Functional feeding groups of Chironomidae (Diptera: Nematocera) and their spatial variation in an intermittent hill stream (Ventana Stream, Buenos Aires, Argentina).

The feeding habits of Chironomidae in hill streams in the pampean region have not been described. In this study, we analyzed the gut contents of this insect family with an aim at establishing their diet in an intermittent stream in the Ventania-Hill system. We sampled three sites with different habitat characteristics (i. e., altitude, substrate type, and current velocity). Of the total of nine taxa were recorded, the only one present at all sites was Corynoneura sp. 1. The food items found were detritus, diatoms, filamentous chlorophytes, euglenophytes, vascular plants, fungi, and animal remains. Most of the taxa could be classified as gathering collectors, with those having a higher proportion of detritus in the gut contents although the guts of Pentaneura nr. cinerea, Cricotopus sp. 1, and Onconeura analiae included high proportions of animal remains. No differences in the feeding habits were attributable to the location in the stream. This research contributes to our understanding of the trophic habits of Chironomidae in an intermittent hill stream system of South America.

Morphological and molecular data reveal fifteen new sympatric Zygomyia Winnertz, 1864 (Diptera: Mycetophilidae) species from Ecuador.

Fifteen new Zygomyia Winnertz species are described from material collected from one location in Ecuador during a very short time period: Z. acrotricha sp. nov., Z. comata sp. nov., Z. diversiseta sp. nov., Z. flamma sp. nov., Z. geniculata sp. nov., Z. longistyla sp. nov., Z. napoensis sp. nov., Z. paniculata sp. nov., Z. pectinella sp. nov., Z. spinosa sp. nov., Z. talpaeforma sp. nov., Z. trilobata sp. nov., Z. triseta sp. nov., Z. uniordata sp. nov. and Z. ximoi sp. nov. Zygomyia bicolor Edwards, 1934 is redescribed, including detailed illustration of the male terminalia. The number of Neotropical Zygomyia species is increased to 30. An updated key to the Neotropical Zygomyia is provided. Unexpectedly high level of interspecific genetic variation between Neotropical Zygomyia spp. is reported.

The oldest Gondwanan fossil of Leiinae (Diptera, Mycetophilidae): Phylogenetic and evolutionary implications.

A fossil Mycetophilidae from the Aptian Crato Formation-Cretomanota gondwanica gen. nov., sp. nov.-is described, which is the first mycetophilid from the Crato Formation and corresponds to the oldest known fossil leiine and only the second Gondwanan fossil mycetophilid described so far. Cretomanota gondwanica and both species of Alavamanota Blagoderov and Arillo were added as terminals to the data matrix of a general phylogenetic analysis of the Mycetophilidae, and both fit into the Leiinae. Alavamanota is monophyletic, sister to the clade composed by Cretomanota and the extant genus Manota Williston. The biology of the extant members of this fungivorous family corroborates the reconstruction of the Crato palaeoenvironment as including woodlands with humid habitats and microhabitats. The presence of a Cretaceous member of the tribe Manotini at low latitudes in South America reinforces the hypothesis that the clade with all manotines except Leiella Edwards corresponds to a Lower Cretaceous offshoot from a group in southern Gondwana expanding its distribution to more northern areas into the Gondwana and into Laurasia.

Arboviruses in Free-Ranging Birds and Hematophagous Arthropods (Diptera, Nematocera) from Forest Remnants and Urbanized Areas of an Environmental Protection Area in the Amazon Biome.

The rapid and disorderly urbanization in the Amazon has resulted in the insertion of forest fragments into cities, causing the circulation of arboviruses, which can involve hematophagous arthropods and free-ranging birds in the transmission cycles in urban environments. This study aimed to evaluate the circulation of arboviruses in free-ranging birds and hematophagous arthropods captured in an Environmental Protection Area in the Belem metropolitan area, Brazil. Birds were captured using mist nets, and hematophagous arthropods were collected using a human protected attraction technique and light traps. The birds' sera were subjected to a hemagglutination inhibition test to detect antibodies against 29 arbovirus antigens. Arthropod macerates were inoculated into C6/36 and VERO cell cultures to attempt viral isolation and were tested using indirect immunofluorescence, subsequent genetic sequencing and submitted for phylogenetic analysis. Four bird sera were positive for arbovirus, and one batch of Psorophora ferox was positive for Flavivirus on viral isolation and indirect immunofluorescence. In addition, the Ilheus virus was detected in the sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The presence of antibodies in sera from free-ranging birds and the isolation of Ilheus virus in Psorophora ferox indicate the circulation of arboviruses in forest remnants in the urban center of Belem.

An unknown world in the Neotropical region: a complete life cycle of a new species of Monoclona Mik, 1886 (Diptera: Mycetophilidae: Sciophilinae).

