ABSTRACT Since 1982, the phylogeny, classification, and taxonomy of Dagini have undergone relatively few modifications. Previous studies, however, were usually based on limited groups of species or were restricted in geographic scope, making the relationships among these taxa inadequately understood and inconclusive. To clarify and better substantiate these relationships, this comprehensive phylogenetic analysis was undertaken to test the following questions: (1) Is the tribe Dagini monophyletic? (2) Is the genus Physemops Cresson, 1934 monophyletic? (3) What are the cladistic relationships among the genera included in Ephydrinae, including the phylogenetic position and monophyly of Brachydeutera Loew, 1862? (4) what are the putative synapomorphies for the other genera of Dagini? The analysis and tests are based on morphological characters from adult males and females. The analyses from both equal and implied weighting resulted in cladograms of 208 steps in length. Brachydeutera was recovered as a basal lineage and as sister group to the lineage giving rise to the tribes Scatellini, Dagini, and Ephydrini. As such, Brachydeutera is proposed as a new tribe (Brachydeuterini). The tribe Dagini was recovered as the sister lineage to the node giving rise to the tribes Scatellini and Ephydrini, with the latter two tribes as sister groups, and all currently valid and recognized genera, including subgenera and species groups, were recovered as monophyletic lineages. In the taxonomic section, diagnostic characters of the tribes Brachydeuterini and Dagini are provided, along with diagnoses of all included genera and species groups currently recognized within the tribe. In addition, identification keys to all subgenera and species groups are provided to facilitate their recognition.

Austrocelis gen. nov. is described based on the following characters: maxillary palpus short and spatulate; setae of the head elongate; face protrudent, with the dorsal portion flattened and oblique, and ventral portion shorter and recessed towards the mouth opening; wing banded, with setae present on dorsal surface of vein R1; surstylus differentiated but not articulated; and cercus usually bearing modified setae on ventral surface. The genus is found in the Neotropical Region, so far recorded only from South America, and shares the presence of setulae on vein R1 with Marbenia Malloch, 1931 and Noscutops Malloch, 1926, a probable synapomorphy uniting this group of Neotropical periscelidid genera. The species Austrocelis applanata sp. nov. (type species), Austrocelis brachycerca sp. nov., Austrocelis dolichocerca sp. nov., Austrocelis macrocerca sp. nov., Austrocelis obesa sp. nov., Austrocelis quadrata sp. nov., Austrocelis rotunda sp. nov. and Austrocelis spinulosa sp. nov. are described and illustrated herein.

ABSTRACT Ephydrini comprises 118 species (plus seven nomina dubia species) that are distributed in all biogeographical regions except Antarctica. The tribe currently includes 13 genera, of which three (Calocoenia Mathis, Ephydra Fallén, Paracoenia Cresson) include subgenera. The subgenus Ephydra and three other genera (Neoephydra Mathis, Notiocoenia Mathis, Setacera Cresson) include species groups. Representatives of all these groupings (genera, subgenera, and in most cases also species groups) are included in the phylogenetic analysis and taxonomic treatment. To test the monophyly of Ephydrini and to understand phylogenetic relationships among genera, a cladistic analysis was performed using equal and implicit character weightings based on the morphology of adult males and females. Species of all 13 genera of Ephydrini from different geographical regions were included to account for morphological and phylogenetic diversity. Also included in the analysis are species of the other tribes of the subfamily Ephydrinae to provide greater perspective on the phylogenetic position of Ephydrini within the subfamily and to serve as outgroups. In our analyses, cladograms from both equal weighting and implied weighting resulted in cladograms of 261 steps in length. The tribes Ephydrini, Dagini, and Scatellini were recovered as monophyletic lineages. The tribe Dagini is the sister lineage to the node giving rise to the tribes Scatellini and Ephydrini, and the latter two tribes were recovered as sister groups. Within Ephydrini, the implied weighting cladogram provided higher resolution among terminal taxa with the same number of steps and is thus our preferred cladogram. In this cladogram, all currently valid genera, including subgenera and species groups, were recovered as monophyletic lineages. Thus, no taxonomic changes are needed at the genus-group level. In the taxonomic section, the tribe Ephydrini is characterized, as are all included genera within the tribe. In addition, keys to all genera, subgenera, and species groups are provided to facilitate their identification.

