A molecular-based identification resource for the arthropods of Finland.

To associate specimens identified by molecular characters to other biological knowledge, we need reference sequences annotated by Linnaean taxonomy. In this study, we (1) report the creation of a comprehensive reference library of DNA barcodes for the arthropods of an entire country (Finland), (2) publish this library, and (3) deliver a new identification tool for insects and spiders, as based on this resource. The reference library contains mtDNA COI barcodes for 11,275 (43%) of 26,437 arthropod species known from Finland, including 10,811 (45%) of 23,956 insect species. To quantify the improvement in identification accuracy enabled by the current reference library, we ran 1000 Finnish insect and spider species through the Barcode of Life Data system (BOLD) identification engine. Of these, 91% were correctly assigned to a unique species when compared to the new reference library alone, 85% were correctly identified when compared to BOLD with the new material included, and 75% with the new material excluded. To capitalize on this resource, we used the new reference material to train a probabilistic taxonomic assignment tool, FinPROTAX, scoring high success. For the full-length barcode region, the accuracy of taxonomic assignments at the level of classes, orders, families, subfamilies, tribes, genera, and species reached 99.9%, 99.9%, 99.8%, 99.7%, 99.4%, 96.8%, and 88.5%, respectively. The FinBOL arthropod reference library and FinPROTAX are available through the Finnish Biodiversity Information Facility (www.laji.fi) at https://laji.fi/en/theme/protax. Overall, the FinBOL investment represents a massive capacity-transfer from the taxonomic community of Finland to all sectors of society.

DNA Barcodes for the Northern European Tachinid Flies (Diptera: Tachinidae).

This data release provides COI barcodes for 366 species of parasitic flies (Diptera: Tachinidae), enabling the DNA based identification of the majority of northern European species and a large proportion of Palearctic genera, regardless of the developmental stage. The data will provide a tool for taxonomists and ecologists studying this ecologically important but challenging parasitoid family. A comparison of minimum distances between the nearest neighbors revealed the mean divergence of 5.52% that is approximately the same as observed earlier with comparable sampling in Lepidoptera, but clearly less than in Coleoptera. Full barcode-sharing was observed between 13 species pairs or triplets, equaling to 7.36% of all species. Delimitation based on Barcode Index Number (BIN) system was compared with traditional classification of species and interesting cases of possible species oversplits and cryptic diversity are discussed. Overall, DNA barcodes are effective in separating tachinid species and provide novel insight into the taxonomy of several genera.

Notes on Shore Flies (Diptera: Ephydridae) from Finland and north-western Russia.

The recent checklist of the Ephydridae of Finland by Zatwarnicki and Kahanpää (2014) mentioned 13 ephydrid species as new for Finland without further details. This paper presents detailed records for those species and a few other species of interest. Four species are recorded for the first time from Russia. Trimerinaindistincta Krivosheina, 2004 is herein considered as a new junior synonym of Trimerinamicrochaeta Hendel, 1932, syn. nov.

Checklist of the Diptera (Insecta) of Finland: an introduction and a summary of results.

Nearly thirty-five years have passed since Hackman published his "Check list of the Finnish Diptera" (1980). The number of true flies (Diptera) known from Finland has increased by more than two thousand species since then. At the same time, hundreds of erroneous records have been recognized and purged from the checklist. ZooKeys issue 441 provides a new checklist of the Diptera species of the Republic of Finland. This introductory paper presents the rationale behind the project, provides technical documentation on the checklist format and sources used, and summarizes the results. The remaining papers in this issue cover one or more Diptera families in detail. TWO ELECTRONIC APPENDICES ARE PROVIDED: supporting data (additional references to first published records and the previous checklist) and a complete list of Finnish Diptera taxa in Darwin Core compliant format for easy computer access and processing. The new checklist records 6920 fly species from Finland, 2932 belonging to the nematoceran or lower flies and 3989 to the suborder Brachycera. The changes since 1980 are most prominent in the Lower Diptera. For example, more than 400 non-biting midges (Chironomidae) have been added since 1980, and the number of moth flies (Psychodidae) known from Finland has more than tripled. Among the larger families, large increases in known Finnish species are also seen in Cecidomyiidae (161% increase), Pipunculidae (98%), and Chironomidae (90%).

Checklist of the 'lower Brachycera' of Finland: Tabanomorpha, Asilomorpha and associated families (Diptera).

A checklist of the 'lower Brachycera' of Finland is presented. This part of the complete checklist of Finnish Diptera covers the families Acroceridae, Asilidae, Athericidae, Bombyliidae, Mythicomyiidae, Rhagionidae, Scenopinidae, Stratiomyidae, Tabanidae, Therevidae, Xylomyidae and Xylophagidae.

Checklist of the empidoidea of Finland (insecta, diptera).

