of the Diptera of America North of Mexico, to complete the cataloging of the New World Lauxaniidae, "Neotropical" is herein inclusive of everything south of the United States, and the Nearctic parts of Mexico are not separately distinguished. The catalog is organized alphabetically within each of the three lauxaniid subfamilies, Eurychoromyiinae, Homoneurinae and Lauxaniinae, treating 91 available genus-group names, of which 77 represent valid genera. In the species-group, the catalog treats 441 available species-group names, of which 391 represent valid Neotropical lauxaniid species, 39 are invalid, three are valid but extralimital lauxaniids, five are valid but removed from Lauxaniidae, and two are new replacement names for two homonyms outside Lauxaniidae. The following nine new genera are described, based on previously described species: Elipolambda Gaimari Silva (type species, Sapromyza lopesi Shewell, 1989), Griphoneuromima Silva Gaimari (type species, Sapromyza frontalis Macquart, 1844b), Meraina Silva Gaimari (type species, Lauxania ferdinandi Frey, 1919), Myzaprosa Gaimari Silva (type species, Myzaprosa mallochi Gaimari Silva), Paradeceia Silva Gaimari (type species, Sapromyza sororia Williston, 1896b), Pseudodeceia Silva Gaimari (type species, Lauxania leptoptera Frey, 1919), Sericominettia Gaimari Silva (type species, Minettia argentiventris Malloch, 1928), Zamyprosa Gaimari Silva (type species, Sapromyza semiatra Malloch, 1933), and Zargopsinettia Gaimari Silva (type species, Minettia verticalis Malloch, 1928). The following four new replacement names in the species-group replace junior homonyms: Myzaprosa mallochi Gaimari Silva (for Sapromyza spinigera Malloch, 1933, nec Malloch, 1925), Pseudogriphoneura mallochi Silva Gaimari (for Minettia infuscata Malloch, 1928, nec Sciomyza infuscata Wulp, 1897), Xenochaetina hendeli Silva Gaimari (for Allogriphoneura robusta Hendel, 1936, nec Helomyza robusta Walker, 1858), Zamyprosa macquarti Gaimari Silva (for Sciomyza nigripes Blanchard, 1854, nec Sapromyza nigripes Macquart, 1844). The following six genus-group names are new synonyms: Allogriphoneura Hendel, 1925 (= Xenochaetina Malloch, 1923), Bacilloflagellomera Papp Silva, 1995 (= Stenolauxania Malloch, 1926), Haakonia Curran, 1942 (= Xenochaetina Malloch, 1923), Homoeominettia Broadhead, 1989 (= Allominettia Hendel, 1925), Paraphysoclypeus Papp Silva, 1995 (= Physoclypeus Hendel, 1907), Tibiominettia Hendel, 1936 (= Allominettia Hendel, 1925). The following 12 species-group names are new synonyms: Chaetocoelia banksi Curran, 1942 (= Chaetocoelia excepta (Walker, 1853)), Chaetocoelia tripunctata Malloch, 1926 (= Chaetocoelia excepta (Walker, 1853)), Minettia semifulva Malloch, 1933 (= Zamyprosa nigriventris (Blanchard, 1854)), Pseudogriphoneura scutellata Curran, 1934a (= Xenochaetina porcaria (Fabricius, 1805)), Sapromyza apta Walker, 1861 (= Chaetominettia mactans (Fabricius, 1787)), Sapromyza brasiliensis Walker, 1853 (= Chaetominettia corollae (Fabricius, 1805)), Sapromyza semiatra subsp. remissa Malloch, 1933 (= Zamyprosa semiatra (Malloch, 1933)), Sapromyza sordida Williston, 1896b (= Neogriphoneura sordida (Wiedemann, 1830)), Setulina geminata subsp. quadripunctata Malloch, 1941, subsp. tripunctata Malloch, 1941 subsp. verticalis Malloch, 1941 (= Setulina geminata (Fabricius, 1805)), Tibiominettia setitibia Hendel, 1932 (= Allominettia assimilis (Malloch, 1926)). The following 96 lauxaniid species-group names are in new combinations: Allominettia approximata (Malloch, 1928; Deutominettia Hendel, 1925), Allominettia assimilis (Malloch, 1926; Minettia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830), Allominettia rubescens (Macquart, 1844b; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Allominettia woldae (Broadhead, 1989; Homoeominettia Broadhead, 1989), Camptoprosopella sigma (Hendel, 1910; Procrita Hendel, 1908), Camptoprosopella verena (Becker, 1919; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Dryosapromyza pirioni (Malloch, 1933; Minettia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830), Elipolambda duodecimvittata (Frey, 1919; Lauxania Latreille, 1804), Elipolambda lopesi (Shewell, 1989; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Elipolambda picrula (Williston, 1897; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Griphoneuromima frontalis (Macquart, 1844b; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Homoneura maculipennis (Loew, 1847; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Lauxanostegana albispina (Albuquerque, 1959; Steganopsis Meijere 1910), Marmarodeceia claripennis (Curran, 1934a; Pseudogriphoneura Hendel, 1907), Melanomyza nigerrima (Becker, 1919; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Meraina ferdinandi (Frey, 1919; Lauxania Latreille, 1804), Minettia altera (Curran, 1942; Pseudogriphoneura Hendel, 1907), Minettia duplicata (Lynch Arribálzaga, 1893; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Minettia lateritia (Rondani, 1863; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Minettia lupulinoides (Williston, 1897; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Minettia