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Zadbimyia, a new genus of asynaptine Porricondylinae (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) with twenty-two new species from the cloud forest of Costa Rica
Abstract
Twenty-two new species of Zadbimyia, a new genus of the tribe Asynaptini, are described from Costa Rica, the first new descriptions of Neotropical Porricondylinae (Cecidomyiidae) in modern times. The new species are: Zadbimyia aberrans, Z. anniae, Z. artborkenti, Z. browni, Z. carolinae, Z. costaricensis, Z. dubia, Z. elenae, Z. elviae, Z. holdenae, Z. inornata, Z. lasalturas, Z. marcoi, Z. membranacea, Z. minima, Z. spinapiscis, Z. talamanca, Z. tapanti, Z. viquezi, Z. wendyae, Z. zumbadoi, and Z. zurqui. All species were found during the Zurquí All-Diptera Biodiversity Inventory, in mid-elevation (1600 m) cloud forest in the central highlands of Costa Rica. A maximum of 19 species occurred at a single site. Pseudocamptomyia Parnell, a genus known from one species in northeastern United States and possibly two species in Somalia, was identified as the closest relative of Zadbimyia. Ultraviolet light traps proved to be the most effective device to collect adults of Zadbimyia. As a peculiarity in Porricondylinae, the circumfila of Zadbimyia males are multi-looped and not substantively different from the circumfila known from male Cecidomyiidi (subfamily Cecidomyiinae).
... It is obvious that only a small proportion of the Cecidomyiidae existing in the world are described and named (Hebert et al. 2016;Gagné & Jaschhof 2017). While the great unknown of cecidomyiid diversity is usually associated with herbivores in the tropics (Gagné & Jaschhof 2017), evidence is increasing that the number of mycophagous species is considerably larger than previously believed, both in the tropics (Jaschhof & Jaschhof 2014;Borkent et al. 2018) and temperate regions (Jaschhof & Jaschhof 2009, 2013 of the Earth. ...
Mycophagous gall midges from two Malaise trapping campaigns in Estonia were subjected to a morpho-taxonomic study, with the aim of identifying previously unrecorded species. Fifty-four species are shown for the first time to occur in Estonia, specifically 1 Lestremiinae, 21 Micromyinae, 5 Winnertziinae, and 27 Porricondylinae. This raises the number of mycophagous cecidomyiids known from Estonia to 152, which is about one fourth of the total estimated for the national fauna. One of the Porricondylinae turned out to be new to science and is described as Unicornella estonensis Jaschhof & Sikora. Unicornella, a new genus of the tribe Porricondylini, is characterized by that males have a single gonocoxal process, as opposed to two or no processes found in other Porricondylini.
... The mean number of species per genus is 4.63. These genera are not restricted to Zurquí; instead, they have relatives in other parts of the world 25,26 , notably other sites in Central America. ...
Estimations of tropical insect diversity generally suffer from lack of known groups or faunas
against which extrapolations can be made, and have seriously underestimated the diversity of
some taxa. Here we report the intensive inventory of a four-hectare tropical cloud forest in
Costa Rica for one year, which yielded 4332 species of Diptera, providing the first verifiable
basis for diversity of a major group of insects at a single site in the tropics. In total 73 families
were present, all of which were studied to the species level, providing potentially complete
coverage of all families of the order likely to be present at the site. Even so, extrapolations
based on our data indicate that with further sampling, the actual total for the site could be
closer to 8000 species. Efforts to completely sample a site, although resource-intensive and
time-consuming, are needed to better ground estimations of world biodiversity based on
limited sampling.
... The mean number of species per genus is 4.63. These genera are not restricted to Zurquí; instead, they have relatives in other parts of the world 25,26 , notably other sites in Central America. ...
Estimations of tropical insect diversity generally suffer from lack of known groups or faunas against which extrapolations can be made, and have seriously underestimated the diversity of some taxa. Here we report the intensive inventory of a four-hectare tropical cloud forest in Costa Rica for one year, which yielded 4332 species of Diptera, providing the first verifiable basis for diversity of a major group of insects at a single site in the tropics. In total 73 families were present, all of which were studied to the species level, providing potentially complete coverage of all families of the order likely to be present at the site. Even so, extrapolations based on our data indicate that with further sampling, the actual total for the site could be closer to 8000 species. Efforts to completely sample a site, although resource-intensive and time-consuming, are needed to better ground estimations of world biodiversity based on limited sampling.
