Neotropical Nilothauma Kieffer, 1921 (Diptera, Chironomidae): Key, eleven new species, re-descriptions, new combination and new records

Nine new species of Nilothauma Kieffer, N. hamadaesp. nov., N. jupausp. nov., N. karitianasp. nov., N. lecciisp. nov., N. marianoisp. nov., N. mateusisp. nov., N. txukuyanasp. nov., N. werekenasp. nov. and N. yekwanasp. nov. are described and figured, based on adult males collected in Brazil and N. mayasp. nov. on an adult male from Mexico; N. terenasp. nov. is described as male, pupa and larva based on a reared specimen from Brazil. Nilothauma aleta Roback, 1960 and N. duena Roback, 1960 are re-described and recorded from Brazil. Nilothauma longissimum Mendes & Andersen, 2009 is transferred to Beardius Reiss & Sublette, 1985 and the diagnosis of Nilothauma is emended. New records of thirteen Neotropical Nilothauma species are given and a key to the males of all known species of Nilothauma is provided.

A new madicolous species of Nilotanypus Kieffer (Diptera: Chironomidae) from Amazon region, northwestern Brazil

A new species of Nilotanypus Kieffer is described and illustrated based on male, pupa and larva. Nilotanypus yanomami sp. n. was collected at madicolous system in a mountainous region of northern Amazonia. Additionally, the identification key for males is updated and a distribution map for the Neotropical species is provided.

Gender associated morphological differences in Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

The sexual dimorphism in pupal and adult stages of rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) was studied. Distinct slit on eighth abdominal segment is present in female pupa, while it absent in male pupa. Female moths have longer and snout- like palpi and male moth has shorter and blunt labial palpi.

Riethia (Kieffer 1917) (Diptera: Chironomidae) revised for the Austro-Pacific region

Riethia Kieffer, known previously from New Zealand for a species stated to be also in Australia plus several Australian and South American species, is revised for the Austro-Pacific region. The three previously-described Australian species Riethia stictoptera Kieffer (the genotype), Riethia cinctipes Freeman and Riethia plumosa Freeman are distinct and valid, and are redescribed in all stages. In contrast, Riethia zeylandica Freeman now is restricted to New Zealand: Australian specimens previously allocated to R. zeylandica belong to several new species recognised on morphology of adult male, pupa and larva, with guidance from molecular data. Most belong to a widespread eastern Australian Riethia azeylandica sp. n.: others are allocated to Riethia hamodivisa sp. n., Riethia paluma sp. n., Riethia phengari sp. n. and Riethia queenslandensis sp. n., each with a more restricted range. From Western Australia three species, Riethia donedwardi sp. n., Riethia noongar sp. n. and Riethia wazeylandica sp. n., are described as new from adult male, pupa and larva. Riethia kakadu sp. n. is described from the monsoonal tropics of Northern Territory from the adult male and tentatively associated pupa. From New Caledonia a reared species is described as Riethia neocaledonica sp. n.. Illustrated identification keys are provided for the males, pupae and larvae. Unassociated larvae that key to reared described species are excluded from type status, and based on morphology and molecular evidence three unreared larval types, ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’, are also described and keyed. Previously reported molecular vouchers are reviewed, and certain Genbank accessions re-identified. Extensive data shows Riethia are distributed almost throughout Australia from standing and flowing waters, from tropics and subtropics to cool temperate Tasmania, but probably only in permanent and standing waters. The immature stages of several taxa can co-occur: as many as four can be found simultaneously in one site. Terminology of the volsellae of the male genitalia and the dorsal head and maxilla of the larva is reviewed.

Description of the adult male, larva and pupa of Topomyia (Topomyia) aureoventer (Diptera: Culicidae) in India

The original description of Topomyia aureoventer by Theobald (1910) included only the adult female. Description of the adult male, pupa and larva, with figures of the male genitalia, pupa and larva, are provided. The larva is predacious with well-developed mandibles and inhabits leaf axils of Colocasia plants.

Pentaneurella katterjokki Fittkau & Murray (Chironomidae, Tanypodinae): redescription and phylogenetic position

The monotypic genus Pentaneurella Fittkau & Murray was originally described based on larvae, pupal exuviae and pharate males. The latter prevented the observation of key features, such as wing dimensions, abdominal coloration pattern, and hypopygial apodemes (sternapodeme and phallapodeme), and the description of the adult male was considered incomplete by the authors. Herein, the adult female of Pentaneurellakatterjokki is described for the first time, and the adult male, pupa and larva are redescribed and figured based on specimens recently collected in Germany and Norway. We also discuss the phylogenetic position of Pentaneurella.

Three new neotropical species of Ablabesmyia Johannsen, 1905 (Diptera: Chironomidae)

Three new species of Ablabesmyia are described from Brazil: A. akemiae sp. n. based on the male, female, pupa and larva; A. adamantis sp. n. based on the male, pupa and larva; and A. monticola sp. n. based on the adult male. Ablabesmyia akemiae sp. n. immatures were collected in a small river associated to aquatic vegetation, A. adamantis sp. n. larva was collected in a first order stream associated with accumulated fallen leaves, and adults of A. monticola sp. n. were collected with light-traps, in a mountainous region at about 1000 m altitude.

A new Neotropical species of the genus Stenochironomus Kieffer (Diptera: Chironomidae) with wood-mining larvae

A new Neotropical species of the genus Stenochironomus Kieffer, 1919 is described and illustrated based on adult male, pupa and larva. The larvae were reared from decayed wood collected in black-water Amazonian streams.

Classification, annotated list and keys for the black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) of Peninsular Malaysia

The classification, annotated list and keys for the black fly species from Peninsular Malaysia are updated. The number of black fly species increased from 38 in 1995 to 62 (including a new species herein described) in 2018. The 62 species are classified in four subgenera of the genus Simulium: one species in Daviesellum, 35 species in Gomphostilbia, five species in Nevermannia and 21 species in Simulium. Species in the latter three subgenera are further placed in species-groups or subgroups. Keys are provided for females, males, pupae and mature larvae. Simulium (S.) perakense sp. nov. is described and placed in the S. striatum species-group. The males of S. (G.) decuplum, S. (G.) tahanense, S. (S.) malayense, the female of S. (G.) adleri, and the female and larva of S. (G.) varicorne are described for the first time. The female, male, pupa and larva of S. (G.) trangense, the male and pupa of S. (G.) varicorne and the pupa of S. (G.) adleri are redescribed. Simulium (G.) sp. A is identified as S. (G.) pegalanense. Brief notes for each species are given on morphological characteristics, aquatic habitats and geographical distributions.

Morphological description and DNA barcoding of Chaetocladius (Chaetocladius) elisabethae sp. nov. (Diptera: Chironomidae: Orthocladiinae) from the Moscow Region

Illustrated descriptions of the adult male, pupa and fourth instar larva, as well as DNA barcoding results of Chaetocladius (Chaetocladius) elisabethae sp. nov. in comparison with closely related species of Chaetocladius s. str. from the Moscow Region are provided. A reference 658 bp barcode sequence from a fragment of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase I (COI) was used as a tool for species delimitation. Comparisons with corresponding regions of COI between C. (s. str.) elisabethae sp. nov. and other species of the subgenus produced K2P genetic distances of 0.11–0.16, values well associated with interspecific variation. The barcodes of the new species were identical to the Chaetocladius sp. 2ES in BOLD systems. Molecular data were also used for the reconstruction of the phylogenetic relationships within the subgenus Chaetocladius s. str.