pallens (Blanchard, 1854; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Minettia remota (Thomson, 1869; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Minettia setosa (Thomson, 1869; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Myzaprosa chiloensis (Malloch, 1933; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Myzaprosa emmesa (Malloch, 1933; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Myzaprosa triloba (Malloch, 1933; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Neodecia albovittata (Loew, 1862; Lauxania Latreille, 1804), Neodecia bivittata (Curran, 1928b; Pseudogriphoneura Hendel, 1907), Neodecia flavipennis (Curran, 1928b; Pseudogriphoneura Hendel, 1907), Neodecia vittifacies (Curran, 1931; Pseudogriphoneura Hendel, 1907), Neominettia eronis (Curran, 1934a; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Neominettia lebasii (Macquart, 1844b; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Neominettia melanaspis (Wiedemann, 1830; Sciomyza Fallén, 1820d), Neoxangelina congruens (Hendel, 1910; Physegenua Macquart, 1848a/b), Neoxangelina facialis (Wiedemann, 1830; Sciomyza Fallén, 1820d), Neoxangelina flavipes (Hendel, 1926; Physegenua Macquart, 1848a/b), Paracestrotus albipes (Fabricius, 1805; Scatophaga Fabricius, 1805), Paradeceia incidens (Curran, 1934a; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Paradeceia shannoni (Malloch, 1933; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Paradeceia sororia (Williston, 1896b; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Physegenua annulata (Macquart, 1844b; Ephydra Fallén, 1810), Physoclypeus nigropleura (Papp Silva, 1995; Paraphysoclypeus Papp Silva, 1995), Poecilohetaerus suavis (Loew, 1847; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Poecilolycia blanchardi (Malloch, 1933; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Poecilolycia lineatocollis (Blanchard, 1854; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Poecilominettia aibonito (Curran, 1926; Minettia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830), Poecilominettia bipunctata (Say, 1829; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Poecilominettia evittata (Malloch, 1926; Minettia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830), Poecilominettia mona (Curran, 1926; Minettia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830), Poecilominettia nigropunctata (Malloch, 1928; Minettia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830), Poecilominettia plantaris (Thomson, 1869; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Poecilominettia quichuana (Brèthes, 1922; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Poecilominettia schwarzi (Malloch, 1928; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Poecilominettia sonax (Giglio-Tos, 1893; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Poecilominettia thomsonii (Lynch-Arribálzaga, 1893; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Poecilominettia triseriata (Coquillett, 1904a; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Pseudocalliope albomarginata (Malloch, 1933; Minettia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830), Pseudodeceia leptoptera (Frey, 1919; Lauxania Latreille, 1804), Pseudogriphoneura albipes (Wiedemann, 1830; Lauxania Latreille, 1804), Pseudominettia argyrostoma (Wiedemann, 1830; Lauxania Latreille, 1804), Ritaemyia unifasciata (Macquart, 1835; Tephritis Latreille, 1804), Sciosapromyza fuscinervis (Malloch, 1926; Minettia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830), Sciosapromyza limbinerva (Rondani, 1848; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Sciosapromyza scropharia (Fabricius, 1805; Scatophaga Fabricius, 1805), Scutominettia guyanensis (Macquart, 1844b; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Sericominettia argentiventris (Malloch, 1928; Minettia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830), Sericominettia aries (Curran, 1942; Pseudogriphoneura Hendel, 1907), Sericominettia holosericea (Fabricius, 1805; Scatophaga Fabricius, 1805), Sericominettia nigra (Curran, 1934a; Pseudogriphoneura Hendel, 1907), Sericominettia velutina (Walker, 1853; Helomyza Fallén, 1820a), Stenolauxania flava (Silva, 1999a; Bacilloflagellomera Papp Silva, 1995), Stenolauxania fusca (Silva, 1999a; Bacilloflagellomera Papp Silva, 1995), Stenolauxania longicornus (Silva, 1999a; Bacilloflagellomera Papp Silva, 1995), Stenolauxania nigrifemuris (Silva, 1999a; Bacilloflagellomera Papp Silva, 1995), Stenolauxania pectinicornis (Papp Silva, 1995; Bacilloflagellomera Papp Silva, 1995), Trivialia nigrifrontata (Becker, 1919; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Trivialia scutellaris (Williston, 1896b; Phortica Schiner, 1862), Trivialia venusta (Williston, 1896b; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Xenochaetina annuliventris (Hendel, 1926; Allogriphoneura Hendel, 1925), Xenochaetina glabella (Becker, 1895; Lauxania Latreille, 1804), Xenochaetina nigra (Williston, 1896b; Physegenua Macquart, 1848a/b), Xenochaetina phacosoma (Hendel, 1926; Allogriphoneura Hendel, 1925), Xenochaetina porcaria (Fabricius, 1805; Scatophaga