Popularly known as fungus gnats, Mycetophilidae are found in humid environments usually associated with mushrooms and decaying wood. Their immature forms often feed on fungus fruiting bodies. Similar to most bibionomorphans, mycetophilids need due attention concerning their taxonomy and information on their natural history, especially in the Neotropical region. This work describes Monoclona carambeiensis sp. nov., a new species of Monoclona Mik, and furnishes information on the morphology of adults and immatures, besides notes and photographs on the life cycle of the species. Immature forms present on a piece of decaying wood with lichens and fungi were collected from Carambe, Paran, and reared in the laboratory. The emerged adult male was fixed in 80% ethanol. This is the first study describing an immature of a Neotropical species of Monoclona, and also the first record of the genus in the state of Paran, Brazil. This is the third Neotropical species of Mycetophilidae to have its life cycle described, for a fauna with over 1,100 known species.

Geometric morphometrics as a tool to understand biogeographical and evolutionary patterns in crane fly genus Ischnotoma Skuse (Diptera, Tipulidae).

Background: The geometric morphometric analysis is applied for the first time for the family Tipulidae to distinguish evolutionary and biogeographical patterns on Ischnotoma species from Neotropical and Australian regions. We included 45 recognized species of the genus, representing its three subgenera I. (Icriomastax), I. (Ischnotoma), and I. (Neotipula). This paper aims to test if the three subgenera are recoverable using this set of morphometric data. Methods: Twenty-two landmarks were selected on the wing, mostly located on the radial and medial veins. A Regression Analysis, Principal Components Analysis (PCA), a Shape Coordinates PCA and a Canonical Variate Analysis (CVA) were used to test the variations among individuals, wing shape and groups. Results: For all analyses, the species of Ischnotoma (Neotipula) has a strong dissociation from the remaining species and the CVA shows a complete separation of the three subgenera. This study represents the first insight for a new assessment of Ischnotoma and the first step to giving a possible new status for I. (Neotipula).

Molecular and morphological approach to study the innexin gap junctions in Rhynchosciara americana.

Gap junctions mediate communication between adjacent cells and are fundamental to the development and homeostasis in multicellular organisms. In invertebrates, gap junctions are formed by transmembrane proteins called innexins. Gap junctions allow the passage of small molecules through an intercellular channel, between a cell and another adjacent cell. The dipteran Rhynchosciara americana has contributed to studying the biology of invertebrates and the study of the interaction and regulation of genes during biological development. Therefore, this paper aimed to study the R. americana innexin-2 by molecular characterization, analysis of the expression profile and cellular localization. The molecular characterization results confirm that the message is from a gap junction protein and analysis of the expression and cellular localization profile shows that innexin-2 can participate in many physiological processes during the development of R. americana.

Two new species of Neotropical Leptomorphus Curtis (Diptera: Mycetophilidae).

Two new species of Leptomorphus Curtis, L. guatemalensis sp. n. and L. juxtafurcatus sp. n., are described from Guatemala, figured, and compared with congeners. The new species belong to the clade including the "furcatus" and "walkeri" species-groups as defined by Borkent Wheeler (2012). L. guatemalensis sp. n. can be recognized by the gonocoxite bulbous and crescent-shaped with the apex asetose and spatula-like, but remains without a clear sister-species. Based on the structure of the male terminalia, particularly the presence of submedian, pointed lobes on sternite nine, L. juxtafurcatus sp. n. is suggested to be the sister-species to L. furcatus Borkent from the southwestern USA and northern Mexico; these species can be distinguished by the form of the gonocoxites.

A catalog of the Bibionidae (Diptera: Bibionomorpha) of Chile.

A catalog of the Bibionidae of Chile is provided. We present all valid names and synonyms for the 33 species and 2 genera known from the country, including information about name, author, year of publication, page number, type species, type locality and references. The geographical distribution of the species known from Chile was compiled from bibliographic data and revised collections. Epiplecia Giard, Heteroplecia Hardy, and Pleciodes Hardy are proposed as junior synonyms of Plecia Wiedeman.

Psectrosciara Kieffer in Mexico (Diptera: Scatopsidae): two new species and additional records for the genus.

Two new species of Psectrosciara Kieffer from Mexico-Psectrosciara ahuatla sp. nov. and Psectrosciara otumba sp. nov., both belonging to the scatopsiformis-group, are described and illustrated based on males and females collected in Neotropical (Acapulco and Nuxco in the State of Guerrero) and Nearctic (Coyotepec, in the State of Mexico) areas in Mexico. We have a new record of Psectrosciara serrata Cook from Jalisco (in the Biological Station of Chamela) and females from different parts of Mexico. A key for the species of Psectrosciara from Mexico is presented.

A new species and the first record of the genus Micrapemon Edwards (Diptera: Keroplatidae) from Mexico.

