Beetles (Coleoptera) in deciduous dead wood tree species trunks in Lithuania.

We present a list of beetles that emerged from wind-felled tree trunks of several tree species, including European ash (Fraxinusexcelsior), aspen (Populustremula), common oak (Quercusrobur), birch (Betula sp.), small-leaved linden (Tiliacordata) and black alder (Alnusglutinosa). Four hundred and ninety species and 60 families of beetles were collected using trunk-emergence type traps. We found 440 beetle species that had previously been recorded from dead wood; the remaining 50 were newly discovered and all were considered as not directly associated with dead wood. Common oak trunks had the highest diversity of beetles, with approximately 42% of the identified beetle species found in our research. Of all the beetle species identified in the study, about half are saproxylic, while the remaining are considered as not having direct association with dead wood. The results of the study emphasise the importance of dead wood in maintaining beetle diversity in Lithuanian forests. This study provides a valuable baseline for future research on beetles in dead wood in Lithuania and may help to provide information for conservation efforts to protect these important habitats.

Hexatoma crane flies (Diptera, Limoniidae) of Korea.

Hexatoma Latreille, 1809 is a large genus of short-palped crane flies with a worldwide distribution. Accounting for more than 60 percent of global species, 362 extant species occur in Asia. Prior to our study, Hexatoma crane flies on the Korean Peninsula (both the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea) had been studied for 90 years starting in 1930, but only three species had been recorded, with one of them being a misidentification. This study adds six species to the fauna of the Korean Peninsula, all of which belong to the subgenus H. (Eriocera) Macquart, 1838. General information on genus and subgenus morphological characters is presented in this paper, with a redescription of each species based on Korean specimens, as well as illustrations of both sexes, the elevation range, the period of activity, habitat information, general distribution, and a distribution map for the Korean Peninsula. Three species H. (E.) ilwola Podenas, sp. nov., H. (E.) pianigra Podenas, sp. nov. and H. (E.) serenensis Podenas, sp. nov. are described as new to science. Hexatoma (E.) lygropis (Alexander, 1920) is deleted from the Korean species list as a misidentification. This publication is a continuation of our previous work on short-palped crane flies (Limoniidae) from Korea.

Dipteran (Bibionomorpha and Tipulomorpha) diversity in dead wood in Lithuania.

The aim of this study is to compile the species list of Bibionomorpha and Tipulomorpha flies associated with dead wood in Lithuania. Saproxylic nematocerans were studied from 2014 to 2020 in four protected areas and in five different tree species (Populustremula, Quercusrobur, Tiliacordata, Fraxinusexcelsior and Alnusglutinosa) of the second stage of decay by using emergence traps. In total, 113 species were identified with Mycetophilidae, Sciaridae and Limoniidae being the most species-rich families. The compiled list of species emerging from dead wood in Lithuania is presented. Fourteen species were reared from dead wood for the first time.

Tipula (Vestiplex) crane flies (Diptera, Tipulidae) of Korea.

The Korean species of Tipula (Vestiplex) Bezzi, 1924 crane flies are taxonomically revised. Five species are recognized. Tipula (V.) coquillettiana Alexander, 1924, T. (V.) kuwayamai Alexander, 1921, T. (V.) tchukchi Alexander, 1934, and T. (V.) verecunda Alexander, 1924 are newly recorded from the Korean Peninsula, and T. (V.) serricauda Alexander, 1914 was previously recorded. The larva of T. (V.) serricauda is described and illustrated, and the larvae of the subgenus T. (Vestiplex) are divided into four groups based on spiracular lobe morphology. An identification key, redescriptions, and illustrations of Korean T. (Vestiplex) adults and grouping of known larvae are presented.

A new species of Elephantomyia crane fly (Diptera, Limoniidae) from Jeju Island, South Korea.

A new species of crane fly (Diptera, Limoniidae), Elephantomyia (Elephantomyia) hallasana Podenas & Podeniene, sp. nov., from Jeju Island, South Korea is described. Adult and larval characters are illustrated. Elephantomyia (E.) hallasanasp. nov. is the only species of the genus Elephantomyia Osten Sacken, 1860 recorded from Jeju Island, South Korea. Habitat, elevation range, and seasonality data are presented. Distributional notes on E. subterminalis Alexander, 1954 in the Far East of Russia (Khabarovskiy and Primorskiy regions) are discussed. An identification key for all Eastern Palaearctic species of subgenus E. (Elephantomyia) is presented.

