Sigitas Podenas

New species of short-palped crane flies (Diptera: Limoniidae) from Mongolia

Abstract Seven new species of Limoniidae are described from Mongolia: Cheilotrichia (Empeda) tenuifurca (Hovsgol Province), Dicranomyia (Idiopyga) sineloba (Dornad Province), Dicranomyia (Melanolimonia) monkhtuyae (Hovsgol Province), Gonomyia (Gonomyia) curvispina (Bulgan Province), Limnophila (Limnophila) chinggiskhani (Hovsgol and Tov Provinces), Phylidorea (Macrolabina) temelskin (Hosvgol and Tov Provinces) and Symplecta (Symplecta) rotundiloba (Hovsgol Province). Descriptions and illustrations of the distinguishing morphological features, including wing venation, genitalia and antenna, are provided, with a discussion on distinguishing each of these newly described species from other similar species. Illustrations of the holotype of Symplecta tripilata (Alexander) (Kashmir) are presented for comparison with Symplecta rotundiloba. Illustrations of the male and female genitalia of Phylidorea nigronotata (Siebke) are presented for comparison with Phylidorea temelskin. Habitat information for each species is presented. Species novae: Cheilotrichia (Empeda) tenuifurca, Dicranomyia (Idiopyga) sineloba, Dicranomyia (Melanolimonia) monkhtuyae, Gonomyia (Gonomyia) curvispina, Limnophila (Limnophila) chinggiskhani, Phylidorea (Macrolabina) temelskin, Symplecta (Symplecta) rotundiloba.

The crane fly family Cylindrotomidae (Diptera): newly recorded for Mongolia

ABSTRACT The crane fly family Cylindrotomidae is newly recorded for Mongolia. Four species, Cylindrotoma distinctissima (Meigen, 1818), C. nigriventris Loew, 1849, Diogma glabrata (Meigen, 1818), Phalacrocera replicata (Linnaeus, 1758) are first recorded in Mongolia from sampling during 2002–2006. An illustrated key to identify these species, and the regional C. japonica Alexander, is presented. The two subspecies of Diogma glabrata (Meigen, 1818), D. g. megacauda Alexander 1931 and the nominotypical subspecies, are not supported as distinct.

Declines in diversity of crane flies (Diptera: Tipuloidea) indicate impact from grazing by livestock in the Hövsgöl region of Mongolia

Threats to biodiversity are not studied equally amongst taxa leaving some groups like insects typically understudied in conservation and management research. Crane flies (Diptera: Tipuloidea) are diverse and important members of the aquatic and terrestrial biotic communities. These semi-terrestrial larval habitat preferences place crane flies at risk of habitat degradation and loss particularly from grazing by livestock. Increased grazing by livestock in the Hövsgöl region of Mongolia has impacted both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The purpose of this study is to document biodiversity of crane flies along the east shore of Lake Hövsgöl, Mongolia, and to test whether crane fly diversity differs between valleys with different grazing intensity. Ninety-six species of Tipuloidea were found in this study, nine of these new to Mongolia, with 21 new to the Hövsgöl region. Rarefaction curves indicate that predicted diversity is less for moderately and highly grazed valleys than for the lightly grazed valleys and an analysis of variance indicates that Shannon’s diversity index was significantly higher in the lightly grazed valleys. Finally, a parsimonious model based on multiple regression analysis indicates that plant biomass and relative humidity are the strongest significant predicators of variation in crane fly diversity across the grazing gradient. Since crane fly larvae are an important part of the soil and leaf litter community, impaired diversity may affect ecosystem services such as decomposition of leaf litter and bioturbation, potentially exacerbating the impact of grazing.

New Limoniinae crane flies (Diptera: Limoniidae) of Korea

Korean species of Achyrolimonia, Dicranoptycha and Helius crane flies (Diptera: Limoniidae) are taxonomically revised. Identification keys, redescriptions and illustrations of all species and both sexes, if they were found in Korea, are presented. Genus Achyrolimonia is new record for the Korean peninsula, genera Dicranoptycha and Helius are new records for South Korea, species Helius (Helius) obliteratus (Alexander, 1920) is new record for the Korean peninsula and new record for the continent. Illustrations of females of D. diacantha Alexander, 1938 and H. gracillimus Alexander, 1938 are provided and female of D. prolongata Alexander, 1938 is described and illustrated for the first time.