An updated checklist of the Atelestidae, Brachystomatidae, Dolichopodidae, Empididae and Hybotidae (Diptera) recorded from Finland is presented. The genera with uncertain placement within superfamily Empidoidea (= the Iteaphila group) are also included in this paper.

Checklist of the families Lonchopteridae and Phoridae of Finland (Insecta, Diptera).

A checklist of the Lonchopteridae and Phoridae recorded from Finland is presented.

Checklist of the superfamilies Conopoidea, Diopsoidea and Nerioidea of Finland (Insecta, Diptera).

A checklist of the Diptera superfamilies Conopoidea (Conopidae), Nerioidea (Micropezidae, Pseudopomyzidae) and Diopsoidea (Megamerinidae, Psilidae, Strongylophthalmyiidae, Tanypezidae) from Finland in presented. Myopavicaria Walker, 1849 is formally recorded for the first time from the country.

Checklist of the Diptera superfamilies Tephritoidea and Sciomyzoidea of Finland (Insecta).

A revised checklist of the flies of superfamilies Tephritoidea and Sciomyzoidea of Finland is provided. The following families are covered: Eurygnathomyiidae, Lonchaeidae, Neottiophilidae, Pallopteridae, Piophilidae, Platystomatidae, Tephritidae, Ulidiidae (Tephritoidea); Coelopidae, Dryomyzidae, Heterocheilidae, Phaeomyiidae, Sciomyzidae, Sepsidae (Sciomyzoidea).

Checklist of the fly families Chamaemyiidae and Lauxaniidae of Finland (Insecta, Diptera).

A revised checklist of the Chamaemyiidae and Lauxaniidae (Diptera) recorded from Finland is presented.

Checklist of the smaller families of Opomyzoidea, Anthomyzidae, Asteiidae, Aulacigastridae, Clusiidae, Odiniidae, Opomyzidae and Periscelididae (Diptera) of Finland.

A species checklist is presented for Finland covering seven smaller families of Opomyzoidea: Anthomyzidae, Asteiidae, Aulacigastridae, Clusiidae, Odiniidae, Opomyzidae and Periscelididae (Diptera).

Checklist of the leaf-mining flies (Diptera, Agromyzidae) of Finland.

A checklist of the Agromyzidae (Diptera) recorded from Finland is presented. 279 (or 280) species are currently known from the country. Phytomyzalinguae Lundqvist, 1947 is recorded as new to Finland.

Checklist of the Diptera families Acartophthalmidae, Canacidae (including Tethinidae), Carnidae and Milichiidae of Finland (Insecta).

A checklist of 29 species in the smaller carnoid families Acartophthalmidae, Canacidae, Carnidae and Milichiidae (Diptera) recorded from Finland is presented. Tethinidae are also included as a subfamily of Canacidae. Phyllomyzatetragona Hendel is removed from the list as no reliable records of this species within the post-1944 borders of Finland could be found.

Checklist of the family Chloropidae (Diptera) of Finland.

A checklist of 147 species the Chloropidae (Diptera) recorded from Finland. Centorisomaelegantulum Becker is recorded for the first time from Finland.

Checklist of the fly families Chyromyidae and Heleomyzidae (Diptera) of Finland.

A Finnish checklist of the sphaeroceroid fly families Chyromyidae and Heleomyzidae is provided.

Checklist of the family Sphaeroceridae (Diptera) of Finland.

A checklist of the family Sphaeroceridae (Diptera) recorded from Finland.

Checklist of the braulidae, camillidae, diastatidae and drosophilidae of Finland (Diptera, ephydroidea).

A checklist of the Braulidae (1 species), Camillidae (3 spp.), Diastatidae (10 spp.) and Drosophilidae (67 spp.) of Finland is presented. Campichoetinae is included as a subfamily of Diastatidae.

Checklist of the family Ephydridae of Finland (Insecta, Diptera).

A checklist of 112 species of shore flies (Ephydridae, Diptera) recorded from Finland is presented. Comparing this to the list of Hackman (1980), 52 changes are made: 25 species are added (all but one recorded after 1980), 18 misidentifications are deleted, 5 junior synonyms are replaced and 5 updated generic combinations are given.

Checklist of the families Scathophagidae, Fanniidae and Muscidae of Finland (Insecta, Diptera).

A revised checklist of the Scathophagidae, Fanniidae and Muscidae recorded from Finland is presented. Phaoniaamicula Villeneuve, 1922 is noted from Finland for the first time.

Checklist of the superfamilies Oestroidea and Hippoboscoidea of Finland (Insecta, Diptera).

An updated checklist of the superfamilies Oestroidea and Hippoboscoidea recorded from Finland is presented. The checklist covers the following families: Calliphoridae, Rhiniidae, Sarcophagidae, Rhinophoridae, Tachinidae, Oestridae and Hippoboscidae.