The species of Ephydrella from the New Zealand subregion are reviewed, including description of one new species, Ephydrella bicolor (type locality: Chatham Islands, Chatham Island, Wharekuri (field and beach; 4342.6'S, 17635.05'W) and designation of a lectotype for Ephydra macquariensis Womersley and for Mydaezealandia glauca (Salmon). The latter name, M. glauca, is synonymized with E. novaezealandiae (Tonnoir and Malloch). Considerable new distributional data are provided and are based primarily on recently identified specimens. To facilitate identification, the tribe Ephydrini is characterized, as are the genus Ephydrella and all species from the New Zealand subregion. A key to the New Zealand species is included, as are numerous photographs of structures of the male terminalia.

A neotype is designated for Parydra parva Cresson to stabilize usage of this name, which is synonymized with Parydra penabbreviata Clausen. To facilitate identification of P. parva, a review is provided, including a diagnosis accompanied by numerous photographs of structures of the habitus and male terminalia.

The Nearctic species of the shore-fly genus Scatophila Becker are revised. We treat 26 species of which three are new (type locality noted in parenthesis): Scatophila angusta sp. nov. (Oregon. Baker: Goose Creek (35 km E Baker City; 44°49.2'N, 117°27.79'W; 825 m)), S. bolwigi sp. nov. (Alaska. Valdez-Cordova (Census Area): Gulkana River (19.3 km N Glennallen; 62°16.1'N, 145°23.1'W)), and S. mystacina sp. nov. (Utah. Grand: Green River (15.3 km N; 39°7'N, 110°6.6'W; 1225 m)). Specimens of S. carinata Sturtevant and Wheeler syn. nov. are reported herein to be conspecific with S. tuberculosa Cresson, the latter name having priority. Five species (S. contaminata (Stenhammar), S. cribrata (Stenhammar), S. iowana Wheeler, S. mesogramma (Loew), and S. unicornis Czerny)) are discovered to have Holarctic distributions, especially the Alaskan fauna, and S. contaminata (Stenhammar) is reported for the first time from the Nearctic Region. Emphasis is given to structures of the male terminalia, which are fully illustrated and described. Detailed locality data and distribution maps for included species are provided. For perspective and to facilitate recognition of genera, the tribe Scatellini is diagnosed and a key to genera and species groups from the New World are provided.

The limited temporal completeness and taxonomic accuracy of species lists, made available in a traditional manner in scientific publications, has always represented a problem. These lists are invariably limited to a few taxonomic groups and do not represent up-to-date knowledge of all species and classifications. In this context, the Brazilian megadiverse fauna is no exception, and the Catalogo Taxonomico da Fauna do Brasil (CTFB) (http://fauna.jbrj.gov.br/), made public in 2015, represents a database on biodiversity anchored on a list of valid and expertly recognized scientific names of animals in Brazil. The CTFB is updated in near real time by a team of more than 800 specialists. By January 1, 2024, the CTFB compiled 133,691 nominal species, with 125,138 that were considered valid. Most of the valid species were arthropods (82.3%, with more than 102,000 species) and chordates (7.69%, with over 11,000 species). These taxa were followed by a cluster composed of Mollusca (3,567 species), Platyhelminthes (2,292 species), Annelida (1,833 species), and Nematoda (1,447 species). All remaining groups had less than 1,000 species reported in Brazil, with Cnidaria (831 species), Porifera (628 species), Rotifera (606 species), and Bryozoa (520 species) representing those with more than 500 species. Analysis of the CTFB database can facilitate and direct efforts towards the discovery of new species in Brazil, but it is also fundamental in providing the best available list of valid nominal species to users, including those in science, health, conservation efforts, and any initiative involving animals. The importance of the CTFB is evidenced by the elevated number of citations in the scientific literature in diverse areas of biology, law, anthropology, education, forensic science, and veterinary science, among others.

. The tribe Scatellini comprises 247 species (plus five nomina dubia) that are distributed in all biogeographical regions except Antarctica. The tribe currently includes nine genera. One genus, Scatella Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830, includes six subgenera. To test the monophyly of Scatellini and to understand the phylogenetic relationships among the included genera, a cladistic analysis was performed. The optimization criterion chosen was parsimony using implicit character weighting, and the analysis was based on the morphological characters of adult males and females. The species of eight of nine genera of Scatellini from different geographic regions were studied. Species of the other tribes of Ephydrinae were also included to provide insight on the phylogenetic position of Scatellini within this subfamily. The implied weighting analysis showed that the tribe Scatellini, as currently characterized, is a monophyletic group, as are all the genera included in it. From this analysis, two major lineages emerged: 1. Scatella and its included subgenera; 2. All other genera of Scatellini. The latter clade includes (Thinoscatella (Lamproscatella + Haloscatella)) and the clade (Amalopteryx (Philotelma (Limnellia + Scatophila))). Five subgenera of Scatella were recovered as monophyletic groups: Parascatella Cresson, Synhoplos Lamb, Apulvillus Malloch, Scatella, and Teichomyza Macquart. Neoscatella Malloch is synonymized with Scatella sensu stricto. In the implied weighting analysis, Ephydrini and Scatellini are sister-groups. Based on this phylogenetic reconstruction, the taxonomy of Scatellini is presented at the generic level. A key to the included genera and subgenera is also presented.

