Taxonomic changes in African Stratiomyidae (Diptera).

Thirteen new generic synonyms, nineteen species synonyms and forty-eight new combinations of African Stratiomyidae are proposed (senior synonym in parentheses):Arthronemina Lindner in James, 1980 syn. nov. (=Argyrobrithes Grünberg, 1915), Arthronema Lindner, 1966b syn. nov. (=Argyrobrithes Grünberg, 1915), Brachyphleps Lindner, 1965 syn. nov. (=Psapharomys Grünberg, 1915), Dinosargus Lindner, 1968 syn. nov. (=Gongrosargus Lindner, 1959), Dolichodema Kertész, 1916 syn. nov. (=Thorasena Macquart, 1838), Gobertina Bigot, 1879a syn. nov. (=Sternobrithes Loew, 1857), Himantochaeta Lindner, 1939 syn. nov. (=Nyplatys Séguy, 1938), Hypoxycera Lindner 1966a syn. nov. (=Hypoceromys Lindner, 1935), Leucacron Lindner, 1966b syn. nov. (=Ptilinoxus Lindner, 1966b), Lonchobrithes Lindner, 1968 syn. nov. (=Argyrobrithes Grünberg, 1915), Meristomeringella Lindner 1965 syn. nov. (=Hypoceromys Lindner, 1935), Physometopon Lindner, 1966b syn. nov. (=Cardopomyia Kertész, 1916), Psapharomydops Lindner, 1966a syn. nov. (=Steleoceromys Grünberg, 1915), Adoxomyia grisea (Séguy, 1931) syn. nov. (=Adoxomyia argenteofasciata (Bezzi, 1906)), Argyrobrithes argenteus Grünberg, 1915 syn. nov. (=Argyrobrithes fuscicornis (Bezzi, 1914)), Argyrobrithes crinitus Lindner, 1972 syn. nov. (=Argyrobrithes zernyi Lindner, 1943), Brachyphleps tristis Lindner, 1965 syn. nov. (=Psapharomys salebrosa Grünberg, 1915), Chrysochroma laetum Lindner, 1966b syn. nov. (=Ptectisargus abditus (Lindner, 1936), Dolichodema africana Kertész, 1916 syn. nov. (=Thorasena pectoralis (Wiedemann, 1838)), Gongrosargus distinguendus Lindner, 1966c syn. nov. (=Gongrosargus glaucus (Bigot, 1859)), Gongrosargus exclamationis Lindner, 1968 syn. nov. (=Gongrosargus pallidus (Macquart, 1838)), Gongrosargus univittatus Lindner, 1966b syn. nov. (=Gongrosargus pallidus (Macquart, 1838)), Hypoxycera simplex Lindner, 1966a syn. nov. (=Hypoceromys jamesi (Lindner, 1965)), Lonchobrithes modestus Lindner, 1968 syn. nov. (=Argyrobrithes curtilamellatum (Lindner, 1966)), Microptecticus clarus Lindner, 1968 syn. nov. (=Microptecticus ambiguus Lindner, 1966b), Neopachygaster umbrifera Lindner, 1966a syn. nov. (=Neopachygaster stigma Lindner, 1938), Odontomyia impressa Curran, 1928 syn. nov. (=Afrodontomyia gigas (Brunetti, 1926)), Odontomyia protrudens Curran, 1928 syn. nov. (=Afrodontomyia erecta (Brunetti, 1926)), Physometopon minor Lindner, 1968 syn. nov. (=Cardopomyia robusta Kertész, 1916), Platyna denudata Grünberg, 1915 syn. nov. (=Platyna hastata (Fabricius, 1805)), Ptectisargus lucidus Lindner, 1968 syn. nov. (=Ptectisargus abditus (Lindner, 1936)); Afrodontomyia erecta (Brunetti, 1926) comb. nov. (from Odontomyia), Afrodontomyia flammiventris (Brunetti, 1926) comb. nov. (from Odontomyia), Afrodontomyia rufiventris (Curran, 1928) comb. nov. (from Stratiomys), Argyrobrithes curtilamellatum (Lindner, 1966b) comb. nov. (from Arthronemina), Argyrobrithes fuscicornis (Bezzi, 1914) comb. nov. (from Sternobrithes), Cardopomyia parvicornis (Lindner, 1959) comb. nov. (from Pseudoxymyia Lindner, 