Crane Fly Research Articles

New data on the crane fly fauna of the family Tipulidae (Diptera) of eastern Kazakhstan

New data on the crane fly fauna of the family Tipulidae (Diptera) of eastern Kazakhstan

Abundance and diversity of insects associated with dry fish spoilage in three (3) selected markets in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State

The insect vectors associated with spoilage of dried fish in Yenagoa were studied. This was done in order to identify the diversity and abundance of Insects implicated in fish spoilage in order to suggest alternate storage means. Insect infested dry fish samples were procured from Three (3) markets (Swali (A), Kpansia (B) and Tombia (C)) and put into clean transparent plastic containers covered with little nets. They were moistened every day with water sprinkled into the containers for 1 week for insects to emerge. Insect vectors were identified to species level using standard keys. Result of the investigation reveal that a total of eleven Taxa and 156 individuals were found: 12 Calliphorid larvae, 1 crane fly larvae, 46 Musca domestica larvae, 5 Phaenicia sericate, 20 Piophilia casei, 20 Calliphorid pupa, 3 Tephritid larvae, 6 Necrobia fufipe larvae, 10 Dermestes maculatus pupae, 30 Phlorid pupa, 3 scatopsidae larvae. The dominant taxon was Musca domestica larvae followed by Phlorid pupa, and the least abundant was crane fly larvae. From the eleven (11) taxa seen, the abundance of Phlorid pupa was observed in station C (30). Piophilia casei and Musca domestica larvae were the only taxa present in the three sample stations. The Shannon index gotten in station B varied from station A and C. Shannon diversity index for station B was observed to be 1.535 and A and C were observed to be 0.918 and 1.466 respectively. Species evenness was greatest at station A (0.835). The insect vector of the order coleoptera (Beetles) were present only in fish samples from Swali and Tombia markets and absent from fish samples from Kpansia market. This may be due to the storage methods for dry fish in these markets and also due to environmental factors prevalent in these markets. The dominance of Musca domestica is indicative of possible health hazards as the consumption of insect infested dried fish in Yenagoa without washing may result in cholera and diarrhea. The study concluded that insects are the major vector pathogens causing spoilage in dried fish in Yenagoa, as indicated in similar studies in the Niger Delta. Therefore, more effort should be taken in the preservation and storage of dry fish to ensure food safety and security.

The InBIO Barcoding Initiative Database: DNA barcodes of Portuguese Diptera 02 - Limoniidae, Pediciidae and Tipulidae.

BackgroundThe InBIO Barcoding Initiative (IBI) Diptera 02 dataset contains records of 412 crane fly specimens belonging to the Diptera families: Limoniidae, Pediciidae and Tipulidae. This dataset is the second release by IBI on Diptera and it greatly increases the knowledge on the DNA barcodes and distribution of crane flies from Portugal. All specimens were collected in Portugal, including six specimens from the Azores and Madeira archipelagos. Sampling took place from 2003 to 2019. Specimens have been morphologically identified to species level by taxonomists and belong to 83 species in total. The species, represented in this dataset, correspond to about 55% of all the crane fly species known from Portugal and 22% of crane fly species known from the Iberian Peninsula. All DNA extractions and most specimens are deposited in the IBI collection at CIBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources.New informationFifty-three species were new additions to the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD), with another 18 species' barcodes added from under-represented species in BOLD. Furthermore, the submitted sequences were found to cluster in 88 BINs, 54 of which were new to BOLD. All specimens have their DNA barcodes publicly accessible through BOLD online database and its collection data can be accessed through the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). One species, Gonomyiatenella (Limoniidae), is recorded for the first time from Portugal, raising the number of crane flies recorded in the country to 145 species.

Tipula (Vestiplex) from Yunnan and Tibet, China: one new species and redescriptions of five known species (Diptera: Tipulidae)

A new crane fly species Tipula (Vestiplex) lushuiensis Men & Starkevich, sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on materials collected in Yunnan and Tibet, China. Tipula (V.) alyxis Alexander, 1963, T. (V.) guibifida Yang & Yang, 1992, T. (V.) himalayensis Brunetti, 1911, T. (V.) quasimarmoratipennis Brunetti, 1912 and T. (V.) reposita Walker, 1848 are redescribed and illustrated based on additional morphological characters. Tipula (V.) quasimarmoratipennis and T. (V.) reposita are listed as new records for the Chinese fauna. Male of T. (V.) quasimarmoratipennis and females of T. (V.) alyxis, T. (V.) guibifida and T. (V.) himalayensis are illustrated for the first time.

Contribution to the knowledge of Limoniidae (Diptera: Tipuloidea): first records of 244 species from various European countries.

Limoniidae is one of the most species-rich Dipteran families, with 661 reported species in Europe. Despite the fact that the European limoniid crane fly fauna has been studied ever since Carolus Linnaeus, it is still poorly known. In this study, we summarise the taxonomic and faunistic studies of European Limoniidae, which described new species and reported first country records, between 2010 and 2020. We also report occurrence data of 244 Limoniidae species which represent the first country records or conformational records from various European countries, as we report ten species from Albania, one from Austria, thirty-seven from Belarus, five from Belgium, two from Bulgaria, two from Estonia, six from Finland, seven from France, fourteen from Greece, sixteen from Hungary, two from Iceland, six from Italy, ten from Latvia, one from Malta, nine from Montenegro, two from The Netherlands, ten from North Macedonia, forty-two from Norway, one from Poland, five from Portugal, twenty from Romania, thirty-eight from Serbia, six from Slovenia, five from Spain and seven species from Sweden for the first time. From the European territory of Russia, we report twenty-eight species from Central European Russia, seventy-two from East European Russia, fifteen from North European Russia, one from Northwest European Russia and seven from North Caucasus for the first time. Confirmatory records and corrigenda are also included.

