Revision of the ant-parasitizing genus Pseudacteon Coquillett (Diptera, Phoridae) from China.

The ant-parasitizing genus Pseudacteon Coquillett from China is revised. Nineteen species are recorded, of which nine are new to science: P. robustisetosus sp. nov., P. inticlinatus sp. nov., P. reticulatus sp. nov., P. linzhiensis sp. nov., P. shennongjianus sp. nov., P. yunnanensis sp. nov., P. calceoliformis sp. nov., P. tianmuensis sp. nov., and P. parviflavus sp. nov. The species P. botulpalpatus Disney et Michailovskaya, P. rudisetosus Disney et Michailovskaya, P. setipalpatus Disney et Michailovskaya, P. setosus Disney et Michailovskaya, P. pullum Michailovskaya and P. formicarum (Verrall) are recorded for the first time in China. The putative female of P. pullum Michailovskaya and the putative males of P. trapeziformis Zhang et Liu and P. setipalpatus Disney et Michailovskaya are also newly described. All known species are redescribed and illustrated. A key to species from China is presented.

Estimation of PMI for human remains wrapped in a blanket, with first report of Puliciphora rufipes (Phoridae) and Synthesiomyia nudiseta (Muscidae) outdoors in SE Spain.

The estimation of the minimum value of the postmortem interval is affected by well-known abiotic factors such as temperature and humidity, and others relating to the crime scene (e.g. the presence of direct sunlight or shade, immersion in water). However, there are few published data related to other variables that may exist, such as the presence of different insect species, wrapping of the body, or the presence or absence of maggot masses or predatory larvae. In this paper, a case report is presented in which the corpse of a homeless person was partially wrapped in a blanket. The corpse was found outdoors, in an open area in the province of Alicante (SE Spain). Empty puparia of different species of Diptera were collected during the autopsy. According to the insect development data, the minimum postmortem period was estimated and the influence of different factors, especially the effect of being wrapped in the blanket and the presence of the puparia of different species, was discussed. The entomological evidence includes the first record of Synthesiomyia nudiseta (van der Wulp, 1883) (Diptera: Muscidae) in outdoor conditions, and Puliciphora rufipes Silva Figueroa, 1916 (Diptera: Phoridae), which has not previously been recorded on human remains.

Nineteen new species of Megaselia Rondani (Diptera, Phoridae) from Denmark.

Nineteen new species, Megaselia culmenensis n. sp., M. cumrallum n. sp., M. dostrupensis n. sp., M. dravedskovensis n. sp., M. ehmsenae n. sp., M. falloclavis n. sp., M. fayesgadeensis n. sp., M. hobroensis n. sp.,M. hojerensis n. sp., M. jenshjerrildi n. sp., M. kajnisseni n. sp., M. micawberi n. sp., M. munki n. sp., M. neuter n. sp., M. onsildensis n. sp., M. romoensis n. sp., M. simestedensis n. sp., M. svendi n. sp., M. tofteensis n. sp. are described from Denmark. M. cumrallum is also reported from England. M. nigricia Disney Durska reported from Denmark and its recognition clarified.

A new species and new records of scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) from Algeria.

Among seven species caught at wild boar carcasses in Algeria Megaselia falsum  Disney n. sp. is described and the hitherto unknown female of M. iberiensis Disney.

Fourteen new species of scuttle flies (Diptera, Phoridae) from Denmark.

Megaselia anniduedahlae sp. n., M. balfourbrownei sp. n., M. birgittemarkae sp. n., M. carlkahleri sp. n., M. gerdakahlerae sp. n., M. helleorumae sp. n., M. jonasseni sp. n., M. legrandi sp. n., M. loneviolaae n sp. n., M. parhirticrus sp. n., M. pederseni sp. n., M. thomseni sp. n., Triphleba ehmseni sp. n., and T. papei sp. n., are described from Denmark.

Twenty one new species of Megaselia Rondani (Diptera: Phoridae) from Iran.

The following 21 new species from Iran are described, 7 from East Azerbaijan province Megaselia ajabshirensis, M. chicheckliensis, M. exkaleybar, M. kaleybarensis, M. qurigolensis, M. shabestarensis, M. zonuzensis. and 14 from West Azerbaijan province, M. evogliensis, M. farshbafi, M. ghalateshahensis, M. haddadi, M. hejazii, M. khaghaniniai Namaki Disney, M. khoyensis, M. ledzona, M. mahabadensis, M. miandoabensis, M. namakiae Khaghaninia Disney, M. pereensis, M. yaseri, M. zarghanii.

Four new Megaselia species (Diptera: Phoridae) from aanimal carcasses in Bangi, Malaysia.