Antochini crane flies (Diptera: Limoniidae: Limoniinae) of Korea

Korean species of Antochini crane flies (Diptera: Limoniidae) are taxonomically revised. Identification keys, redescriptions and illustrations of all species and both sexes are presented. Antocha (Antocha) dentifera Alexander, 1924, Antocha (Antocha) dilatata Alexander, 1924 and Elliptera zipanguensis zipanguensis Alexander, 1924 are listed as new records for the Korean peninsula; Limnorimarga limonioides (Alexander, 1945) as new for South Korea. Females of A. (A.) dentifera, A. (A.) integra Alexander, 1940 and L. limonioides are described for the first time.

First Record of a Crane Fly Larva (Diptera, Limoniidae: Chioneinae) from Baltic Amber

Abstract A description and illustration are given for a Chioneinae (Limoniidae) larva from Baltic amber. This is the first known larva of a crane fly in Baltic amber, and the first known fossil specimen of a Chioneinae larva. The specimen is identified as probably in the genus Ormosia. Possible habitats of this larva were damp mud or leaf litter along watercourses or in woodlands.

New Dicranoptycha Osten Sacken, 1859 Crane flies (Diptera: Limoniidae) of North and South Korea

Two new species of Dicranoptycha Osten Sacken, 1859, crane flies (Diptera, Limoniidae) from the Korean peninsula are described, illustrated and compared with already known and related species. An identification key and check-list of all Korean Dicranoptycha is presented.

An Overview of the Tipulomorpha and Ptychopteromorpha Crane Flies (Diptera) of Mongolia

ABSTRACT. The investigation of crane flies (Diptera: Tipulidae) in the current territory of Mongolia started in 1880 with specimens collected by G. N. Potanin in north-central Mongolia. The most productive period has been during the last 17 years with the sampling and research fostered by the joint American-Mongolian Lake Hovsgol Survey in 1995–1997 and the Mongolian Aquatic Insect Survey (2003–2011). Since 1995, among the true crane flies, the families Cylindrotomidae (4 species) and Trichoceridae (5 species) have been newly discovered in Mongolia, the number of Tipulidae has doubled (now 136 species), the number of Limoniidae tripled (140 species), and nearly eight times more Pediciidae (15 species). In addition, two species of Tanyderidae (primitive crane flies), and one species of Ptychopteridae (phantom crane flies) are known from Mongolia. Most Mongolian species have Palaearctic (29.0%), Eastern Palaearctic (28.7%), or Mongolian Plateau (14.0%) distribution ranges. The peak flight period for adult crane flies is during the first 20 days of July and with highest diversity at altitudes from 1,000 through 1,800 m. Most crane fly species in Mongolia have larvae developing in aquatic habitats (50.8% of species with known larvae). Those species whose larvae develop in terrestrial habitats develop in leaf litter or soil (31.6%), decaying wood (9.9%), fungi (5.8%), or in dung (2.9%).

First Phantom Crane Flies (Diptera, Ptychopteridae) from Baltic Amber (Eocene)

ABSTRACT First fossil species of phantom flies (Diptera, Ptychopteridae) is described from Baltic amber (Eocene). Its affinities to recent Ptychoptera Meigen, 1803 are discussed. SPECIES NOVA: Ptychoptera (Ptychoptera) eocenica n. sp

Three New Species of Chioneinae Crane Flies (Diptera: Limoniidae) from North-Central Mongolia

ABSTRACT. Three new species of Limoniidae are described from specimens collected during the fieldwork of the Mongolian Aquatic Insect Survey Project in north-central Mongolia: Gonomyia (Gonomyia) oyunaae (Bulgan, Hovsgol and Selenge Provinces), Molophilus (Molophilus) virginijae (Selenge and Tov Provinces), and Phyllolabis mongolica (Tov Province). Descriptions and illustrations of the distinguishing morphological features are provided. Habitat information for each species is presented.