Fabricius, 1805), Xenochaetina robusta (Walker, 1858; Helomyza Fallén, 1820a), Zamyprosa dichroa (Malloch, 1933; Minettia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830), Zamyprosa edwardsi (Malloch, 1933; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Zamyprosa ferruginea (Macquart, 1844b; Opomyza Fallén, 1820b), Zamyprosa fulvescens (Blanchard, 1854; Sciomyza Fallén, 1820d), Zamyprosa fulvicornis (Malloch, 1933; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Zamyprosa micropyga (Malloch, 1933; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Zamyprosa nigripes (Macquart, 1844b; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Zamyprosa nigriventris (Blanchard, 1854; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Zamyprosa parvula (Blanchard, 1854; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Zamyprosa semiatra (Malloch, 1933; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Zamyprosa seminigra (Malloch, 1933; Minettia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830), Zargopsinettia verticalis (Malloch, 1928; Minettia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830). The following 42 species have lectotype designations herein: Allogriphoneura nigromaculata Hendel, 1925 (synonym of Xenochaetina porcaria (Fabricius, 1805)), Allogriphoneura robusta Hendel, 1936 (= Xenochaetina hendeli Silva Gaimari), Allominettia maculifrons Hendel, 1925 (synonym of Allominettia xanthiceps (Williston, 1897)), Blepharolauxania trichocera Hendel, 1925, Chaetocoelia palans Giglio-Tos, 1893, Euminettia zuercheri Hendel, 1933b (Minettia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830), Griphoneura triangulata Hendel, 1926, Lauxania albovittata Loew, 1862 (Neodecia Malloch, in Malloch McAtee, 1924), Lauxania imbuta Wiedemann, 1830 (Griphoneura Schiner, 1868), Lauxania lutea Wiedemann, 1830 (Neominettia Hendel, 1925), Lauxania ruficornis Macquart, 1851a (synonym of Xenochaetina flavipennis (Fabricius, 1805)), Neominettia fumosa Hendel, 1926 (synonym of Neominettia costalis (Fabricius, 1805)), Physegenua ferruginea Schiner, 1868, Physegenua vittata Macquart, 1848a/b, Pseudogriphoneura cormoptera Hendel, 1907, Sapromyza angustipennis Williston, 1896b (Chaetocoelia Giglio-Tos, 1893), Sapromyza distinctissima Schiner, 1868 (Chaetocoelia Giglio-Tos, 1893), Sapromyza exul Williston, 1896b (Neodecia Malloch, in Malloch McAtee, 1924), Sapromyza gigas Schiner, 1868 (Dryosapromyza Hendel, 1933a), Sapromyza ingrata Williston, 1896b (Poecilominettia Hendel, 1932), Sapromyza latelimbata Macquart, 1855a (synonym of Chaetominettia corollae (Fabricius, 1805)), Sapromyza lineatocollis Blanchard, 1854 (Poecilolycia Shewell, 1986), Sapromyza longipennis Blanchard, 1854 (= Minettia duplicata (Lynch Arribálzaga, 1893)), Sapromyza nigerrima Becker, 1919 (Melanomyza Malloch, 1923), Sapromyza nigriventris Blanchard, 1854 (Zamyprosa Gaimari Silva), Sapromyza octovittata Williston, 1896b (Poecilominettia Hendel, 1932), Sapromyza ornata Schiner, 1868 (Neoxangelina Hendel, 1933a), Sapromyza pallens Blanchard, 1854 (Minettia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830), Sapromyza parvula Blanchard, 1854 (Zamyprosa Gaimari Silva), Sapromyza picrula Williston, 1897 (Elipolambda), Sapromyza puella Williston, 1896b (Trivialia Malloch, 1923), Sapromyza sororia Williston, 1896b (Paradeceia Silva Gaimari), Sapromyza venusta Williston, 1896b (Trivialia Malloch, 1923), Sapromyza xanthiceps Williston, 1897 (Allominettia Hendel, 1925), Scatophaga scropharia Fabricius, 1805 (Sciosapromyza Hendel, 1933a), Sciomyza fulvescens Blanchard, 1854 (Zamyprosa Gaimari Silva), Sciomyza melanaspis Wiedemann, 1830 (Neominettia Hendel, 1925), Sciomyza nigripes Blanchard, 1854 (= Zamyprosa macquarti Gaimari Silva), Sciomyza obscuripennis Bigot, 1857 (Physegenua Macquart, 1848a/b), Scutolauxania piloscutellaris Hendel, 1925, Trigonometopus albifrons Knab, 1914, Trigonometopus rotundicornis Williston, 1896b. The following three species are removed from being recognized as part of the Neotropical fauna: Homoneura americana (Wiedemann, 1830; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Homoneura maculipennis (Loew, 1847; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810), Poecilohetaerus suavis (Loew, 1847; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810). The following four species are removed from the family, three of which are put into the following new combinations: Senopterina cyanea (Fabricius, 1805; Lauxania Latreille, 1804) (Platystomatidae), Dihoplopyga delicatula (Blanchard, 1854; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810) (Heleomyzidae), Pherbellia geniculata (Macquart, 1844b; Sapromyza Fallén, 1810) (Sciomyzidae). The remaining species, Sapromyza fuscipes Macquart, 1844b, is of uncertain family placement within the Muscoidea. The following new replacement names for species of Platystomatidae were necessary due to homonymy: Senopterina gigliotosi Gaimari Silva (for Bricinniella cyanea Giglio-Tos, 1893, nec Lauxania cyanea Fabricius, 1805), and Rivellia macquarti Gaimari Silva (for Tephritis unifasciata Macquart, 1843: 381, nec Macquart, 1835: 465).