New Atypophthalmus (Diptera: Limoniidae) from South Korea.

Two new species of crane flies belonging to the genus Atypophthalmus Brunetti, 1911, A. (Atypophthalmus) kleini Podenas, sp. nov. and A. (Microlimonia) jeju Podenas Podeniene, sp. nov. collected in South Korea in 2017 and 2019 are described and illustrated. Larvae and female pupa for A. (Microlimonia) jeju sp. nov. are described. The pupa for the subgenus A. (Microlimonia) is described for the first time. An updated list and key for adults of all Korean Atypophthalmus are presented.

Notes on the first instar larvae of the genus Tipula (Diptera: Tipulidae).

The egg-larvae of 890 individuals in 8 species belonging to long palped crane flies of the genus Tipula (Diptera: Tipulidae) were obtained from 17 gravid females captured in Lithuania in 2011-2012. Depending on the species, it took from four days to more than eleven weeks for the eggs to hatch. Of the four instars of larvae for crane flies, the second, third and the last instar larvae are very similar in morphology, while the first instar or egg-larva differs radically. Descriptions and illustrations of the external morphology, chaetotaxy of abdominal segments, characters of head capsules and last abdominal segments are given for the previously unknown first instar larvae of T. (Lunatipula) fascipennis, T. (Pterelachisus) irrorata, T. (P.) pabulina, T. (P.) pseudovariipennis, T. (Yamatotipula) pruinosa and poorly known T. (Beringotipula) unca, T. (L.) vernalis T. (Tipula) paludosa. The differences of the head capsule and last abdominal segment among the first instar larvae of these species are more obvious than in the last instar. Characters of the head capsule such as the shape of the teeth of the mandible, shape of the basal segment of the antenna and number of sensillae on it, shape of hypostomium, arrangement of sensory structures on the labrum and frons, all differ among egg-larvae of Tipula. Sclerotisation and the arrangement of setae on the spiracular field are unique for each studied Tipula species. This is the first study to use head capsule characters to distinguish the larvae of Tipula.

First description of the last instar larva and pupa of the aquatic crane fly Limnorimarga limonioides (Alexander, 1945) (Diptera: Limoniidae).

Descriptions, illustrations and habitat characteristics are given for the previously unknown larvae and pupae of the East Palaearctic monotypic aquatic crane fly genus Limnorimarga Alexander, 1945 collected from Korea in hygropetric habitats. Diagnostic features and phylogenetic relationships are discussed.

Limonia crane flies (Diptera: Limoniidae) of Korea.

The Korean species of Limonia Meigen, 1803 crane flies (Diptera: Limoniidae) are taxonomically revised. Species L. annulata Lackschewitz, 1940 (Lackschewitz, Pagast, 1940), L. bidens Savchenko, 1979, L. episema Alexander, 1924, L. fusciceps fusciceps Alexander, 1924, L. juvenca Alexander, 1935, L. messaurea messaurea Mendl, 1971, L. nemoralis Savchenko, 1983 are new records for the Korean peninsula and L. pia n. sp. is described. Synonymy of L. venerabilis Alexander, 1938 with L. macrostigma (Schummel, 1829) is confirmed. L. tanakai (Alexander, 1921) is not confirmed for the Korean Peninsula. An identification key, redescriptions and illustrations of all species and both sexes of adults, if they were found in Korea, are presented. Descriptions, illustrations and habitat characteristics are given for the previously unknown larva and pupa of L. parvipennis Alexander, 1940. Distinguishing morphological characters of the last instar larvae of Korean Limonia are discussed. Keys to the known Korean Limonia larvae and pupae are compiled.

The first description of the larva and pupa of crane fly genus Phyllolabis Osten Sacken, 1877 (Diptera, Limoniidae, Limnophilinae), with information for understanding the phylogenetic relationships and systematical position of the genus.

Description, illustrations and habitat characteristics are given for the previously unknown last instar larvae and pupae of the genus Phyllolabis Osten Sacken, 1877 of the eastern palaearctic species Phyllolabis mongolica Podenas and Gelhaus, 2012 (Diptera: Limoniidae, Limnophilinae). Diagnostic features and phylogenetic relationships are discussed. Characters of the immatures stages of Phyllolabis shows similarities with the genus Austrolimnophila, Epiphragma and Dactylolabis and based on this investigation Phyllolabis is moved back into subfamily Limnophilinae s.l., albeit as one of its basal lineages.