Porricondylinae, a subfamily of gall midges (Cecidomyiidae) with mycophagous larvae, are poorly researched outside Europe. Twelve species were previously named from the entire Afrotropical Region, although 500+ species are likely to occur there. Here a fresh start is made to explore the taxonomic diversity of Afrotropical Porricondylinae using a more methodical approach than was done in the past. This first contribution focuses on several representatives of the tribe Asynaptini that occur in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal Province. Asycampta Mamaev & Zaitzev, stat. nov., previously a synonym of Pseudocamptomyia Parnell at the subgeneric level, is instated as a valid genus. The genera Asycampta (Afrotropical), Pseudocamptomyia (Nearctic) and Zadbimyia Jaschhof & Jaschhof (Neotropical) are redefined and hypothesized to form the Pseudocamptomyia group, a monophyletic subset of Asynaptini. Asycampta is shown to contain five species: two from Somalia, the type species A. palpata Mamaev & Zaitzev and A. africana (Mamaev & Zaitzev) comb. nov., and three from South Africa, A. karkloofensis Jaschhof & Jaschhof sp. nov., A. mpofana Jaschhof & Jaschhof sp. nov., and A. umngeni Jaschhof & Jaschhof sp. nov. The genus Camptomyia Kieffer is recorded for the first time from the Afrotropics, with two new species named C. mostovskii Jaschhof & Jaschhof sp. nov. and C. kwazulunatalensis Jaschhof & Jaschhof sp. nov. Our results show that all three large subgroups of Asynaptini, namely Asynapta Loew, Camptomyia, and the Pseudocamptomyia group of genera are Afrotropical. Clinophaena Kieffer, 1913 is recognized as a new junior synonym of Winnertzia Rondani, 1860 (a genus of the subfamily Winnertziinae), and Winnertzia mahensis (Kieffer), originally described in Holoneurus Kieffer and subsequently designated as the type species of Clinophaena, is a new combination.
Here, we describe two new species in the tribe Porricondylini, Porricondyla pantaneira and P. wenzeli, from Brazil. The new species are the first two representatives of the genus Porricondyla in the Neotropics.
Here, we describe two new species in the tribe Porricondylini, Bryocrypta alagoana and B. matogrossensis, from Brazil. The new species are the first mycophage Bryocrypta described from Brazil for more than 100 years.
Here, we describe two new species in the tribe Porricondylini, Cassidoides japi and C. oliveirae, from Brazil. The new species are the first two representatives of the genus Cassidoides in the Neotropics.
Die zur Unterfamilie Micromyinae gehörende Gallmücke Campylomyza serrata wurde vom Autor im Jahre 1998 nach drei Männchen von einem norddeutschen Fundort beschrieben. Seitdem wurden zahlreiche nachträglich gesammelte Exemplare aus mehreren europäischen Ländern dieser Art zugeordnet und als C. serrata publiziert. Nun, fast 20 Jahre später, wurden alle diese Exemplare und einige andere aus bislang undeterminiertem Campylomyza-Material in der Sammlung des Autors – insgesamt 56 Männchen – zusammengezogen und morphologisch nachuntersucht. Im Ergebnis dieser Untersuchung wurde offenbar, dass Campylomyza serrata sensu Jaschhof (1998) ein Komplex aus fünf Kryptospezies ist, einschließlich Campylomyza angulata spec. nov., Campylomyza appendiculata spec. nov., Campylomyza lapponica spec. nov. und Campylomyza zwii spec. nov. In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden Campylomyza serrata und die ihr nahe verwandten Arten aufgrund von Genitalmerkmalen der Männchen definiert. Ein Schlüssel zur Bestimmung der Männchen wird vorgelegt, der die genannten Arten und Campylomyza spinata, den sechsten Vertreter der serrata-Gruppe, einbezieht. Schließlich werden Bestimmungsprobleme diskutiert, wie sie bei der praktischen Arbeit an der serrata-Gruppe (und anderen schwer bestimmbaren Micromyinen) auftreten.StichwörterPalearctic region, gall midges, species identification, morphology, DNA barcoding.Nomenklatorische Handlungenangulata Jaschhof, 2015 (Campylomyza), spec. n.appendiculata Jaschhof, 2015 (Campylomyza), spec. n.lapponica Jaschhof, 2015 (Campylomyza), spec. n.zwii Jaschhof, 2015 (Campylomyza), spec. n.
