We revise the Afrotropical species of the genus Dilophus Meigen, redescribing each species. Previous Afrotropical records of the Palaearctic species Dilophus antipedalis Wiedemann and Dilophus femoratus Meigen are found to be erroneous, both these represent undescribed species, the former is distributed in the mountains along the southern Rift Valley and described as Dilophus riftensis sp.n., specimens recorded as the latter from Madagascar is described as Dilophus malagasicus sp.n.. Furthermore, one montane or alpine species apparently endemic to Ethiopia is described, Dilophus baleensis sp.n.. Philia splendens Hardy, 1951 is found to be a junior synonym of Dilophus bicolor Wiedemann, 1821. We summarise what is known about the distribution and phenology of these species in the Afrotropical ecozone.

Species of the tribe Adramini (Tephritidae: Trypetinae) are usually slender, and some specific species have eyes borne at the ends of their long stalks. This tribe is mainly distributed in the tropics and subtropics of the Afrotropical, Oriental and Australasian Regions; relatively few species occur in the Palearctic and Nearctic Regions. The phylogeny of the tribe Adramini is presented here based on analysis of morphological and molecular information (DNA sequences of nuclear 28S rDNA, mitochondrial COI and COII, and 16S rDNA genes) for its representative species in most genera. Three monophyletic groups (Adrama‐com‐group, Pelmatops‐com‐group and Dimeringophrys‐com‐group) were discovered in the combined morphological and molecular tree. The results showed moderate support for the monophyly of Adramini and strong support for most of its genera. However, Euphranta appears to be polyphyletic. Sapadrama , Celidodacus and Euphranta are basal taxon, and Coelopacidia , Soita and Trypanophion are closely related to the stalk‐eyed fruit flies ( Pelmatops + Pseudopelmatops ). A hypothesis regarding the morphology–function relationships for two main groups of Adramini (Adrama‐group and Pelmatops‐group) with different evolving probabilities is inferred. Sapadrama is proposed be removed from Adramini; a new genus, Ichneumonomacula Chen gen. n. and a new species Ichneumonmacula wangyongi Chen sp. n., are recognized and described, and a key to recognize the genera of Adramini around the world is provided.

Background:The cessation of anthropogenic activities in mobile sand dune ecosystems under xeric arid conditions has resulted in the gradual stabilization of dunes over the course of fi ve decades.Our objective was to analyze the spatial patterns of arthropod assemblages along a gradient of different stabilization levels, which represents the different stages of dune stabilization -from the shifting crest of the dune to the stabilized crusted interdune.The study was carried out at the sand dunes of the northwestern Negev in Israel.Data was collected using dry pitfall traps over two consecutive years during the spring along northern windward aspects.Four dunes were chosen, characterized by three signifi cant landscape units: shifting crest, semi-stabilized slope and stabilized interdune. Results:We identifi ed three signifi cant assemblages of arthropods along the gradient.The shifting dune crests are populated by psammophilic species found almost exclusively in sandy habitats in Egypt and the western Negev in Israel.The crusted, stabilized inter-dunes are populated mainly by loess-dwelling species, which are common in most of the Negev loess plains and have a wide distribution range, and the semi-stabilized slopes host species of both extreme landscape units but is distinguished by four species that show signifi cant affi nity to it. Conclusions:Our results demonstrate functional arthropod heterogeneity and emphasize the risk of regional species homogenization.Heterogeneity is a key property in maintaining sand dune biodiversity.Homogenization, as a result of sand stabilization, may lead to loss of psammophilic species.

A new genus of schistopterine fruit-flies, Tanzanimyia , and four new species, T. flavicauda , T. reticulata , T. tanzaniaensis and T. ugandaensis (type species), are described from equatorial africa, based on adults. the larvae of T. ugandaensis and T. reticulata infest the flower heads of Bothriocline fusca , and those of T. reticulata also infest the flower heads of Gutenbergia cordifolia var. cordifolia (asteraceae: Vernonieae). Illustrations of taxonomically relevant body parts of both sexes are provided, primarily for the two reared species. an identification key for the new species is compiled.