Two new genera of Chamaemyiidae (Diptera: Lauxanioidea) are described and illustrated, including: Chamaethrix gen. nov. (type species Chamaethrix necopina sp. nov.), possibly a predator of Cinara ponderosae (Williams) on Pinus ponderosa in the southwestern United States; and Vitaleucopis gen. nov. (type species Vitaleucopis nidolkah sp. nov.; other included species Vitaleucopis astonea (McAlpine), comb. nov., and Vitaleucopis scopulus sp. nov.), predators of Cinara aphids and possibly adelgids on Pinaceae in western North America. Immature stages are discussed or described and illustrated for some taxa, including the eggs of Chamaethrix necopina and Vitaleucopis nidolkah; and the third instars and puparia of Vitaleucopis nidolkah.

The Chinese stiletto fly fauna is poorly known, with few species previously described and no endemic genera. A new genus and species of charismatic stiletto fly is described from northern China. Although the species was previously known from a poorly preserved specimen, the true form of this apparent bumble bee-mimic was not known until images of a live individual were discovered amongst photographs posted on iNaturalist, an online citizen scientist and biodiversity social network.

Delicate green lacewings in the genus Apochrysa Schneider (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae: Apochrysinae) are reviewed with each species diagnosed and figured; a key to species is included.

The genera of the lance lacewing family Osmylidae (Neuroptera) and extinct allied families (Archeosmylidae, Saucrosmylidae) are reviewed. A key to living Osmylidae genera of the world is presented. Each genus is diagnosed and figured with a checklist of species included for each. New, revised or support for previous taxonomic changes include the following: Nuddsia Menon Makarkin, 2008 (= Burmaleon Myskowiak et al., 2016 syn. nov.); Kempynus Navás, 1912 (= Clydosmylus New 1983a syn. nov.); Osmylus Latreille, 1802 (= Hyposmylus McLachlan; Dictyosmylus Navás, 1910; Plesiosmylus, Makarkin, 1985; Plethosmylus Krüger, 1913a); Parosmylus Needham, 1909 (= Mesosmylus Krüger, 1913c; Phlebosmylus Navás, 1928 syn. nov.); Thaumatosmylus Krüger, 1913a (= Glenosmylus Krüger, 1913a syn. nov.). New classification changes include: Mesomylidus Jepson, 2012 and Petrushevkia Martynova, 1958 are transferred to Protosmylinae; Lahulus Navás, 1930 is placed in Osmylinae; Stenosmylina Jepson et al., 2009 is transferred to Eidoporisminae. Cratovoluptia Martins-Neto Rodrigues, 2009 is removed from Osmylidae and transferred to Ithonidae, while Cratosmylus Myskowiak et al., 2015 is transferred to Nymphidae. Idiastogyia Lin, 1986 and Yanosmylus Ren in Ren et al., 1995 are excluded from Osmylidae and placed as incertae sedis in Neuroptera.

Many adult Chrysoperla comanche (Stephens) green lacewings were caught in traps baited with live yeast cultures during tests designed to catch olive fruit flies. All 13 yeast species tested were more attractive than the industry-standard dried torula yeast (Cyberlindnera jadinii; syn. Candida utilis). Live C. jadinii culture attracted significantly more lacewings than the inactive dried-pellet form of the same yeast species, demonstrating that volatiles from live yeast cultures attract adults of this lacewing. Odor profiles for two of the highly active yeasts tested herein (Lachancea thermotolerans and Solicoccozyma terrea) were similar to that for Metschnikowia pulcherrima, a yeast species isolated earlier from the gut diverticulum of Chrysoperla rufilabris. A new Metschnikowia species (M. chrysoperlae), along with two new Candida spp. that were recently realigned to one of the Metschnikowia clades (M. picachoensis and M. pimensis), were also identified from the diverticulum of C. comanche. Thus, one clade of Metschnikowia yeasts that commonly occur in floral nectar appears to exhibit mutualistic symbioses with Chrysoperla green lacewings. Both male and female C. comanche adults were attracted in the present study, and we speculate that males have exploited this symbiosis by offering Metschnikowia-laden regurgitant, including attractive volatiles, to females ('mating trophallaxis') as a nuptial gift.

Culicomorpha is a monophyletic group containing most bloodsucking lower dipterans, including many important vectors of pathogens. However, the higher-level phylogenetic relationships within Culicomorpha are largely unresolved, with multiple competing hypotheses based on molecular sequence data. Here we sequenced four nearly complete mitochondrial (mt) genomes representing four culicomorph families, and combined these new data with published mt genomes to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships of all eight extant culicomorph families. We estimated phylogenies using four datasets and three methods. We also used four-cluster likelihood mapping to study potential incongruent topologies supported by the different datasets and phylogenetic questions generated by the previous studies. The results showed that a clade containing Ceratopogonidae, Thaumaleidae and Simuliidae was the sister group to all other Culicomorpha; in another clade, the Dixidae was basal to the remaining four families; Chaoboridae, Corethrellidae and Culicidae formed a monophyletic group and the Chironomidae was the sister group to this clade; Culicidae and Corethrellidae were sister groups in all trees. Our study provides novel mt genome data in Culicomorpha for three new family representatives, and the resulting mt phylogenomic analysis helps to resolve the phylogeny and taxonomy of Culicomorpha.

