On the systematics of Sylvenomyia Mamaev & Zaitzev (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae, “Porricondylinae”), with the description of a new species from Finland

Abstract

Sylvenomyia fennica sp. n., the second species of the genus Sylvenomyia Mamaev & Zaitzev is described from Finland. Sylvenomyia sueciae Mamaev & Zaitzev, the type species, is a new junior synonym of Chastomera spinigera Spungis. Sylvenomyia spinigera (Spungis) comb. n. is redescribed. The generic concept and systematic position of Sylvenomyia is reviewed. The genus Sylvenomyia is transferred from the tribe Winnertziini to the “Porricondylinae” incertae sedis.

Driven apart: fossil parasitic long-legged velvet mite larvae on gall midges represent a long lost parasitic association between mites and dipterans

“…In gall midges outside Cecidomyiinae (here represented by PED 3122, 3161 and 3164), the larvae are generally considered mycophagous, which is the ancestral feeding mode in Cecidomyiidae (Dorchin et al, 2019). More precisely, the larvae are associated with fungi growing under tree bark and in forest litter (Penttinen & Spungis, 2007;Fedotova et al, 2022), the same habitat as for erythraeoidean mite larvae (Wohltmann, 2000). This could explain their encounter with the parasites.…”