Acanthiophilus and Tephritomyia are medium-sized genera in the family Tephritidae. Both exclusively infest plants of the tribe Cardueae and share several morphological characters. Although both were recently revised based on morphological characters, the phylogenetic relationships between these genera and between them and allied genera in the ‘Tephritis group’ remain unclear because no comprehensive morphological or molecular phylogenetic study has been conducted on the group as a whole. Here, we examine whether the two genera form a monophyletic group as suggested by their morphology and life history attributes, and their position within the Tephritis group. We analysed data from two mitochondrial and one nuclear gene as well as 26 morphological characters using Bayesian inference, Maximum Likelihood, and cladistic methods, and conducted an ancestral state analysis to investigate the evolution of morphological traits in this group. Our results confirm the monophyly of Acanthiophilus and Tephritomyia but contrary to our original hypothesis, these genera do not together form a monophyletic group. Instead, they group with Trupanea, which is not restricted to Cardueae host plants. The ancestral state reconstruction suggests that wing pattern and oviscape length are homoplastic characters in the Trupanea clade and are unreliable characters for phylogenetic inference.

Anew species of Celidodacus Hendel, C. parafenestratus Chen & Freidberg, sp. nov. from Democratic Republic of Congo, is described and illustrated. Redescriptions and illustrations of C. coloniarum and C. obnubilus are provided, of which C. coloniarum is first recorded from Kenya. A key to all species of the genus is revised.

a new species (Cerichrestus freidbergi) of the mimetic neotropical genus Cerichrestus Clark, 1860, is described from laselva Biological station, Costa rica. most known species of this genus are from south america, C. clarki Jacoby has been the only species known from Central america (Panama and Costa rica) and is the most morphologically similar to C. freidbergi. this new species differs significantly in color and pattern from C. clarki, but very unusually both male and female genitalia show little morphological differences. the article discusses potential mimetic relationships and provides a good example of how many animal taxa are poorly known. KeyWorDs: flea beetles, Batesian mimicry, müllerian mimicry, neotropical, Costa rica, Choco, la selva.

Third instar larvae of the genus Acroceratitis Hendel from North Thailand are described for the fi rst time. They belong to A. ceratitina (Bezzi), A. distincta (Zia), A. histrionica (de Meijere), A. incompleta Hardy, and A. septemmaculata Hardy. Short descriptions of eggs, empty egg shells, and puparia are also presented. Acroceratitis larvae infest shoots of bamboo (Poaceae). Larval host plants of the studied species are Bambusa polymorpha Munro, Cephalostachyum pergracile Munro, Dendrocalamus hamiltoni Nees and Arnott ex Munro, D. strictus (Roxbourgh), Dendrocalamus sp. (unidentifi ed) and Pseudoxytenanthera albociliata (Munro). The morphological characters of Acroceratitis larvae are compared with those of other Gastrozonini described so far. A key to Acroceratitis larvae is provided. Acroceratitis ceratitina, A. incompleta and A. septemmaculata are morphologically similar and clearly differentiated from A. distincta and A. histrionica by the lack of additional papillar sensilla on the labial lobe, the arrangement of the spinules on the creeping welts and other characters. The morphological differences between the two groups coincide with the type of substrate utilized by their larvae: A. ceratitina, A. incompleta and A. septemmaculata larvae feed in young and soft internode walls, while A. distincta and A. histrionica utilize harder bamboo tissue of already elongated bamboo shoot internodes. Acroceratitis histrionica larvae are special within the Gastrozonini, because they develop exclusively in cavities formed by the internode surface and the protecting culm sheath. Factors infl uencing spatial utilization of larval resources, preference for upright shoots as breeding substrate, larval behavior, types of bamboo damage caused by different species and attraction to sweat and urine in the adults are discussed.