The first record of the genus Micrapemon Edwards from Mexico is presented, with the description and illustration of a new species, Micrapemon maya spec. nov., based on adult males collected with Malaise traps from Yucatan (natural reserves of Ria Celestun and Ria Lagartos). The new species from Mexico is compared with the two previously known species from the Neotropical region, Micrapemon majusculum (Edwards) and Micrapemon parvum (Williston). A key is included to the species of the genus.

A curious new genus of Keroplatini (Diptera: Keroplatidae) from Guatemala.

Amerikeroplatus dimorphicus n. gen. et n. sp. is described from Guatemala and compared with the similar Keroplatini genera Pseudochetoneura Sevcík and Asiokeroplatus Sevcík. The new genus is distinctive because it lacks the typical fusion of M and R (radiomedial fusion, RS+M) which is found in all but a few species-poor, and apparently unrelated, genera of keroplatids. Also unusual is the absence of vein R2+3 and the strong sexual dimorphism in the thorax; males are dark brown and females bright orange.

Olbiogaster Osten Sacken (Diptera: Anisopodidae) from Mexico, with the description of three new species.

Three new species of the genus Olbiogaster Osten Sacken-Olbiogaster halffteri sp. nov., Olbiogaster nuxco sp. nov. and Olbiogaster puuc sp. nov.-are described and illustrated from Mexico, based on adult males and females collected in the states of Guerrero, Puebla and Yucatan. Comments for the species known from Mexico and key are provided.

A catalog of Anisopodidae (Diptera) from Chile.

A catalog of the Anisopodidae from Chile is provided. All valid names and synonyms are presented, summing up five species in two genera for the country. All references known to us from the taxonomic and biological literature are provided, including information about name, author, year of publication, page number, type species, type locality, distribution, and references. We keep Tonnoirina Amorim Tozoni as a synonym of Sylvicola and Neomesochria Amorim Tozoni as a synonym of Mycetobia.

The new species Neoceroplatus betaryiensis nov. sp. (Diptera: Keroplatidae) from Neotropical Region

The species Neoceroplatus betaryiensis sp. nov. is presented here with the diagnosis of the species with indication of the ZooBank number, making this publication the valid description of the species.(AU)

Neoceroplatus betaryiensis nov. sp. (Diptera: Keroplatidae) is the first record of a bioluminescent fungus-gnat in South America.

Blue shining fungus gnats (Diptera) had been long reported in the Waitomo caves of New Zealand (Arachnocampa luminosa Skuse), in stream banks of the American Appalachian Mountains (Orfelia fultoni Fisher) in 1939 and in true spore eating Eurasiatic Keroplatus Bosc species. This current report observes that similar blue light emitting gnat larvae also occur nearby the Betary river in the buffer zone of High Ribeira River State Park (PETAR) in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, where the larvae were found when on fallen branches or trunks enveloped in their own secreted silk. The new species is named Neoceroplatus betaryiensis nov. sp. (Diptera: Keroplatidae: Keroplatinae: Keroplatini) based on a morphological analysis. Neoceroplatus betaryiensis nov. sp. larvae emit blue bioluminescence that can be seen from their last abdominal segment and from two photophores located laterally on the first thoracic segment. When touched, the larvae can actively stop its luminescence, which returns when it is no longer being agitated. The in vitro bioluminescence spectrum of N. betaryiensis nov. sp. peaks at 472 nm, and cross-reactivity of hot and cold extracts with the luciferin-luciferase from Orfelia fultoni indicate significant similarity in both enzyme and substrate of the two species, and that the bioluminescence system in the subfamily Keroplatinae is conserved.

The new species Neoceroplatus betaryiensis nov. sp. (Diptera: Keroplatidae) from Neotropical Region

The species Neoceroplatus betaryiensis sp. nov. is presented here with the diagnosis of the species with indication of the ZooBank number, making this publication the valid description of the species.

A new species of Laurenceomyia Wagner Stuckenberg, with a key to species and new records for Psychodidae (Diptera) from Uruguay.

A species list and a key to species of Psychodidae (Diptera, Nematocera) from Uruguay is presented, with the description of Laurenceomyia martinezae sp. nov., and first records of Brumptomyia guimaraesi (Coutinho Barreto), Nyssomyia neivai (Pinto), Paramormia furcata (Kincaid), Psychoda savaiiensis Edwards, Psychoda zetoscota Quate, and Trichomyia Haliday in Curtis. Discussion on the medically important species is provided.

Catalogue of Lygistorrhinidae (Diptera: Bibionomorpha) types housed in the collection of the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil.

This paper provides a catalogue of the type specimens of Lygistorrhinidae (Diptera: Bibionomorpha) held in the collection of the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil (MZUSP). Label information and type condition of the six type specimens (three holotypes and three paratypes) of four species are provided, along with high resolution images of the types and their labels.