Heterangaeus Alexander, 1925 crane flies (Diptera: Pediciidae) of Korea.

The Korean crane fly species of the genus Heterangaeus Alexander, 1925 (Diptera: Pediciidae) is taxonomically revised. H. gloriosus gloriosus (Alexander, 1924) is redescribed. A new species Heterangaeus koreanus n. sp., which is the first species of Pediciidae from South Korea, is described and illustrated.

Review of the last instar larvae and pupae of Hexatoma (Eriocera) and Hexatoma (Hexatoma) (Diptera, Limoniidae, Limnophilinae).

Description, illustrations and habitat characteristics are given for the previously unknown larvae and pupae of Nearctic species Hexatoma (Eriocera) californica, H. (E.) fuliginosa and East Palaearctic species H. (E.) sachalinensis, H. (E.) stackelbergi, H. (E.) ussuriensis and H. (s.str.) nubeculosa. Hexatoma (E.) sachalinensis, H. (E.) stackelbergi, and H. (s.str.) nubeculosa are reported new for Mongolia based on larval and reared adult collections. There are no distinguishing morphological characters to separate last instar larvae of the subgenera H. (Eriocera) and H. (Hexatoma), while pupae of these subgenera can be separated by the size and shape of the spines on the terminal segments. This study indicates that microscopic setae on the last abdominal segment, length of maxillary palpi, sclerotization of the spiracular field, length of spiracular lobes, length of setae on the apical part of the ventral lobes, the shape of the labrum and the arrangement of sensory structures on the labrum are the main larval characters to distinguish among species in this genus. The shape and length of the respiratory horns, size and number of the horns of the cephalic crest, length of the antennal sheaths, the lengths of the sheaths of the legs, size and shape of tubercles on the antennal scape are the main distinguishing pupal characters for the species of this genus. Nearly all known species of Hexatoma develop in sand or gravel in bottom of large and medium size rivers, smaller streams and creeks while last instar larvae and pupae can be found in the riparian zone, usually in gravel, sand or under stones.

A new species of Heterangaeus Alexander, 1925 crane flies (Diptera: Pediciidae) from north-central Mongolia with first description of the larva for the genus.

A new species of Pediciidae, Heterangaeus mongolicus is described from specimens collected during the fieldwork of the Mongolian Aquatic Insect Survey Project in north-central Mongolia, Tov Aimag (district). Descriptions and illustrations of the distinguishing morphological features are provided. Habitat information is presented. Female ovipositor and larvae of Heterangaeus are described and illustrated for the first time. This discovery of Heterangaeus in Mongolia represents a 1700 kilometer extension of the known distribution for the genus.

Notes on the first instar larvae of Ctenophora and Nephrotoma (Diptera, Tipulidae).

1830 egg-larvae of 7 species belonging to long palped crane flies (Tipulidae): Ctenophora guttata Meigen, Nephrotoma pratensis Linnaeus, N. dorsalis Fabricius, N. scurra Meigen, N. flavescens Linnaeus, N. submaculosa Edwards and N. crocata Linnaeus were obtained from 22 females captured in Lithuania in 2011-2012. It took from five days to more than three weeks for eggs to hatch. Crane flies have four instars of larvae. Second, third and the last instar larvae are very similar, when the first instar or egg-larvae differs radically. Descriptions and illustrations of external morphology, chaetotaxy of abdominal segments, characters of head capsules and last abdominal segments are given for the previously unknown first instar larvae of Ct. guttata, N. crocata, N. dorsalis, N. flavescens, N. pratensis, N. scurra and poorly known N. submaculosa. It was found out that difference of head capsule and last abdominal segment among the first instar larvae of above mentioned species of genus Nephrotoma are more obvious than in last instar. During this study it was found, that such characters as shape of apical teeth of mandible, shape of basal segment of antenna and number of sensillae, shape of hypostomium and arrangement of sensory structures on labrum, differ among egg-larvae of Nephrotoma. It was found, that pads on frontal part of prothorax and shape of lateral plates of egg-larvae labrum of Nephrotoma differ significantly from that of Ctenophora and could be used as genus separating characters.