The onset of phylogenomics has contributed to the resolution of numerous challenging evolutionary questions while offering new perspectives regarding biodiversity. However, in some instances, analyses of large genomic datasets can also result in conflicting estimates of phylogeny. Here, we present the first phylogenomic scale study of a dipteran parasitoid family, built upon anchored hybrid enrichment and transcriptomic data of 240 loci of 43 ingroup acrocerid taxa. A new hypothesis for the timing of spider fly evolution is proposed, wielding recent advances in divergence time dating, including the fossilized birth-death process to show that the origin of Acroceridae is younger than previously proposed. To test the robustness of our phylogenetic inferences, we analyzed our datasets using different phylogenetic estimation criteria, including supermatrix and coalescent-based approaches, maximum-likelihood and Bayesian methods, combined with other approaches such as permutations of the data, homogeneous versus heterogeneous models, and alternative data and taxon sets. Resulting topologies based on amino acids and nucleotides are both strongly supported but critically discordant, primarily in terms of the monophyly of Panopinae. Conflict was not resolved by controlling for compositional heterogeneity and saturation in third codon positions, which highlights the need for a better understanding of how different biases affect different data sources. In our study, results based on nucleotides were both more robust to alterations of the data and different analytical methods and more compatible with our current understanding of acrocerid morphology and patterns of host usage., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Estimations of tropical insect diversity generally suffer from lack of known groups or faunas against which extrapolations can be made, and have seriously underestimated the diversity of some taxa. Here we report the intensive inventory of a four-hectare tropical cloud forest in Costa Rica for one year, which yielded 4332 species of Diptera, providing the first verifiable basis for diversity of a major group of insects at a single site in the tropics. In total 73 families were present, all of which were studied to the species level, providing potentially complete coverage of all families of the order likely to be present at the site. Even so, extrapolations based on our data indicate that with further sampling, the actual total for the site could be closer to 8000 species. Efforts to completely sample a site, although resource-intensive and time-consuming, are needed to better ground estimations of world biodiversity based on limited sampling., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Molecular identification of fruit flies in the genus Anastrepha (Diptera; Tephritidae) is important to support plant pest exclusion, suppression, and outbreak eradication. Morphological methods of identification of this economically important genus are often not sufficient to identify species when detected as immature life stages. DNA barcoding a segment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene has been proposed as a method to identify pests in the genus. The identification process for these fruit flies, however, has not been explained in prior DNA barcode studies. DNA barcode methods assume that available DNA sequence records are biologically meaningful. These records, however, can be limited to the most common species or lack population-level measurements of diversity for pests. In such cases, the available data used as a reference are insufficient for completing an accurate identification. Using 539 DNA sequence records from 74 species of Anastrepha, we demonstrate that our barcoding data can distinguish four plant pests: Anastrepha grandis (Macquart) (Diptera; Tephritidae), Anastrepha ludens (Loew), Anastrepha serpentina (Wiedemann), and Anastrepha striata Schiner. This is based on genetic distances of barcode records for the pests and expert evaluation of species and population representation in the data set. DNA barcoding of the cytochrome oxidase I gene alone cannot reliably diagnose the pests Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann), Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart), and Anastrepha suspensa (Loew)., (Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America 2017. This work is written by (a) US Government employee(s) and is in the public domain in the US.)

The last 25 years of phylogenetic investigation into the three orders constituting the superorder Neuropterida-Raphidioptera, Megaloptera, and Neuroptera-have brought about a dramatic revision in our understanding of the evolution of lacewings, snakeflies, dobsonflies, and their diverse relatives. Phylogenetic estimations based on combined analyses of diverse data sources, ranging from adult and larval morphology to full mitochondrial genomic DNA, have begun to converge on similar patterns, many times in accordance with hypotheses put forth by Cyril Withycombe nearly a century ago. These data, in combination with information from the fossil record, have given a revised perspective on the historical evolution and classification of Neuropterida, necessitating an overhaul of their organization and providing focus and insight on fruitful future efforts for neuropterology.

The lance lacewing genus Thyridosmylus Krüger (Osmylidae: Spilosmylinae) is found in Madagascar and Southeast Asia. Two new Malagasy species are described herein, Thyridosmylus fuscomarginatus Xu, Wang & Winterton, sp. n. , and Thyridosmylus longiprocessus Xu, Wang & Winterton, sp. n. A key to differentiate the Malagasy species of Thyridosmylus is provided.

Neuroptera (lacewings) and allied orders Megaloptera (dobsonflies, alderflies) and Raphidioptera (snakeflies) are predatory insects and together make up the clade Neuropterida. The higher-level relationships within Neuropterida have historically been widely disputed with multiple competing hypotheses. Moreover, the evolution of important biological innovations among various Neuropterida families, such as the origin, timing and direction of transitions between aquatic and terrestrial habitats of larvae, remains poorly understood. To investigate the origin and diversification of lacewings and their allies, we undertook phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial genomes of all families of Neuropterida using Bayesian inference, maximum likelihood and maximum parsimony methods. We present a robust, fully resolved phylogeny and divergence time estimation for Neuropterida with strong statistical support for almost all nodes. Mitochondrial sequence data are typified by significant compositional heterogeneity across lineages, and parsimony and models assuming homogeneous rates did not recover Neuroptera as monophyletic. Only a model accounting for compositional heterogeneity (i.e. CAT-GTR) recovered all orders of Neuropterida as monophyletic. Significant findings of the mitogenomic phylogeny include recovering Raphidioptera as sister to Megaloptera plus Neuroptera. The sister family of all other lacewings are the dusty-wings (Coniopterygidae), rather than Nevrorthidae. Nevrorthidae are instead returned to their traditional position as the sister group of the spongilla-flies (Sisyridae) and closely related to Osmylidae. Our divergence time analysis indicates that the Mesozoic was indeed a 'golden age' for lacewings, with most families of Neuropterida diverging during the Triassic and Jurassic and all extant families present by the Early Cretaceous. Based on ancestral character state reconstructions of larval habitat we evaluate competing hypotheses regarding the life style of early neuropteridan larvae as either aquatic or terrestrial., (© The Willi Hennig Society 2016.)