1958), Cardopomyia vesicularis (Lindner, 1966b) comb. nov. (from Physometopon), Cephalochrysa bigoti (Lindner, 1968) comb. nov. (from Chrysochroma), Cephalochrysa flavum (Lindner, 1968) comb. nov. (from Chrysochroma), Cephalochrysa fortunatum (Lindner, 1966b) comb. nov. (from Chrysochroma), Cephalochrysa lapidis (Lindner, 1966b) comb. nov. (from Chrysochroma), Cephalochrysa latum (Lindner, 1966b) comb. nov. (from Chrysochroma), Cephalochrysa lucens (Lindner, 1968) comb. nov. (from Chrysochroma), Cephalochrysa matilei (Lindner, 1979) comb. nov. (from Chrysochroma), Cephalochrysa triste (Lindner, 1966b) comb. nov. (from Chrysochroma), Cephalochrysa turbidum (Lindner, 1965) comb. nov. (from Chrysochroma), Cephalochrysa vadoni (Lindner, 1966b) comb. nov. (from Chrysochroma), Gongrosargus flavipennis (Macquart, 1838) comb. nov. (from Sargus), Gongrosargus lateritius (Lindner, 1968) comb. nov. (from Dinosargus), Gongrosargus limbatus (Macquart, 1838) comb. nov. (from Sargus), Gongrosargus pallidus (Macquart, 1838) comb. nov. (from Sargus), Hypoceromys nigripes (Lindner, 1938) comb. nov. (from Pachygaster), Hypoceromys jamesi (Lindner, 1965) comb. nov. (from Meristomeringella), Microptecticus magnicornis (Lindner, 1936) comb. nov. (from Ptecticus), Microptecticus nigricoxa (Lindner, 1936) comb. nov. (from Microchrysa), Ptecticus lateritius (Rondani, 1863) comb. nov. (from Sargus), Ptectisargus abditus (Lindner, 1936) comb. nov. (from Ptecticus), Ptectisargus brunneus (Lindner, 1936) comb. nov. (from Ptecticus), Ptectisargus cingulatum (Lindner, 1968) comb. nov. (from Chrysochroma), Ptectisargus flavifrons (Lindner, 1968) comb. nov. (from Chrysochroma), Ptectisargus flavomarginatus (Loew, 1857) comb. nov. (from Chrysonotus), Ptectisargus gracilipes (Lindner, 1936) comb. nov. (from Ptecticus), Ptectisargus keiseri (Lindner, 1966b) comb. nov. (from Chrysochroma), Ptectisargus longestylum (Lindner, 1966b) comb. nov. (from Chrysochroma), Ptectisargus punctum (Lindner, 1968) comb. nov. (from Chrysochroma), Ptectisargus ranohira (Woodley, 2001) comb. nov. (from Chrysochroma), Ptectisargus unicolor (Lindner, 1968) comb. nov. (from Chrysochroma), Ptilinoxus interruptum (Lindner, 1966b) comb. nov. (from Leucacron), Sargus congoense (Lindner, 1965) comb. nov. (from Chrysochroma), Sargus flavipes (Lindner, 1966a) comb. nov. (from Chrysochroma), Sargus luctuosus (Lindner, 1938) comb. nov. (from Paraptecticus), Sargus opulentum (Grünberg, 1915) comb. nov. (from Chrysochroma), Sargus pallidiventre (Brunetti, 1926) comb. nov. (from Chrysochroma), Sargus ptecticoideum (Lindner, 1966a) comb. nov. (from Chrysochroma), Steleceromys procera (Lindner, 1966a) comb. nov. (from Psapharomydops), Sternobrithes mercurialis (Lindner, 1938) comb. nov. (from Gobertina), Sternobrithes picticornis (Bigot, 1879b). comb. nov. (from Gobertina), Thorasena pectoralis (Wiedemann, 1824) comb. nov. (from Hermetia), Thorasena fenestrata (James, 1949) comb. nov. (from Dolichodema). One genus was resurrected out of synonymy (Thorasena Macquart, 1838 stat. rev.) and one genus removed from the African fauna (Cyphomyia Wiedemann, 1819).

