Wing interference patterns are consistent and sexually dimorphic in the four families of crane flies (Diptera, Tipuloidea)

Wing interference patterns (WIP) are stable structural colors in insect wings caused by thin-film interference. This study seeks to establish WIP as a stable, sexually dimorphic, species-level character across the four families of Tipuloidea and investigate generic level WIP. Thirteen species of Tipuloidea were selected from museum specimens in the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University collection. One wing from a male and female of each representative species was excised and mounted to a slide with coverslip, placed against a black background, and imaged using an integrated microscope camera. Images were minimally retouched but otherwise unchanged. Descriptions of the WIP for each sex of each species are provided. Twelve of thirteen species imaged had WIP, which were stable and species specific while eight of those twelve had sexually dimorphic WIP. Comparisons of three species of Nephrotoma were inconclusive regarding a generic level WIP. Gnophomyia tristissima had higher intraspecific variation than other species examined. This study confirms stable, species specific WIP in all four families of crane flies for the first time. More research must be done regarding generic-level stability of WIP in crane flies as well as the role sexual and natural selection play in the evolution of wing interference patterns in insects.

Tipula (Vestiplex) crane flies (Diptera, Tipulidae) of Korea

The Korean species of Tipula (Vestiplex) Bezzi, 1924 crane flies are taxonomically revised. Five species are recognized. Tipula (V.) coquillettiana Alexander, 1924, T. (V.) kuwayamai Alexander, 1921, T. (V.) tchukchi Alexander, 1934, and T. (V.) verecunda Alexander, 1924 are newly recorded from the Korean Peninsula, and T. (V.) serricauda Alexander, 1914 was previously recorded. The larva of T. (V.) serricauda is described and illustrated, and the larvae of the subgenus T. (Vestiplex) are divided into four groups based on spiracular lobe morphology. An identification key, redescriptions, and illustrations of Korean T. (Vestiplex) adults and grouping of known larvae are presented.

The InBIO Barcoding Initiative Database: DNA barcodes of Portuguese Diptera 02 - Limoniidae, Pediciidae and Tipulidae

The InBIO Barcoding Initiative (IBI) Diptera 02 dataset contains records of 412 crane fly specimens belonging to the Diptera families: Limoniidae, Pediciidae and Tipulidae. This dataset is the second release by IBI on Diptera and it greatly increases the knowledge on the DNA barcodes and distribution of crane flies from Portugal. All specimens were collected in Portugal, including six specimens from the Azores and Madeira archipelagos. Sampling took place from 2003 to 2019. Specimens have been morphologically identified to species level by taxonomists and belong to 83 species in total. The species, represented in this dataset, correspond to about 55% of all the crane fly species known from Portugal and 22% of crane fly species known from the Iberian Peninsula. All DNA extractions and most specimens are deposited in the IBI collection at CIBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources. Fifty-three species were new additions to the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD), with another 18 species' barcodes added from under-represented species in BOLD. Furthermore, the submitted sequences were found to cluster in 88 BINs, 54 of which were new to BOLD. All specimens have their DNA barcodes publicly accessible through BOLD online database and its collection data can be accessed through the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). One species, Gonomyia tenella (Limoniidae), is recorded for the first time from Portugal, raising the number of crane flies recorded in the country to 145 species.

Key to Ptychopteridae (Diptera) larvae of Northern Europe, with notes on distribution and biology

A key to larvae of Ptychopteridae (phantom crane flies) is provided for species inhabiting Northern Europe. The key encompasses seven species, including the previously undescribed larvae of Ptychoptera longicauda (Tonnoir 1919). Larval specimens examined were primarily sampled from sites in Denmark. Larvae were associated with correctly identified adults based on DNA barcode (COI) sequence. In the development of the key, a wide suite of morphological characteristics were examined and evaluated for their utility to separate species. Current distribution maps are provided for all species occurring within Northern Europe. Based on records of larvae from Denmark and Finland, notes on larval habitats are given. We also present flight periods for all species examined during this study. Finally, the status of the enigmatic species Ptychoptera obscura (Peus 1958) is briefly discussed.