New species of lance lacewings, Spilosmylus spilopteryx sp. n. , are described from the Philippines and compared with congeners. Both species are characterised by a distinctive wing pattern, which in the case of Spilosmylus tephrodestigma is relatively spectacular among lacewings. An identification key to the species of sp. n. , are described from the Philippines and compared with congeners. Both species are characterised by a distinctive wing pattern, which in the case of Spilosmylus spilopteryx sp. n. is relatively spectacular among lacewings. An identification key to the species of Spilosmylus Kolbe known from the Philippines is also provided.

The family Celyphidae (Diptera, Lauxanioidea) is verified as part of the New World fauna, with a second specimen discovered of a species described from French Guiana in 1844 by P.J.M. Macquart. As this species possesses characteristics that clearly suggest a separate lineage from the Old World celyphids, a new genus is proposed, Atopocelyphus gen. n. , with the type species, Celyphus ruficollis Macquart, in the new combination Atopocelyphus ruficollis A key to world genera of Celyphidae is presented, along with discussion of generic concepts. comb. n. A key to world genera of Celyphidae is presented, along with discussion of generic concepts. Chamaecelyphus Frey is synonymized under Spaniocelyphus Hendel, syn. n. , resulting in the following 10 new combinations: Spaniocelyphus africanus (Walker), comb. n. ; S. dichrous (Bezzi), comb. n. ; S. gutta (Speiser), comb. n. ; S. halticinus (Frey), comb. n. ; S. kalongensis (Vanschuytbroek), comb. n. ; S. ruwenzoriensis (Vanschuytbroek), comb. n. ; S. straeleni (Vanschuytbroek), comb. n. ; S. upembaensis (Vanschuytbroek), comb. n. ; S. violaceus (Vanschuytbroek), comb. n. ; S. vrydaghi The subgenera of comb. n. The subgenera of Celyphus Dalman are elevated to genus rank, as Paracelyphus Bigot, stat. rev. , and Hemiglobus Frey, stat. rev. , resulting in the following 17 new and revised combinations: Hemiglobus cheni (Shi), comb. n. ; H. eos (Frey), comb. n. ; H. lacunosus Frey, comb. rev. ; H. pellucidus Frey, comb. rev. ; H. planitarsalis (Shi), comb. n. ; H. porosus (Tenorio), comb. n. ; H. pulchmaculatus (Liu & Yang), comb. n. ; H. quadrimaculatus (Tenorio), comb. n. ; H. resplendens Frey, comb. rev. ; H. rugosus (Tenorio), comb. n. ; H. testaceus (Malloch), comb. n. ; H. trichoporis (Shi), comb. n. ; H. unicolor Frey, comb. rev. ; H. violaceus Chen, comb. rev. ; Paracelyphus hyacinthus Bigot, comb. rev. ; P. medogis (Shi), comb. n. ; P. vittalis (Shi), comb. n.

Chrysopidae (green lacewings) is the second largest family in Neuroptera, and it includes medium-size lacewings largely recognized by the presence of golden-colored eyes, bright green bodies and delicate wings with dense venation patterns. The subfamily Chrysopinae includes 97% of the species diversity in the family and it is currently divided into four tribes: Ankylopterygini, Belonopterygini, Chrysopini and Leucochrysini. Here we sequenced and annotated the nearly complete mitochondrial genomes of four species of each these tribes: Abachrysa eureka, Italochrysa insignis, Leucochrysa pretiosa, Parankyloteryx sp. We then reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships with estimated divergence times among tribes of Chrysopinae based on the mt genomic data. Our results suggest that Chrysopinae sans Nothancyla verreauxi evolved as two reciprocally monophyletic lineages formed by stem members of the tribes Leucochrysini plus Belonopterygini on one hand, and the stem members of Ankylopterygini plus Chrysopini on the other. Our estimations of divergence times place the diversification of stem Chrysopinae into the extant tribes during the Middle Jurassic to Late Cretaceous. The relatively young ages previously estimated for the green lacewing divergences were probably underestimated due to false inferences of homology between non-sister taxa that are later correctly identified as homoplasy after more taxa are added.