Diptera are one of the largest insect orders, with a wide variety of life histories, body structures, and wide biogeographic occurrence. Their importance to humans, both in negative and positive attributes, makes their understanding critical. Sampling projects for this group should minimally include Malaise traps, which are perhaps the most effective collecting method, plus light traps, and pan traps (which can be integrated into the Malaise traps). Sorting the catch is an expensive and time-consuming proposition: morphological identification of Diptera is laborious and often requires intricate dissections and slide mounting. Molecular sorting can greatly enhance sample processing if budgets allow, and DNA preservation of samples is prioritized.
The coastal desert of Peru and Chile is home to Prosopis (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae)
tree species that are exceptionally well-adapted to the hyperarid conditions
and keystone in dry-forest ecosystems. From 2001 to 2018, Prosopis in Peru have
suffered widespread defoliation and die-back, with consequent deforestation and
collapse in pod production. This paper reports a new insect plague species of Prosopis
forest in Peru: Enallodiplosis discordis Gagné 1994 (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) as a
fiercely defoliating agent contributing to widespread Prosopis mortality. An analysis
of E. discordis larval taxonomy, life cycle and plague infestation, following El Niño
Southern Oscillation (ENSO) 1998/99 is provided. Using distinct lines of evidence,
its spread, distribution, and ecology are examined. Over two decades of fieldwork,
Prosopis forest die-back and loss was observed devastating rural livelihoods and
ecosystem services across lowland regions of southern (Ica), central and northern
coastal Peru (Lambayeque, La Libertad, Piura). The collapse in production of Prosopis
pods (algarroba, huaranga) and honey was recorded. Supplementary notes provide
observations of: (i) plague development, changing land-use and climate, (ii)
biological and physical control of E. discordis, (iii) the moth Melipotis aff. indomita
(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) as a concurrent defoliator of Prosopis.
An ongoing taxonomic inventory of mycophagous gall midges (Cecidomyiidae) in Sweden has revealed several previously unnamed species of asynaptine Porricondylinae, which are described here on the basis of male adults mostly from Malaise trap catches. The new species are classified and named as follows: Asynapta inflatoides sp. nov., A. rickebasta sp. nov., A. taigensis sp. nov., Camptomyia capitata sp. nov., C. hedmarki sp. nov., C. oldhammeri sp. nov., C. rhynchostylata sp. nov., and Stackelbergiella sikorai sp. nov. Specimens studied here prove the presence of both Asynapta inflatoides and A. taigensis in Finland, and of Stackelbergiella sikorai in Estonia. Other species new to the Finnish fauna are Asynapta thuraui Rübsaamen and Camptomyia ulmicola Mamaev, whereas Asynapta inflata Spungis has to be deleted from the Finnish checklist. Males of two species recorded in Sweden for the first time, and three species whose Swedish distribution is reconfirmed here, are redescribed: Asynapta baltica Spungis; A. inflata; Camptomyia fulva Mamaev; C. piptopori Panelius; and C. ulmicola. New junior synonyms recognized here are Niladmirara Fedotova syn. nov. (of Camptomyia Kieffer) and Asynapta panzari Jaschhof & Jaschhof syn. nov. (of A. breviata Spungis). The genitalic morphology of male Asynaptini is reinterpreted to include two pairs of parameres in the ancestral ground pattern. The extraordinary diversity of male genitalic structures found in asynaptine genera is highlighted, along with considerations of how this source of information can be exploited for the benefit of classification. Small-area remnants of ancient, naturally grown forest are shown to support populations of previously unnamed species of Asynaptini.
Study of all flies (Diptera) collected for one year from a four-hectare (150 x 266 meter) patch of cloud forest at 1,600
meters above sea level at Zurquí de Moravia, San José Province, Costa Rica (hereafter referred to as Zurquí), revealed an
astounding 4,332 species. This amounts to more than half the number of named species of flies for all of Central
America. Specimens were collected with two Malaise traps running continuously and with a wide array of
supplementary collecting methods for three days of each month. All morphospecies from all 73 families recorded were
fully curated by technicians before submission to an international team of 59 taxonomic experts for identification.