New Metalimnobia crane flies (Diptera, Limoniidae) from China with an update of species distributions

Two new species of the genus Metalimnobia Matsumura, 1911 from southwest China, M. (M.) bicolorsp. nov. and M. (M.) caudifuscasp. nov., are described and illustrated. The new species can be distinguished from congeners by their wing patterns and male genitalia. New distributional data are given for the following species: M. (M.) bifasciata (Schrank, 1781), M. (M.) quadrinotata (Meigen, 1818) and M. (M.) tenua Savchenko, 1976. An updated key for all Chinese Metalimnobia crane flies is presented.

New materials of trichocerid and ptychopterid dipterans from the earliest Late Jurassic of Jiyuan Basin, China

Trichoceridae, species of which are commonly known as winter crane flies, is a rather small family that includes 79 fossil species and ca. 160 extant ones (Krzemińska et al., 2009; Dong et al., 2014). Among them, 10 species have been described from the Middle-Upper Jurassic Haifanggou Formation at Daohugou, Ningcheng County, Inner Mongolia, North China (Zhang, 2006; Krzemińska et al., 2009; Liu et al., 2012; Dong et al., 2014). The subgenus Archaeotrichocera of Eotrichocera contains seven species, described mainly from the Middle–Late Jurassic Daohugou biota of China (Zhang, 2006; Krzemińska et al., 2009; Dong et al., 2014) with one species found from the Early Cretaceous of Kempendyay in Yakutia, Russia (Krzemińska et al., 2009).

Are the Neglected Tipuloidea Crane Flies (Diptera) an Important Component for Subterranean Environments?

Usually, biospeleological studies focus on cave-specialist taxa showing strong adaptation to the subterranean environment, as their unusual morphological and ecological features represent intriguing case studies. On the other hand, species occurring in subterranean environments but without marked adaptations have been generally overlooked, probably because they are thought to be accidental and not very important for the ecosystem. Particularly exemplificative is the case of Tipuloidea crane flies (Diptera), which although abundant, are rarely considered in biospeleological studies. Here, by analyzing the crane fly occupancy, we observed that individuals occur within the shallowest areas of subterranean environments throughout the year, with a peak of presence during hot season. Crane flies occupy dark and warm areas close to the connection with surface and with smoother walls. Furthermore, we observed that the presence of crane flies is positively related to the abundance and the richness of cave predators, highlighting their importance for the sustainment of the local community. With this study we aim to stimulate future researches on these important, but still neglected cave species.

Taxonomic review of Tipula (Vestiplex Bezzi) crane flies (Diptera: Tipulidae) in Mongolia

Fourteen species of Tipula (Vestiplex Bezzi, 1924) crane flies (Diptera, Tipulidae) known from Mongolia are taxonomically revised. Identification keys for males and females, redescriptions and illustrations of all species are presented. Most genital structures are illustrated for the first time. Tipula (V.) jakut Alexander, 1934 is designated as junior synonym of T. (V.) sintenisi Lackschewitz, 1933; T. (V.) kamchatkana Alexander, 1934 is designated as junior synonym of T. (V.) mediovittata Mik, 1889. Tipula (V.) balioptera Loew, 1863 and T. (V.) leucoprocta Mik, 1889 are listed as new records for the Mongolian fauna.

Dipteran Pests: Families Tipulidae and Chloropidae

This chapter describes two invasive crane fly species which are pests of turfgrass, particularly in the northwestern and northeastern United States, as well as southern British Columbia and the metropolitan Toronto area in Canada. The European crane fly and the common or marsh crane fly, order Diptera, family Tipulidae, subfamily Tipulinae, have elongated maxillary palpi that distinguish members of this subfamily from other subfamilies. Larvae of invasive crane flies are sometimes called leatherjackets, in part because the pupae are leathery in appearance. Invasive crane flies have a relatively limited distribution in North America, but can cause considerable damage on golf courses, lawns, athletic fields, and sod farms, as well as forage fields and hayfields. The chapter also looks at the frit fly, which belongs to the family Chloropidae.