The south-west Palaearctic Graphipterusserrator group is revised. The systematic concept of the G.serrator group has undergone many changes during the last two centuries, and several different classifications have been published in recent decades. Here, the numerical taxonomy approach is used with the morphological characterization similarity level of the sympatric taxa in order to delimit allopatrically occurring taxa at the species and subspecies level. A key to the species and distribution maps are provided along with analyses of the conservation status and habitat preferences of the taxa. The Graphipterusserrator group currently comprises 16 taxa. Five new species are described: Graphipterusmagnus Renan & Assmann, sp. n. , Graphipterusmauretensis Renan & Assmann, sp. n. , Graphipteruspiniamitaii Renan & Freidberg, sp. n. , Graphipterussharonae Renan & Assmann, sp. n. , and Graphipterusstagonopsis Renan & Assmann, sp. n. In addition, five taxa are revalidated to full species status: Graphipterusheydeni Kraatz, 1890, stat. rest. (lectotype designated), Graphipterusmultiguttatus (Olivier, 1790), stat. rest. (lectotype designated), Graphipteruspeletieri Laporte de Castelnau, 1840, stat. rest. (the frequently used name lepeletieri is an error), Graphipterusrotundatus Klug, 1832, stat. rest. (lectotype designated), and Graphipterusvaldanii Guérin-Méneville, 1859 stat. rest. , and a full species status is proposed for Graphipterusreymondi Antoine, 1953, stat. n. One new synonymy is proposed: Graphipteruskindermanni Chaudoir, 1871, syn. n . of Carabusmultiguttatus Olivier, 1790. Lectotype designations were made for Graphipterusheydeni , Graphipterusminutus Dejean, 1822, Graphipterusmultiguttatus , and Graphipterusrotundatus . Neotype designations were made for Graphipterusreichei Guérin-Méneville, 1859, Graphipterusintermedius Guérin-Méneville, 1859, and Graphipterusvaldanii Guérin-Méneville, 1859.

A preliminary survey of bamboo-shoot fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae: Acanthonevrini, Gastrozonini) of Bangladesh was conducted at the National Botanical Garden (NBG), Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh during April to August, 2015. Most of the specimens were collected by carefully placing glass test tubes and polythene bags over the flies. On each collection day young bamboo shoots were broken in order to attract adult flies. Some species were collected from bamboo clumps/stands by hand picking. Six different bamboo-shoot fly species viz., Felderimyia gombakensis Hancock and Drew, Rioxoptilona dunlopi (van der Wulp) and Rioxoptilona vaga (Wiedemann) in Tribe Acanthonevrini (Tephritidae: Phytalmiinae), plus Acroceratitis distincta (Zia), Acroceratitis ceratitina (Bezzi) and Gastrozona soror (Schiner) in Tribe Gastrozonini (Tephritidae: Dacinae) were detected and collected. F. gombakensis, R. vaga, A. distincta and G. soror are new records for Bangladesh. Comparatively higher number of G. soror (40), followed by A. ceratitina (20) and R. dunlopi (10) were collected during the survey.

the Carnidae of the genera Meoneura and Carnus from the collection of the tel aviv university have been investigated. ten new species are described from Israel: Meoneura bilboi n. sp., M. brakeae n. sp., M. davidi n. sp., M. goldemari n. sp., M. grimmorum n. sp., M. lilliputensis n. sp., M. meszarosi n. sp., M. nilsholgerssoni n. sp. (also from egypt), M. oskari n. sp., and M. wichtelorum n. sp. ten species—M. acuticerca, M. furcata, M. glaberrima, M. hungarica, M. lacteipennis, M. maritima, M. moravica, M. neottiophila, M. prima, and M. triangularis—are recorded in the country for the first time. Three new synonyms are introduced: Meoneura palaestinensis Hennig, 1937 = Meoneura nitidiuscula Collin, 1949 (n. syn.), Meoneura moravica gregor & Papp, 1981 = Meoneura pamphylica ozerov, 2008 (n. syn.) and Meoneura prima (Becker, 1903) = Meoneura baluchistani Duda, 1936 (n. syn.). a total of 22 species of Meoneura and one species of Carnus are now known from Israel. Four identification keys are presented for species of Meoneura species groups. KeyWorDs: Diptera, Carnidae, Meoneura, Carnus, Filth flies, Israel, Egypt, new species, new synonymy, identification keys.