Overall, a Malaise trap on the forest edge captured 1,988 species or 51% of all collected dipteran taxa (other than of
Phoridae, subsampled only from this and one other Malaise trap). A Malaise trap in the forest sampled 906 species. Of
other sampling methods, the combination of four other Malaise traps and an intercept trap, aerial/hand collecting, 10
emergence traps, and four CDC light traps added the greatest number of species to our inventory. This complement of
sampling methods was an effective combination for retrieving substantial numbers of species of Diptera. Comparison of
select sampling methods (considering 3,487 species of non-phorid Diptera) provided further details regarding how many
species were sampled by various methods.
Comparison of species numbers from each of two permanent Malaise traps from Zurquí with those of single Malaise
traps at each of Tapantí and Las Alturas, 40 and 180 km distant from Zurquí respectively, suggested significant species
turnover. Comparison of the greater number of species collected in all traps from Zurquí did not markedly change the
degree of similarity between the three sites, although the actual number of species shared did increase.
Comparisons of the total number of named and unnamed species of Diptera from four hectares at Zurquí is
equivalent to 51% of all flies named from Central America, greater than all the named fly fauna of Colombia, equivalent
to 14% of named Neotropical species and equal to about 2.7% of all named Diptera worldwide. Clearly the number of
species of Diptera in tropical regions has been severely underestimated and the actual number may surpass the number of
species of Coleoptera.
Various published extrapolations from limited data to estimate total numbers of species of larger taxonomic
categories (e.g., Hexapoda, Arthropoda, Eukaryota, etc.) are highly questionable, and certainly will remain uncertain
until we have more exhaustive surveys of all and diverse taxa (like Diptera) from multiple tropical sites.
Morphological characterization of species in inventories provides identifications placed in the context of taxonomy,
phylogeny, form, and ecology. DNA barcoding species is a valuable tool to estimate species numbers but used alone fails
to provide a broader context for the species identified.
A new approach to inventory Diptera species in tropical habitats is described. A 150 x 266 m patch of cloud forest at Zurquí de Moravia, Costa Rica (10.047N, 84.008W) at 1585 meters asl was sampled with two Malaise traps for slightly more than one year (Sept. 12, 2012-Oct. 18, 2013). Further concomitant sampling with a variety of trapping methods for three days every month and collecting during a one-week intensive "Diptera Blitz", with 19 collaborators collecting on-site, provided diverse additional samples used in the inventory. Two other Costa Rican sites at Tapantí National Park (9.720N, 83.774W, 1600 m) and Las Alturas (8.951N, 82.834W, 1540 m), 40 and 180 km southeast from Zurquí de Moravia, respectively, were each sampled with a single Malaise trap to allow for beta-diversity assessments. Tapantí National Park was sampled from Oct. 28, 2012-Oct. 13, 2013 and Las Alturas from Oct. 13, 2012-Oct. 13, 2013. A worldwide group of 54 expert systematists are identifying to species level all 72 dipteran families present in the trap samples. Five local technicians sampled and prepared material to the highest curatorial standards, ensuring that collaborator efforts were focused on species identification. This project, currently in its final, third year of operation (to end Sept. 1, 2015), has already recorded 2,348 species and with many more yet expected. Unlike previous All Taxon Biodiversity Inventories, this project has attainable goals and will provide the first complete estimate of species richness for one of the four megadiverse insect orders in a tropical region. Considering that this is the first complete survey of one of the largest orders of insects within any tropical region of the planet, there is clearly great need for a consistent and feasible protocol for sampling the smaller but markedly more diverse smaller insects in such ecosystems. By weight of their species diversity and remarkable divergence of habit, the Diptera are an excellent model to gauge microhabitat diversity within such systems. Our model appears to be the first to provide a protocol that can realistically be expected to provide a portrayal of the true species diversity of a megadiverse order of insects in the tropics.
The type material of six species of Porricondylinae (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) described from the Neotropical Region between 1905 and 1936 is re-examined. On the basis of revised adult descriptions the classification of these species is analyzed and discussed. Lectotypes are designated for Asynapta citrinae Felt, A. mangiferae Felt, Holoneurus occidentalis Felt, and Porricondyla gossypii Coquillett.