Igor Shamshev

The genus Platypalpus Macquart (Diptera: Hybotidae) from Northeast Thailand with comments on the species groups in the Oriental region

The first records on the genus Platypalpus Macquart from Thailand are presented including 10 species new to science: P. fai sp. nov., P. gaemluang sp. nov., P. hualuang sp. nov., P. isaanensis sp. nov., P. nuadkhao sp. nov., P. phomyaaw sp. nov., P. seedam sp. nov., P. seeluang sp. nov., P. siamensis sp. nov., and P. thaicus sp. nov.. A key to these species is provided. All species of Platypalpus known from the Oriental Region (totally 54) are arranged into the species groups currently established for the genus. Eight species groups are recognized from the Oriental Realm and the distribution of each group is briefly discussed. The P. albiseta‐group is most diverse in the Orient with 16 species recorded. Two species of this group possess a modified structure and vestiture of certain abdominal segments that is the first record of this phenomenon in Platypalpus. Also, within the P. albiseta‐group a complex of closely related species sharing an apomorphous condition of the hypoproct has been recognized. In these species the structure of the hypoproct is likely to deal with clasping during copulation instead of the cerci and epandrial lamellae.

A new species of Nemedina Chandler from mid-Asia (Diptera: Empidoidea) resolves the phylogenetic position of this enigmatic genus

Nemedina zaitsevi sp. nov. is described from Kazakhstan and includes the first extant male specimens of this genus. The combination of male genitalic features (e.g. long and narrow gonocoxal apodemes, shortened hypandrium), absence of female tergite 10, and absence of epipharyngeal blades strongly support the hypothesis that Nemedina Chandler and the Atelestinae are sister groups.

Proposed change in status of the Nearctic genus Charadrodromia Melander (Diptera: Hybotidae, Tachydromiinae), with description of four new species

The genus Charadrodromia Melander is reviewed and considered here as a junior synonym of Platypalpus Macquart. All three species originally included in the former group are re-described (P. arnaudi (Melander, 1960) comb. nov., P. microphona (Melander, 1928) comb. nov., P. syletor (Melander, 1928) comb. nov.); the photos of the habitus for each species based on the type specimens are provided; the male of P. syletor is described for the first time; and the lectotype of P. microphona is designated. Also, among unidentified materials assigned to the former Charadrodromia four new species are revealed: P. cummingi Shamshev & Grootaert sp. nov. (USA, California), P. layiaphilus Shamshev & Grootaert sp. nov. (USA, California), P. submicrophona Shamshev & Grootaert sp. nov. (USA, California), P. tanbarkiensis Shamshev & Grootaert sp. nov. (USA, California). The lectotype of the related P. canus Melander, 1902 is designated, the species is re-described, and figures of male terminalia are provided for the first time. The systematic position of species assigned to the former Charadrodromia is discussed and they are provisionally assigned to the P. hackmani group previously known from the Palaearctic. A key to the eight included species is provided.

Phylogenetic reappraisal and taxonomic review of the Empis (Coptophlebia) hyalipennis-group (Diptera : Empididae : Empidinae)

The Empis (Coptophlebia) hyalipennis-group is redefined, keyed, cladistically analysed and three new species, Empis doi, sp. nov., Empis pseudohystrichopyga, sp. nov. and Empis pseudovillosipes, sp. nov., are described (from Thailand, China and Taiwan respectively). A cladistic analysis of 27 adult morphological characters was performed for Empis hyalipennis (the type-species of the subgenus Coptophlebia), and 13 Nearctic, Oriental and Palaearctic species hypothesised as being closely related, which resulted in a single tree of 31 steps (CI = 0.96; RI = 0.98). Monophyly of the group was established on the basis of two apomorphic characters of the male hypopygium. Based on these results and previous studies of the Empis-Coptophlebia complex of subgenera within the genus Empis, the E. (C.) hyalipennis-group appears to be much richer in species, exhibit greater morphological heterogeneity and be more widely distributed than expected. It is strongly recommended that any future revision of the subfamily Empidinae should apply the name Coptophlebia only to the monophyletic Empis (Coptophlebia) hyalipennis-group defined in this study.

The genus Tachydromia Meigen (Diptera : Hybotidae) from the Afrotropics

ABSTRACT Two new species of the genus Tachydromia Meigen are described: T. freidbergi sp. n. (Ethiopia) and T. stuckenbergi sp. n. (Uganda). Re-descriptions of T. lilaniensis Smith, 1969 and T. petrabilis Smith, 1969, known from South Africa and Lesotho, are given. A key to Afrotropical Tachydromia is provided. Hypothesized phylogenetic relationships and the biogeography of Afrotropical species of Tachydromia are briefly discussed.

Tachydromia Meigen, 1803 (Diptera: Hybotidae) from Yunnan, China

Abstract. Five Tachydromia species are reported from Yunnan province: two species were previously known from Thailand: T. thaica Shamshev et Grootaert, 2005 and T. terricoloides Shamshev et Grootaert, 2005. Three species are described as new for science: T. mengyangensis sp. nov., T. menglunensis sp. nov. and T. yunnanensis sp. nov. A key to the ten known species of China is given.

Six new species of the Platypalpus pallidiventris-cursitans group (Diptera: Hybotidae) from the Caucasus

Six new species of the genus Platypalpus are described from the Caucasus: P. abagoensis sp. nov. (Russia: Republic of Adygea), P. arzanovi sp. nov. (Russia: Krasnodarskiy Territory, Rostov Prov.), P. gazaryani sp. nov. (Russia: Republic of Adygea), P. kamyshanovensis sp. nov. (Russia: Krasnodarskiy Territory), P. odintsovi sp. nov. (Russia: Krasnodarskiy Territory), P. neberdzaensis sp. nov. (Russia: Krasnodarskiy Territory).

New data on Empis Linnaeus (Diptera: Empididae) from Iran, with description of a new species of the subgenus Lissempis Bezzi.

Fourteen species of the genus Empis Linnaeus were collected and identified from Iran. Empis (Lisssempis) guilanensis Kazerani & Shamshev sp. nov. is described and illustrated from Guilan province in north central Iran. The following seven species were recorded from Iran for the first time: E. (Euempis) tessellata Fabricius, 1794; E. (Pachymeria) mediterranea (Loew, 1864); E. (P.) obscuripes (Loew, 1873); E. (Polyblepharis) dedecor Loew, 1869; E. (P.) engeli Chvála, 1999; E. (P.) soror Collin, 1937; E. (P.) spirifera Bezzi, 1909. An identification key to the subgenera and species of Empis from Iran are provided.

Afropeza , a new South African genus (Diptera: Empidoidea : Brachystomatidae), with description of three new species

ABSTRACT Afropeza gen. n. is described to include three new species (A. pappi sp. n., A. silvatica sp. n., and A. stuckenbergi sp. n.) from South Africa. This is the third brachystomatid genus known from Africa and its phylogenetic relationships within the subfamily Trichopezinae are discussed.