Megaselia bangiensis Disney sp. nov., M. cumpapillarum Disney sp. nov., M. hyplongiseta Disney sp. nov. and M. selangorensis Disney sp. nov. were collected from rabbit carcasses placed in concealed environments in Bangi, Malaysia.

Scuttle Flies (Diptera: Phoridae) Inhabiting Rabbit Carcasses Confined to Plastic Waste Bins in Malaysia Include New Records and an Undescribed Species.

Scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) are small-sized insects of forensic importance. They are well known for diversified species and habitats, but in the context of forensic entomology, scuttle flies' inhabitance of corpses remains inadequately explored. With recent reports indicating the existence of more scuttle fly species possibly inhabiting these environments, a decomposition study using animal carcasses in enclosed environments was conducted. The aim was to record the occurrence of scuttle flies on rabbit carcasses placed in sealed plastic waste bins for a 40-day period. The study was conducted as two replicates in Bangi, Selangor. Sampling was carried out at different time intervals inside a modified mosquito net as a trap. Inside the trap, adult scuttle flies were aspirated and preserved in 70% ethanol. The fly larvae and pupae were reared until their adult stage to facilitate identification. From this study, six scuttle fly species were collected, i.e., Dahliphora sigmoides (Schmitz) ♂, Gymnoptera simplex (Brues) ♀, Megaselia scalaris (Loew) ♂♀, Puliciphora borinquenensis (Wheeler) ♂, Puliciphora obtecta Meijere ♀ and Spiniphora sp. ♀. Both D. sigmoides and P. obtecta were newly recorded in Malaysia, whilst the Spiniphora sp. was considered an unknown species until it was linked to its male counterpart. The sealed waste bins were found to be accessible for the scuttle flies with delayed arrival (day 4-5). Megaselia scalaris was the primary scuttle fly species attracted to the carcass, and its occurrence could be observed between days 4-7 (replicate 1) and days 5-33 (replicate 2). This study also revealed Sarcophaga spp. (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) as the earliest species to colonize the remains and the longest to inhabit them (days 2-40). The larvae of Hermetia illucens (Linneaus) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) and Fannia sp. (Diptera: Fanniidae) were found on the carcasses during the mid-advanced decay period. These findings expand the knowledge on the diversity of forensically important scuttle flies and coexisting dipterans in enclosed environments in Malaysia.

Flies from L.A., The Sequel: A further twelve new species of Megaselia (Diptera: Phoridae) from the BioSCAN Project in Los Angeles (California, USA).

BACKGROUND: Presented are continued results from the BioSCAN Project, an urban biodiversity study sampling primarily from private backyards in Los Angeles, California (USA). Presented are continued results from the BioSCAN Project, an urban biodiversity study sampling primarily from private backyards in Los Angeles, California (USA). NEW INFORMATION: Twelve new species of Megaselia (Diptera: Phoridae) are described: M. baileyae, M. friedrichae, M. gonzalezorum, M. joanneae, M. losangelensis, M. phyllissunae, M. pongsaiae, M. shatesae, M. stoakesi, M. studentorum, M. voluntariorum, M. wongae.

Opportunity in our Ignorance: Urban Biodiversity Study Reveals 30 New Species and One New Nearctic Record for Megaselia (Diptera: Phoridae) in Los Angeles (California, USA).

An urban biodiversity study sampling primarily from private backyards in Los Angeles, California (USA), reveals the presence of fifty-six species of Megaselia within the first few months of sampling. Thirty of these are described as new to science: M. armstrongorum, M. bradyi, M. brejchaorum, M. carthayensis, M. ciancii, M. creasoni, M. defibaughorum, M. donahuei, M. francoae, M. fujiokai, M. hardingorum, M. heini, M. hentschkeae, M. hoffmanorum, M. hoggorum, M. hoguei, M. isaacmajorum, M. kelleri, M. lombardorum, M. marquezi, M. mikejohnsoni, M. oxboroughae, M. pisanoi, M. renwickorum, M. rodriguezorum, M. sacatelensis, M. seaverorum, M. sidneyae, M. steptoeae, and M. wiegmanae. M. largifrontalis is newly reported from the Nearctic Region. The implications these findings have for future taxonomic work in Megaselia, particularly in urban areas, are discussed.

First record of genus Puliciphora Dahl (Diptera: Phoridae) associated with rabbit carcasses placed in concealed environments in Malaysia.