A new species of Cyphomyia Wiedemann from the Dominican Republic with a key to Caribbean species of the genus (Diptera, Stratiomyidae, Clitellariinae).

A new species of Cyphomyia Wiedemann, Cyphomyiabaoruco sp. n., is described from the Dominican Republic. A key to the species of Cyphomyia known from the Caribbean islands is provided.

A revision of the Neotropical genus Paraberismyia Woodley (Diptera, Stratiomyidae, Beridinae) with three new species.

The Neotropical genus Paraberismyia Woodley, 1995, is revised. Three new species, P. chiapas sp. n., P. mathisi sp. n., and P. triunfo sp. n. are described, all having type localities in Chiapas, Mexico. A key to the four known species is provided.

A new species of Lixophaga Townsend (Diptera: Tachinidae) from Colombia, a parasitoid of Neoleucinodes elegantalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae).

A new species of Lixophaga Townsend (Diptera: Tachinidae) from Colombia, Lixophaga puscolulo Carrejo & Woodley, sp. nov., is described and illustrated. It is a parasitoid of the tomato fruit borer, Neoleucinodes elegantalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), an insect pest of Solanum quitoense Lam., in Colombia. Aspects of its biology are briefly discussed.

Revision of the southeast Asian soldier-fly genus Parastratiosphecomyia Brunetti, 1923 (Diptera, Stratiomyidae, Pachygastrinae).

The genus Parastratiosphecomyia Brunetti is revised with the description of two new species: Parastratiosphecomyia freidbergisp. n. from India and Parastratiosphecomyia rozkosnyisp. n. from Laos and Thailand. All four species in the genus are illustrated and a key to species is provided. Type localities of previously described taxa are briefly discussed.

Integration of DNA barcoding into an ongoing inventory of complex tropical biodiversity.

Inventory of the caterpillars, their food plants and parasitoids began in 1978 for today's Area de Conservacion Guanacaste (ACG), in northwestern Costa Rica. This complex mosaic of 120 000 ha of conserved and regenerating dry, cloud and rain forest over 0-2000 m elevation contains at least 10 000 species of non-leaf-mining caterpillars used by more than 5000 species of parasitoids. Several hundred thousand specimens of ACG-reared adult Lepidoptera and parasitoids have been intensively and extensively studied morphologically by many taxonomists, including most of the co-authors. DNA barcoding - the use of a standardized short mitochondrial DNA sequence to identify specimens and flush out undisclosed species - was added to the taxonomic identification process in 2003. Barcoding has been found to be extremely accurate during the identification of about 100 000 specimens of about 3500 morphologically defined species of adult moths, butterflies, tachinid flies, and parasitoid wasps. Less than 1% of the species have such similar barcodes that a molecularly based taxonomic identification is impossible. No specimen with a full barcode was misidentified when its barcode was compared with the barcode library. Also as expected from early trials, barcoding a series from all morphologically defined species, and correlating the morphological, ecological and barcode traits, has revealed many hundreds of overlooked presumptive species. Many but not all of these cryptic species can now be distinguished by subtle morphological and/or ecological traits previously ascribed to 'variation' or thought to be insignificant for species-level recognition. Adding DNA barcoding to the inventory has substantially improved the quality and depth of the inventory, and greatly multiplied the number of situations requiring further taxonomic work for resolution.

DNA barcodes reveal cryptic host-specificity within the presumed polyphagous members of a genus of parasitoid flies (Diptera: Tachinidae).

Insect parasitoids are a major component of global biodiversity and affect the population dynamics of their hosts. However, identification of insect parasitoids is often difficult, and they are suspected to contain many cryptic species. Here, we ask whether the cytochrome c oxidase I DNA barcode could function as a tool for species identification and discovery for the 20 morphospecies of Belvosia parasitoid flies (Diptera: Tachinidae) that have been reared from caterpillars (Lepidoptera) in Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG), northwestern Costa Rica. Barcoding not only discriminates among all 17 highly host-specific morphospecies of ACG Belvosia, but it also raises the species count to 32 by revealing that each of the three generalist species are actually arrays of highly host-specific cryptic species. We also identified likely hybridization among Belvosia by using a variable internal transcribed spacer region 1 nuclear rDNA sequence as a genetic covariate in addition to the strategy of overlaying barcode clusters with ecological information. If general, these results will increase estimates of global species richness and imply that tropical conservation and host-parasite interactions may be more complex than expected.