Larvae of six species of Sciomyzidae, commonly called marsh or snail-killing flies-New Zealand's Eulimnia philpotti Tonnoir and Malloch; the Palearctic Ilione lineata (Fallen); the Nearctic Renocera cressoni Mathis and Knutson, R. longipes (Loew), and R. pallida (Fallen); and the Holarctic R. striata (Meigen)-kill and feed only on freshwater Sphaeriidae clams. These sciomyzid species are the only insects that are well documented as obligate natural enemies of bivalve Mollusca. Herein we report on the sciomyzid genus Renocera Hendel, 1900, one of the most biologically and phylogenetically important genera of this extensively studied family. We present a comprehensive taxonomic revision of the six valid species of Renocera: R. cressoni, R. johnsoni Cresson, R. longipes, R. pallida, R. striata, and R. stroblii Hendel. We divide the genus, for the first time, into subgenera: Aporenocera, new subgenus, comprising only R. johnsoni, and Renocera sensu stricto, comprising the other five species. We compare the distribution and biology of immature stages of E. philpotti and I. lineata with those of Renocera species, discuss our results and conclusions in relation to cladistic analyses of Sciomyzidae and to the evolution of behavior in Sciomyzidae, designate lectotypes for Sciomyza affinis Zetterstedt, R. pallida, and R. stroblii, describe the subgenera Aporenocera and Renocera sensu stricto, redescribe the six valid species of Renocera, and place Renocera lyami Withers, new synonym, as a junior synonym of Tetanocera arrogans Meigen.

The ephydroid family Diastatidae is recorded for the first time from Brazil. A new species, Diastata fachini Costa, Pirani & Mathis, sp. nov. which was collected from the Atlantic Forest, is described. The description is based on an adult male and female and includes photographs and detailed illustrations.

The systematic and somewhat controversial history of Risa Becker is presented, and its relationship with Diasemocera Bezzi (tribe Psilopini, Ephydridae) is documented by morphological evidence and an association with host plants in the family Amaranthaceae. The tribe Risini Papp (as Risidae) is synonymized with Psilopini Cresson. Notorisa gen. nov., from Australia, is described (type species: Notorisa mcalpinei sp. nov.; Australia. Victoria: Big Desert National Park, near Lake Hindmarsh; 36°03.7'S 141°54.8'E). Achaetorisa Papp is retained as a subgenus within Risa and includes five species, including two new combinations: Risa brevicornis (Papp) comb. nov., Risa salsolae (Mathis & Zatwarnicki) comb. nov., and two new species: R. brevirostris sp. nov. (Israel. Ẕomet Zohar; 31°08.5'N 35°21.6'E) and R. nettae sp. nov. (Israel. Ẕomet Zohar; 31°08.5'N 35°21.6'E). A fourth new species is described in the subgenus Risa: R. (Risa) kotrbae sp. nov. (Israel. Ẕomet Zohar; 31°08.5'N 35°21.6'E).

Subpelignus Papp is revised, including description of (1) a new species, S. gagnei Zatwarnicki and Mathis (New Zealand. North Island. ND: Whananaki South (35 degrees 31.1'S, 174 degrees 27.2'E); (2) two new combinations, Subpelignus antennalis (Aldrich, 1931) and Subpelignus limosinus (Becker, 1896); (3) a new synonym, S. hortobagensis Papp, 1983 = S. limosinus Becker; and (4) description of a new subgenus, Niratissa Zatwarnicki and Mathis, for S. maculipennis Mathis and Zatwarnicki. Descriptions of revised and the newly described species include some of the first illustrations of structures of the male terminalia. Detailed locality data for all species examined are provided. For perspective and to facilitate genus-group and species-group recognition, the tribe Atissini is diagnosed and a key to included genera is provided.