Current hypotheses of relationship among the species of the fruit fly genera Anastrepha and Toxotrypana are tested using sequence data from six DNA regions: the mitochondrial regions 16S, CAD, and COI, and the nuclear regions EF1a, PER, and PGD. DNA sequences were obtained from 146 species of Anastrepha, representing 19 of the 21 species groups as well as five of the six clades of the robusta group, and four species of Toxotrypana in addition to species of Hexachaeta, Pseudophorellia, Alujamyia, and 13 other tephritid genera used as outgroups. The results indicate that Hexachaeta is more closely related to the Molynocoelia group than to Toxotrypana and Anastrepha, and it is removed from the tribe Toxotrypanini. The group Anastrepha+Toxotrypana and the genus Toxotrypana are strongly supported as monophyletic, consistent with previous studies, but Toxotrypana arises within Anastrepha, confirming that Anastrepha as currently defined is paraphyletic. The placement of Toxotrypana within Anastrepha is clearly defined for the first time with high support, as the sister group to the cryptostrepha clade of the robusta group of Anastrepha. Within Anastrepha, the daciformis, dentata, leptozona, raveni, and striata species groups are highly supported clades. The serpentina group is recognized with lower support, and the fraterculus and pseudoparallela groups are supported with minor alterations. The robusta group is resolved as polyphyletic, but four of the six species clades within it are recovered monophyletic (one clade is not represented and another is represented by one species). The punctata and panamensis groups are resolved together in a clade. At least some species of the mucronota group are related, however this group requires further study. The benjamini, grandis, and spatulata groups appear to be polyphyletic. Relationships among the species groups are generally poorly resolved, with the following exceptions: (1) the lineage including Toxotrypana, the cryptostrepha clade, and the tripunctata group; (2) the sister group relationship of the daciformis+dentata groups; (3) a clade comprising the punctata and panamensis groups; and (4) the large clade comprising the pseudoparallela+spatulata+ramosa+grandis+serpentina+striata+fraterculus groups., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Six new species of Enoclerus are described: E. delusus n. sp. from Costa Rica and Panamá, E. incanus n. sp. from México, E. zip n. sp. from México and El Salvador, E. reductesignatus n. sp. from Panamá, and E. citrinifrons n. sp. and E. philogenes n. sp. from Costa Rica. The new species are hypothesized to participate in a Batesian mimicry complex with boldly marked diurnal mutillid wasps as their model. Enoclerus crabronarius var. deletus Wolcott is elevated to species rank as E. deletus Wolcott new status. The identity of E. crabronarius is discussed.

The spider fly genus Eulonchus Gerstaecker is found throughout the Nearctic Region. Six species are recognized and intraspecific morphological variation is documented in several species. A phylogeny of Eulonchus based on DNA sequence data of three molecular markers (COI, CAD, and 16S) is presented and relationships of species are discussed in the light of biogeography and host usage. All six species of Eulonchus are redescribed using natural language descriptions exported from a character matrix, and a key to species is presented. Lectotypes are designated for Eulonchus sapphirinus Osten Sacken, Eulonchus smaragdinus Gerstaecker, and Eulonchus tristis Loew.

Background: The last time the phylogenetic relationships among members of the family Hemerobiidae were studied quantitatively was over 12 years ago and based exclusively on morphology. Our study builds upon this morphological evidence by adding sequence data from three gene loci to provide a total evidence phylogeny of brown lacewings (Neuroptera: Hemerobiidae). Thirty-seven species representing nineteen Hemerobiidae genera were compared with outgroups from the families Ithonidae, Psychopsidae and Chrysopidae in Bayesian and parsimony analyses using a single nuclear gene (CAD) and two mitochondrial (16S rDNA and Cytochrome Oxidase I) genes. We compare divergence time estimates of Hemerobiidae cladogenesis under the two most commonly used relaxed clock models and discuss the evolution of wing venation in the family., Results: We recovered a phylogeny largely incongruent with previously published morphological studies, although all but two subfamilies (i.e., Notiobiellinae and Drepanacrinae) were recovered as monophyletic. We found the subfamily Drepanacrinae paraphyletic with respect to Psychobiellinae, and Notiobiellinae to be polyphyletic. We thus offer a revised concept of Notiobiellinae, comprising only Notiobiella Banks, and erect a new subfamily Zachobiellinae including the remaining genera previously placed in Notiobiellinae. Psychobiellinae is synonymized with Drepanacrinae. Unlike the previous hypothesis that proposed a remarkably laddered topology, our tree suggests that hemerobiids diverged as three main clades. Moreover, in contrast to the vein proliferation hypothesis, we found that hemerobiids have instead undergone multiple reductions in the number of radial veins, this scenario questions the relevance of this character as diagnostic of various subfamilies, Conclusions: Our phylogenetic hypothesis and divergence times analysis suggest that extant hemerobiids originated around the end of the Triassic and evolved as three distinct clades that diverged from one another during the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous. Contrary to earlier phylogenetic hypotheses, Carobius Banks (Carobiinae) is sister to the previously unplaced genus Notherobius New in a clade more closely related to Sympherobiinae, Megalominae and Zachobiellinae subfam. nov. The addition of taxa which are not available for DNA sequencing should be the focus of future studies, especially Adelphohemerobius Oswald, which is particularly important to test our inferences regarding the evolution of wing venation in Hemerobiidae.

Two new stiletto fly genera of Agapophytinae (Diptera: Therevidae) are described from Australia. Sidarena gen. n. comprises six new species ( Sidarena aurantia sp. n. , Sidarena flavipalpa sp. n. , Sidarena geraldton sp. n. , Sidarena hortorum sp. n. , Sidarena macfarlandi sp. n. , and Sidarena yallingup sp. n. ) and is largely endemic to Western Australia. Zelothrix gen. n. is described based on two species; Zelothrix warrumbungles sp. n. is a locally abundant species in Eastern Australia, while Zelothrix yeatesi sp. n. is restricted to southwestern Western Australia. These sister genera are likely closely related to Taenogerella Winterton & Irwin and Actenomeros Winterton & Irwin.

