Wayne N. Mathis

The Internal Female Reproductive Tract of the Enigmatic Genus Risa (Diptera: Schizophora: Ephydroidea) and Its Phylogenetic Implications

Abstract The internal female reproductive tract of Risa is characterized by a pair of short spermathecal ducts with no spermathecae, paired short accessory glands, and a large thimble-shaped strongly sclerotized ventral receptacle. This condition is identical with that in the ground plan of Ephydridae but differs from that of their next relatives, i.e., Camillidae and Diastatidae, regarding the shape of the ventral receptacle. It therefore corroborates the close relationship of Risa with Ephydridae either as its sister taxon or within that family.

Canacidae (Diptera) from the Delmarva States

ABSTRACT Species of Canacidae sensu lato, including the subfamilies Canacinae, Pelomyiinae, and Tethininae, from the Delmarva states are revised. Included are nine species in six genera. Taxonomic categories from family to species are diagnosed and appropriate synonymy, illustrations, maps, and information on the natural history are provided for each species. A lectotype is designated for Rhicnoessa parvula Loew. Anthomyza cinerea Williston, 1896 and Rhicnoessa bermudaensis Melander, 1952 are determined to be conspecific with Rhicnoessa willistoni Melander, 1913 with the latter being the senior synonym.

Tronamyia, a New Genus of Shore Flies, and a Phylogenetic Reassessment of the Tribe Lipochaetini Becker (Diptera: Ephydridae)

Abstract The genus Tronamyia is described in the tribe Lipochaetini (subfamily Gymnomyzinae) with Asmeringa lindsleyi Sturtevant & Wheeler (new combination) as its type species. The type species had previously been listed as an unplaced species in the tribe Atissini (subfamily Hydrelliinae). In a phylogenetic analysis of the tribe Lipochaetini, Tronamyia is the sister group of Lipochaeta Coquillett, a genus that also occurs along maritime beaches or inland saline or alkaline playas of the New World.

Subgeneric Position of Aedes dufouri Hamon with Notes on the Subgenus Levua Stone and Bohart (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract. Aedes dufouri Hamon, heretofore placed in the subgenus Levua Stone and Bohart, is transferred back to the subgenus Ochlerotatus Lynch Arribalzaga, where it is placed in a new monotypic lineage, the dufouri group, based on a morphological assessment of characters of specimens, including the type species, Aedes (Levua) suvae Stone and Bohart, 1944, from Suva, Fiji. Aedes fryeri (Theobald) was previously removed from the subgenus Levua (Huang et al. 2010). Thus, no members of the subgenus Levua (genus Aedes Meigen) are now known to occur in the Afrotropical Region. The female and the male genitalia of Ae. dufouri are redescribed and illustrated, and the dufouri group is diagnosed. Some morphological characters of adult males and females, as well as larvae, of the subgenera Ochlerotatus and Levua (genus Aedes Meigen) are tabulated.

A New Species of Snail-Killing Fly of the Genus Dictya Meigen from the Delmarva States (Diptera: Sciomyzidae)

Abstract A new species of snail-killing fly, Dictya orthi (Diptera: Sciomyzidae), is described from the Delmarva States (type locality: Virginia. Stafford; Aquia Harbour, Lions Park). Provided are detailed photographs, descriptions of structures of the male terminalia, a generic diagnosis, and a key to species of Dictya from the Delmarva and adjacent states.

A Review of the Tethininae (Diptera: Canacidae) from the Galápagos Islands

Abstract The three known species of the genus Tethina Haliday (T. albula (Loew), T. insulans Curran, and T. spinulosa Coe) from the Galápagos Islands are reviewed with an emphasis on structures of the male terminalia, which are illustrated (no males are known for T. insulans Curran). Tethina albula and T. spinulosa are reported for the first time from the Islands.

Redescription of the genus Diopsosoma Malloch (Diptera, Periscelididae)

Diopsosoma Malloch, 1932 and its only included species, D. primum Malloch, 1932 are redescribed. While the genus is remarkable and easily recognized by its laterally elongate head that is produced into eyestalks, it is otherwise virtually unknown. To bring attention to this extraordinary fly we redescribe it within the context of brief descriptions of the family Periscelididae and subfamily Periscelidinae. We also provide an annotated key to the described genera of Periscelididae and a photographic montage of the holotype, which is perhaps the only preserved specimen of this genus and species.

Heterogeneity in shore flies – the case of Glenanthe Haliday (Diptera: Ephydridae) in the Old World

Abstract Old World species of the genus Glenanthe are treated comprehensively with an emphasis on the unusually diverse morphological heterogeneity discovered in structures of the male terminalia. As perspective for this treatment, the tribe Lipochaetini, in which Glenanthe is placed, is characterized and discussed, and an annotated key to the four included genera is provided to facilitate their identification. Glenanthe is demonstrated to be a monophyletic lineage within Lipochaetini. Seven Old World species of Glenanthe are now known, including two new Afrotropical species as follows (type locality in parenthesis): G. namibia n. sp. (Namibia. Mukwe: Divuju: Okavango River [18°04’04”S, 21°28’51”E] and G. danielssoni n. sp. (Republic of South Africa. Cape Province: De Hoop Nature Reserve [34°27’S, 28°25’E]. The identity of G. fuscinervis Becker, revised status (raised from synonymy with G. ripicola (Haliday)), is clarified, and found to be conspecific with Hydrina ochracea Oldenberg, which is recognized as a junior synonym. Papp’s synonymy of Glenanthe fasciventris Becker with Hydrellia (Glenanthe) ripicola Haliday is confirmed, and herein we relegate G. iranica Canzoneri & Rampini also as junior synonym of G. ripicola. The remarkable diverse structures of the male terminalia of all included species are described and illustrated and distribution maps are also provided.

New Species and Taxonomic Clarifications for Shore Flies from the Delmarva States (Diptera: Ephydridae)

Abstract New species of shore flies (Diptera: Ephydridae) from the Delmarva States are described, and taxonomic clarifications are made. The six new species are (type locality in parentheses): Discocerina delmarva (Virginia. Stafford: Aquia Harbour, Lions Park), Hydrochasma aquia (Virginia. Stafford: Aquia Harbour, Lions Park), Hydrochasma avanae (Utah. Grand: Swasey Beach (N Green River; shore of Green River; 1255 m), Hydrochasma garvinorum (Virginia. Rappahannock: Hazel River (NW Culpeper; 171 m)), Allotrichoma deonieri (Virginia. Spotsylvania: Rappahannock River), and Hydrellia toma (Virginia. Fairfax: Great Falls (Clay Pond)). The taxonomic changes are as follows: Psilopa obscuripes Loew is the correct name for “P. compta” of New World authors, nec Meigen; Discocerina parva Loew is confirmed as a junior synonym of Discocerina obscurella (Fallén), and the identification of the latter species is clarified with detailed illustrations and description of structures of the male terminalia.

A Review of the Shore-Fly Genus Axysta Haliday (Diptera: Ephydridae) with Description of New Species from Australia, India, and Thailand

ABSTRACT: Axysta austra sp. n. from Australia, A. indica sp. n. from India, and A. nikita sp. n. from Thailand are described. The synonymy of A. americana Clausen with A. nigrifacies (Miyagi) is proposed. The genus Axysta is recorded from the Australasian and Oriental Regions for the first time. Keys to genera in Hyadinini and species of Axysta are provided, as are illustrations of all species.