Scuttle flies of genus Puliciphora Dahl (Diptera: Phoridae) are recorded for the first time in Malaysia from rabbit carcasses placed in concealed environments. They consist of Puliciphora borinquenensis Wheeler ♂♀, Puliciphora obtecta Meijere ♀ and Puliciphora beckeri Meijere ♀. All species were obtained from rabbit carcasses in used luggage and garbage bin placed at Forensic Science Simulation Site, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor. The specimens were collected from the carcasses using a modified Malaise trap, an entomological aspirator and preserved in 70% ethanol. This report expands the geographical distributions of these species and their microhabitat, suggests its possible important role in forensic entomology.

Further occurrences of Dohrniphora cornuta (Bigot) (Diptera, Phoridae) in forensic cases indicate likely importance of this species in future cases.

Dohrniphora cornuta (Bigot), an oriental species of scuttle fly, has been transported around the world by man. We report it from forensic cases in England, Spain and Sweden. It is likely to feature in forensic cases elsewhere in the world.

Palaearctic Abaristophora (Diptera: Phoridae): first female of A. arctophila Schmitz, 1927 and a new species from N. W. Russia.

Abaristophora arctophila Schmitz, 1927 is confirmed from Europe through a series of males and females collected in boreal Sweden. The male of A. arctophila is documented and separated from A. sachalinensis Michailovskaya, 1988 and Abaristophora kolaensis Disney n. sp., which is described from a single male from N.W. Russia. A lectotype is designated for A. arctophila and the female is described for the first time.

Molecular identification of carrion-breeding scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) using COI barcodes.

Entomological evidence is often used in forensic cases for post-mortem interval (PMI) calculation. The most dominant species present on a corpse are typically blowflies. However, several cases have been reported where access to a corpse has been restricted for blowflies (e.g., on a buried or wrapped cadavers) but species of the family Phoridae were abundant. It has also been reported that some phorid species that exploit human corpses may also feature in cases of myiasis acquired ante-mortem. In all these cases, they may provide decisive evidence. As for blowflies, the precise identification of a phorid species collected from a corpse is necessary when estimating the PMI. Since morphological determination is often hampered due to similar characteristics especially in the larval and pupal stage, we used DNA-based methods to identify six phorid species (Megaselia scalaris, Megaselia giraudii, Megaselia abdita, Megaselia rufipes, Conicera tibialis, and Puliciphora borinquenensis) on the molecular level. We focused on a 658-bp-long region of the cytochrome oxidase I gene (COI), the most common molecular marker in forensic entomology. The amplified fragment is also used in DNA barcode approaches and was found to be suitable for identification of a wide range of insect taxa. The present study demonstrates that this region is also sufficient to distinguish between several species of scuttle flies.

First records of two species of Oriental scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) from forensic cases.

In Penang, Malaysia, the Oriental and Afrotropical Megaselia curtineura (Brues) and the Oriental and Japanese Megaselia spiracularis Schmitz are reported from human corpses, these being the first reports of these species in such forensic cases.

THE TRUE IDENTITY OF COPELAND'S AQUATIC SCUTTLE FLY (DIPTERA: PHORIDAE) FROM INDIANA AND RECOGNITION OF A SIBLING SPECIES FROM TEXAS.

Among the insects reported by Copeland (1989) breeding in the waters retained by treeholes in Indiana was a scuttle fly identified by W. H. Robinson as Megaselia scalaris (Loew). It is here reported that in fact this fly, along with fresh material from Illinois and Missouri, is M. imitatrix Borgmeier, whose type series was from Puerto Rico. An aquatic species reported from Texas is recognized as a sibling species of M. imitatrix and is named M. hansonix Disney, sp. nov. A single female from Brazil represents a third species of this complex, thus raising doubts about the identity of specimens from Brazil attributed to M. imitatrix by Benton and Claugher (2000).

Myiasis in Kuwait: nosocomial infections caused by lucilia sericata and Megaselia scalaris.

Myiasis, the invasion of live human tissue by larvae of Diptera, is reported in the nasopharynx and a leg wound in two patients who were hospitalized for more than 72 hours in Mubarak Al-Kabeer Teaching Hospital in Kuwait City, Kuwait. On the fourth and fifth days after a 10-year-old Kuwaiti boy was admitted to the hospital intensive care unit in a bloodied and comatose state following a traffic accident, 'worms' that came out of his nostrils were fixed, cleared, and identified as second and third instar of Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae). After 14 days, 'worms' were seen in the original dressing of a 35-year-old Iranian man admitted to the Orthopedic Unit of the hospital with multiple lacerations and fractures. The larvae, in various stages of development, were identified as those of Megaselia scalaris (Diptera: Phoridae). Since the presence of larvae in both patients was recorded after a stay of at least 3-4 days in the hospital, by definition, these infestations are considered nosocomial.