The charismatic lance lacewing genus Gryposmylus Krüger, 1913 (Osmylidae: Protosmylinae) from South East Asia is revised with a new species (Gryposmylus pennyi sp. n.) described from Malaysia. The genus is diagnosed and both species in the genus redescribed and figured. An extraordinary example of morphological convergence is presented, with disruptive camouflaging wing markings in Gryposmylus pennyi sp. n. being remarkably similar to the South American green lacewing Vieira leschenaulti Navás (Chrysopidae).

A revision of the American species of Prionus Geoffroy, 1762 is presented. Prionus (Neopolyarthron) Semenov, 1899 and Prionus (Antennalia) Casey, 1912 are synonymized with Prionus Geoffroy, 1762. Homaesthesis LeConte, 1873 is considered a true subgenus of Prionus. Prionus (Homaesthesis) rhodocerus Linsley, 1957 and Prionus (Homaesthesis) linsleyi Hovore, 1981 are synonymized with Prionus simplex (Casey, 1912). Prionus beauvoisi Lameere, 1915 and Prionus (Neopolyarthron) debilis Casey, 1924 are synonymized with P. imbricornis (Linnaeus, 1767). Prionus (Neopolyarthron) townsendi Casey, 1912 and Prionus (Neopolyarthron) curticollis Casey, 1912 are synonymized with Prionus mexicanus Bates, 1884. Prionus batesi Lameere, 1920 is synonymized with Prionus aztecus Casey, 1912. Prionus hintoni Linsley, 1935 is synonymized with Prionus flohri Bates, 1884. Prionus (Antennalia) fissicornis parviceps Casey, 1912 is excluded as the synonym of Prionus fissicornis Haldeman, 1846 and instead synonymized with P. imbricornis (Linnaeus, 1767). Prionus (Prionus) validiceps Casey, 1912 is excluded from the synonymy of P. pocularis Dalman, 1817, and synonymized with P. (P.) californicus Motschulsky, 1845. Prionus (Prionus) tumidus Casey, 1912 is excluded from the synonymy of P. heroicus Semenov, 1907, and synonymized with P. (P.) californicus. The lectotype female and the paralectotype male of Prionus (Prionus) tristis are excluded from the synonym of P. (P.) heroicus and transferred to the synonym of P. (P.) californicus; the paralectotype female of P. (P.) tristis is maintained in the synonymy of P. (P.) heroicus. Prionus (Prionus) fontinalis Casey, 1914 is excluded from the synonymy of P. (P.) heroicus and synonymized with P. (P.) californicus. Prionus simplex is formally excluded from the Cerambycidae fauna of Oklahoma, USA. Comments on the page, plate, and figure of publication of Cerambyx laticollis Drury, 1773 are presented. Prionus (Trichoprionus) Fragoso & Monné, 1982 is considered a genus different from Prionus. Hypoprionus is designated as a replacement name for Prionellus Casey, 1924 and Cerambyx laticollis Drury, 1773 is designated as the type species. Comments on the type localities of Prionus emarginatus, Prionus palparis Say, 1824, and Prionus (Neopolyarthron) aztecus Casey, 1912 are presented. Prionus (Homaesthesis) integer sensu Linsley (1962) and Chemsak (1996) is described as P. (H.) geminus, new species. Comments on the date of publication of Prionus fissicornis Haldeman, 1846 are presented. Comments on the status of the syntypes of Cerambyx imbricornis Linnaeus, 1767 are also presented. Lectotype specimens for Prionus flohri Bates, 1884, Prionus (Prionus) tristis, and Prionus lecontei Lameere, 1912 are designated. Comments on the number of specimens used in the original description of Prionus californicus are presented, and a lectotype for this species is designated. New state records are presented for Prionus emarginatus Say, 1824; P. imbricornis (Linnaeus, 1767); P. aztecus Casey, 1912; P. poultoni Lameere, 1912; P. pocularis Dalman, 1817; and P. mexicanus Bates, 1884.

Insects exhibit a wide diversity of anatomical specializations in their adult and immature stages associated with particular aspects of their biology. The order Neuroptera (lacewings, antlions, and their relatives) are a moderately diverse lineage of principally predatory animals, at least in their immature stages, as all have a modified piercing-sucking mandible-maxillary complex that allows them to drain fluids from their prey. As such, the larvae of various groups have evolved unique anatomical and behavioral specializations for approaching and subduing their prey, particularly the green lacewings (Chrysopidae), where immatures are also adept at camouflage [1-4]. Here we report the discovery of a unique mode of life among mid-Cretaceous mesochrysopids, an early stem group to modern green lacewings [5-7] exhibiting a combination of morphological modifications in both adults and larvae unknown among living and fossil Neuroptera, even across winged insects. The new mesochrysopids exhibit a uniquely prolonged thorax, elongate legs, and dramatically reduced hind wings in adults, and larvae have extremely elongate, slender legs with pectinate pretarsal claws and lacking trumpet-shaped empodia. The peculiarities of the larvae include features principally found in spider-associated insect groups, implying that these lacewings were early specialists on web-spinning spiders, either as active predators or kleptoparasites. This reveals a dramatic and ancient degree of ecological refinement in a major lineage of insect predators, for a food resource otherwise not utilized by most lacewings., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)