The sciarid fauna of the British Isles (Diptera: Sciaridae), including descriptions of six new species

Abstract

The results of a revision of the Sciaridae (Diptera: Nematocera) from the British Isles are presented, carried out as a preliminary to the preparation of a new Handbook for the identification of the British and Irish fauna of this family. A total fauna of 263 species is confirmed, including many species new to the British Isles: 111 new to Great Britain and 32 new to Ireland. Epidapus (Pseudoaptanogyna) echinatumMohrig & Kozánek, 1992, hitherto known only from North Korea, is newly recorded from Europe. Six species are described as new to science: Bradysia austera Menzel & Heller sp. nov., Bradysia ismayi Menzel sp. nov., Bradysia nigrispina Menzel sp. nov., Corynoptera flavosignata Menzel & Heller sp. nov., Corynoptera uncata Menzel & Smith sp. nov. and Epidapus subgracilis Menzel & Mohrig sp. nov. The following new synonymies are proposed: Leptosciarella nigrosetosa (Freeman, 1990) = Leptosciarella truncatulaMohrig & Menzel, 1997; Sciara nursei Freeman, 1983 = Sciara ulrichi Menzel & Mohrig, 1998. Many misidentifications in the previous literature are corrected. Details of the collection data and location of specimens examined are provided under each species. The localities from which Sciaridae were collected in the British Isles are documented by modern county and grid references and the habitat indicated where known, to assist in assessing the ecological requirements of each species. © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2006, 146, 1–147.

Biología de Lycoriella ingenua y Bradysia impatiens (Diptera: Sciaridae)

“…1F) Mohring et al (2012), B. impatiens ha sido diseminada por el hombre con el movimiento plantas. Esta especie es común en macetas, materia orgánica, jardines e invernaderos (Menzel et al, 2006;Mohring et al, 2012;Shin et al, 2012). Su distribución es mundial, desde Sudá-frica, Brasil, Hawai, Republica Checa, Finlandia, Alemania, Gran Bretaña, Italia, Holanda, Rusia, España, Suiza, Letonia Azerbaiyán, Japón, Corea, Canadá, E. U.…”

“…En los últimos años se ha encontrado al mosquito fungoso negro alimentándose de las raíces de plántulas de árboles como eucaliptos y coníferas (Cibrián et al, 2008;James et al, 1995;Hurley et al, 2007;Keates et al, 1988;Landis et al, 1989;Mansilla et al, 2001;Menzel et al, 2003Menzel et al, , 2006. Cibrián et al (2008) encontraron infestaciones severas de mosquito fungoso en viveros forestales en el centro de México, causando la perdida de hasta 30% de plántulas de coníferas.…”

First report of Bradysia difformis (Diptera: Sciaridae) Damage to Phalaenopsis orchid in China

“…Sciarids are mostly small, dark-colored gnats with a slender body, long legs and unmarked wings with characteristic venations (Menzel et al, 2006). The larvae feed on organic matter, fungi, algae, and damage roots of cuttings or small plants by tunneling through stems.…”

Diptera associated with sporocarps of Meripilus giganteus in an urban habitat

“…Helina pertusa is associated with dead or sickly trees (as are those invaded by Meripilus giganteus). [9]), Ula mollissima [10], Apteromyia claviventris [11], Leucophenga maculata [12], Camptodiplosis boleti [2], Ditomyia fasciata, Camptodiplosis boleti, Leptodiplosis polypori (all [13]) and Lycoriella ingenua [14]. The rearing record of Mycetophila ornata by Laštovka [26] was probably not from Meripilus [6] but the species was reared from this fungus by other authors.…”

“…Only females from this genus were reared in this study. Two closely related species, Scatopsciara neglecta Menzel &Möhrig, 1998 andScatopsciara pusilla (Meigen, 1818) were reared from lignicolous fungi Merulius tremellosus and Ganoderma applanatum, respectively, see [6].…”