Dipterological survey in Mitaraka Massif (French Guiana) reveals megadiverse dolichopodid fauna with an unprecedented species richness in Paraclius Loew, 1864 (Diptera: Dolichopodidae)

Abstract

couverture / covEr : Coloured pan traps in river bed forest, a sampling method for Diptera employed at Mitaraka (French Guiana) (photo Marc Pollet). In medaillion, Pelastoneurus sp. lateral view (photo Florence Trus).

First records of Ropalomeridae (Diptera, Acalyptratae) from French Guiana

“…In 2015 the "Our Planet Reviewed" or "La Planète revisitée" Guyane 2014-2015 expedition, also known as the "Mitaraka 2015 survey," was conducted in French Guiana (Pollet et al 2014(Pollet et al , 2018Pascal et al 2015, Touroult et al 2018 as the 5th edition of a large-scale biodiversity survey undertaken by the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN, Paris) and Pro-Natura International (a non-governmental organization). Basic arthropod taxonomy and species discovery were at the heart of the survey, although forest ecology and biodiversity distribution modelling were also project topics.…”

“…MP coordinated the processing and dissemination of the collected Diptera and was the only Diptera worker actively involved in the entire survey (Pollet et al 2018). Invertebrates were sampled near the base camp, on the drop zone (an area near the base camp that had been clear-cut entirely to allow helicopters to land) and, in particular, along four trails each of about 3.5 km in length that started from the base camp in four different directions (see Krolow et al 2017;Touroult et al 2018). During the first period (22 February-11 March 2015) more than 21 different collecting methods were applied, with a total of 401 traps operational within a perimeter of 1 km².…”

New species and records of Cheiromyia Dyte from Brazil and French Guiana (Diptera: Dolichopodidae)

“…The recent "La Planète Revisitée" expedition to the Mitaraka Mountains of French Guiana in 2015 Pollet et al 2015Pollet et al , 2018) yielded a large series of C. pennaticornis (65 specimens), including the firstknown associated female specimens (see description above). Specimens of C. pennaticornis were collected in both non-flooded and flooded palm swamps, with darker flooded sites preferred (Fig.…”

“…26). Most specimens were collected through visual searches and by sweep netting with only 8 additional specimens captured in yellow pan traps (Pollet et al 2018).…”

“…Cheiromyia fuscipennis Pollet & Brooks sp. nov. is known from the Mitaraka Mountains in southwestern French Guiana, where the type series was collected by sweep netting (Pollet et al, 2018) in nonflooded palm swamps along the Alama River (Fig. 25).…”