The ongoing usefulness of Table 1 in the Zootaxa paper Comprehensive taxonomic, faunistic, biological, and geographic inventory and analysis of the Sciomyzidae (Diptera: Acalyptratae) of the Delmarva region and nearby states in eastern North America (Murphy et al. 2018) is compromised by impermanent literature-citation numbering. To secure Table 1 as a permanent resource for the study of Sciomyzidae, provided herein are bibliographic data for the 59 works cited in that paper by Bibliography of Sciomyzidae (ScioBiblio) number only. Details are provided regarding the history of the ScioBiblio and plans to reorganize and publish it.

We describe Neozealides to accommodate two endemic species from New Zealand that were previously placed in the shore-fly genus Hyadina Haliday. Although similar to Hyadina, both species are more closely related to the Hyadina and Philygria groups of genera (Zatwarnicki Ryczko 2014) than they are to species within Hyadina. To document these discoveries, we revise both species, placing them in Neozealides. Emphasis is given to structures of the male terminalia, which are fully illustrated. Detailed locality data and distribution maps for both species are provided. For perspective and to facilitate recognition of genera, the tribe Hyadinini is diagnosed and a key to genera from New Zealand is provided.

The three species of the subgenus Neoscatella Malloch, 1933 within the genus Scatella Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 from the New Zealand subregion are revised: Scatella (Neoscatella) nelsoni Tonnoir & Malloch, 1926 and Scatella (Neoscatella) vittithorax Malloch, 1925 and a new species, Scatella (Neoscatella) moriori Mathis & Costa sp. nov., from Chatham Island. For perspective, diagnoses for Scatella and Neoscatella are provided, and to facilitate identification of Neoscatella and its species from the New Zealand subregion, keys to subgenera and species are provided as well as figures of wings and structures of male terminalia. Where information is available, we comment on the natural history of the species.

Two genera of the shore-fly tribe Hyadinini, Hyadina Haliday and Parahyadina Tonnoir & Malloch, are revised, and all species treated, save P. lacustris Tonnoir & Malloch, are described for the first time. The phylogenetic position of both genera within Hyadinini is presented along with confirming, morphological evidence. The New Zealand fauna of Hyadina is now limited to the single new species H. breva, and Parahyadina is expanded from being a monotypic genus based on P. lacustris to also include the following 9 endemic new species: P. angusta, P. atra, P. bifurcata, P. bulla, P. debilis, P. edmistoni, P. hennigi, P. irwini, and P. latistylis. For both genera, emphasis is given to structures of the male terminalia, which are fully illustrated. Detailed locality data and distribution maps for all species are provided, and structures of the male terminalia are fully illustrated. For perspective and to facilitate recognition of genera, the tribe Hyadinini is diagnosed and a key to genera from New Zealand is provided.

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.

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.

Genera and species of Sciomyzidae known from the Delmarva region (Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia) and nearby states are reviewed taxonomically, faunistically, biologically, and geographically. Although restricted to the taxa in that area, this work amounts to a revision of the sciomyzid fauna of that portion of the Nearctic region. Treated are 91 species in 19 genera, i.e. 46% of the 199 species and all but four of the 23 genera of Sciomyzidae known from the Nearctic Region. Included are 67 species in 16 genera from Delmarva and 24 other species in 10 genera from nearby states. Euthycera flavescens (Loew) is resurrected; Renocera cressoni Mathis and Knutson sp. nov. is described from eastern North America; R. amanda Cresson is given new status as a junior synonym of R. longipes (Loew); and Chaetomacera brevis Cresson, R. cyathiformis Melander, R. pacifica Curran, and R. bergi Steyskal are given new status as junior synonyms of R. striata (Meigen). Newly diagnosed are taxonomic categories ranging from family to species level, including the first diagnoses of abdomens of females of many species, where known. Provided for each genus and species are annotated taxonomic/nomenclatorial catalogs of all North American references to all species, with generic combinations noted, with previously unrecorded synonymies as well as North American literature references, illustrations, and information on natural history and morphology of immature stages. Results of cross-mating studies of Dictya are reported and discussed. Provided are label data from examined specimens, lists of Canadian provinces and U.S. states from which reviewed species have been recorded, and detailed maps of geographical distribution of species in Delmarva, with references to previously published maps.

This catalog presents 53 species of Ephydridae from Colombia that are classified into five subfamilies, 15 tribes and 26 genera. For each species we present the available geographical information.