The life history of the bamboo-infesting fruit fly Acrotaeniostola spiralis was studied in northern Thailand. Acrotaeniostola spiralis larvae fed on the apical meristem and surrounding soft tissue of bamboo twigs of Pseudoxytenanthera albociliata. Every infested twig was occupied by one larva. The larva created a feeding tunnel, 32 to 67 mm long and between 0.9 and 3.8 mm wide. Feeding activity of the larva caused the apical leaf of the twig to turn yellow and die. The females deposited their eggs under the margins of rolled apical leaves. The freshly emerged larvae squeezed their way through the folds of these leaves towards the growing point of the bamboo twig. Mature larvae abandoned their feeding sites for pupariation and flies emerged 10-11 days after pupariation. Flies were recorded in the field between the end of April and beginning of December and their larvae between mid-June and beginning of December, indicating that A. spiralis is probably multivoltine. A larva maturing at the end of December remained dormant during the hot season and the fly emerged at the end of April. The external morphology and cephalopharyngeal skeleton of the third instar larva of the genus Acrotaeniostola is described for the first time. The main distinguishing characteristics found for A. spiralis larvae are their very long and slim body shape and their reduced facial mask lacking oral ridges. These are probably adaptations to life in the very narrow bamboo twigs. Bamboo twigs displaying withered apical leaves were sometimes occupied by other flies ( for example, Chloropidae), as well as beetle larvae or caterpillars.

The psyllids or jumping plant-lice of Israel are reviewed from literature records and collected insect material. Eighteen species are reported from Israel for the first time, bringing the total to 94 species from 35 genera, in five families. Three species are described as new: Caillardia springatei Spodek & Burckhardt, Craspedolepta merzi Spodek & Burckhardt and Eremopsylloides vicinus Spodek & Burckhardt, and one new combination is proposed: Crastina heslopharrisoni (Samy, 1972), comb. nov. from Craspedolepta. Six additional unidentified species are recorded from the genera Bactericera (2 species), Cacopsylla, Craspedolepta, Eryngiofaga and Pachypsylloides. We list new taxa for Israel, update the taxonomy and indicate the known geographic distribution for each species. Host plants and economically important psyllids are discussed. A key to adult psyllids is provided.

Ichneumonopsis Hardy, 1973, a genus of oriental fruit flies, is revised and two new species, I. hancocki sp. nov. (from Peninsular Malaysia) and I. taiwanensis sp. nov. (from Taiwan), are described. A key to the three species of Ichneumonopsis is presented. In northern Thailand larvae of I. burmensis Hardy, 1973 develop in bamboo shoots of Pseudoxytenanthera albociliata (Munro) Nguyen and Dendrocalamus strictus (Roxburgh) Nees (Poaceae), not Melocalamus compactiflorus as previously reported. The recently discovered association of I. burmensis with bamboo substantiates our previous assumption assigning Ichneumonopsis to the primarily bamboo-inhabiting tribe Gastrozonini. Hence, we synonymize Ichneumonopsidini under Gastrozonini (syn. nov.).

Goniglossum Rondani, hitherto a monobasic genus, is reinstated from synonymy under Carpomya Costa. A second species, Goniglossum liat n. sp., is described nearly two centuries after the description of the first species and 160 years after the description of Goniglossum. G. liat is described from Israel (also known from Turkey) and compared with G. wiedemanni (Meigen), an essentially European species, which is the type-species of Goniglossum and the only other known congener. The two species differ in details of the mesonotal and pleural color pattern (e.g., tip of scutellum with three small black spots in G. wiedemanni, whereas with one large spot in G. liat), structure of the male and female terminalia (e.g., the aculeus of G. wiedemanni is distinctly narrower apically than that of G. liat, and its tip has significantly fewer teeth), and host plant associations (Bryonia alba L. and B. dioica Jacq. are hosts of G. wiedemanni, whereas Bryonia cretica L. and B. syriaca Boiss. are hosts of G. liat). Myiopardalis Bezzi is also reinstated from synonymy under Carpomya. C. tica Norrbom, originally described in Carpomya, is transferred to Norrbomella, new genus, as its type and only included species.