Two new crane fly species of the subgenus Vestiplex Bezzi, 1924 (Diptera, Tipulidae, Tipula) from Yunnan and Sichuan, China, with a key to species in the immota species group.

Two new crane fly species, Tipula (Vestiplex) gongdangensissp. nov. and T. (V.) dechangensissp. nov. are described and illustrated based on materials collected in the Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, China. A key is provided to distinguish males of the new species from those of other species in the T. (V.) immota Alexander, 1935 species group which is proposed here for the first time.

New Antocha Osten Sacken (Diptera: Limoniidae) from Sichuan, China.

The short-palped crane fly, Antocha (Antocha) pulchra Markevičiūtė Podenas sp. nov. is described from specimens collected in Sichuan, China. Antocha (A.) quadrifurca Alexander, 1971 is reported for the first time in China through our research efforts. This article includes illustrations of distinguishing morphological features, an updated checklist, a general distribution and an identification key to species of Antocha Osten Sacken from Sichuan, China.

Detailed description and illustration of larva, pupa and imago of Holorusia mikado (Westwood, 1876) (Diptera: Tipulidae) from Japan.

BackgroundHolorusia Loew, 1863 (Diptera: Tipulidae) is a relatively large crane fly genus with a wide distribution in the Afrotropic, Australasian–Oceanian, Eastern Palearctic, Oriental and Nearctic Regions. Although the genus is well known to include the largest crane fly species, the immature stages are, thus far, only described for the larva and pupa of the North American Holorusia hesperea Arnaud & Byers, 1990.New informationIn this study, we describe for the first time the egg, larva and pupae of the Japanese Holorusia mikado (Westwood, 1876). Larvae were collected from semi-aquatic habitats, from slow flowing areas of streams and small waterfalls where leaf litter accumulates; the larvae are detritivores and feed on wet, decomposing leaves. The larvae were reared to adults in the laboratory. Morphological characters of immature stages discussed with comparison with the North American H. hespera. Male and female genitalia are illustrated and described in detail for the first time.

The genus Phantolabis (Diptera: Limoniidae) new to the Palearctic: description of a new species and re-definition of the genus

A new crane fly species from the genus Phantolabis Alexander, 1956, active in the cold season and previously known by a single, eastern Nearctic species, is described from Primorsky Krai of the Russian Far East. A revised definition of the genus is given.

Cold tolerance is similar but heat tolerance is higher in the alien insect Trichocera maculipennis than in the native Parochlus steinenii in Antarctica

Uncontrolled biological invasions have direct and indirect impacts on the structure and functioning of soil invertebrate communities in Antarctica. Among others, invasion success is strongly determined by the ability of species to tolerate broad thermal ranges. Yet, few studies have compared the thermal niches of native and invasive species. Physiological characterizations of upper and lower thermal tolerances are essential to test the extent to which eurythermality can benefit invasive species in a context of changing climates. Here, we compare cold and heat tolerance between adults of the alien winter crane fly Trichocera maculipennis and the native winged midge Parochlus steinenii in Antarctica. Specimens were collected in the field during the 2019/2020 austral summer, and ramping experiments controlling heating and cooling rates were performed to estimate upper and lower critical thermal limits of the two Diptera insect species. Adults of the alien fly remained active between − 5.3 °C and 30.1 °C. In turn, the native midge was active between − 5.0 °C and 28.6 °C. We observed no significant interspecific differences between lower critical thermal limits, but upper thermal limits were significantly higher for the alien species. Hence, the capacity to endure low summer temperatures in most of the Antarctic Peninsula is similar for adults of both species, but the alien crane fly is readily adapted to withstand warming scenarios. Therefore, the broad thermal tolerances exhibited by the alien crane fly can be taken as evidence to predict geographic range expansions, while also warn of high biosecurity risks for all operating research stations in Antarctica.

The mitochondrial genome of Epiphragma (Epiphragma) mediale (Diptera: Limoniidae)

The crane fly Epiphragma (Epiphragma) mediale Mao and Yang, belongs to subfamily Limnophilinae of family Limoniidae. This mitogenome of E. (E.) mediale was sequenced used next-generation sequencing (NGS), the new representative of the mitogenome of the subfamily. The nearly complete mitogenome is 14,858 bp totally, consisting of 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNAs and 22 transfer RNAs. All genes have the similar locations and strands with that of other published species of Limoniidae. The nucleotide composition biases toward A and T, which together made up 75.2% of the entirety. Bayesian inference analysis strongly supported the monophyly of Tipuloidea. It suggested that Pediciidae is the basal clade of Tipuloidea and the monophyletic Tipulidae was assigned as the sister to the monophyletic Cylindrotomidae. The phylogenetic relationship within Tipuloidea was as follows: Pediciidae + (Limoniidae + (Tipulidae + Cylindrotomidae)).

Data on the crane fly fauna of the families Cylindrotomidae, Ptychopteridae and Tanyderidae (Diptera) of eastern and northeastern Kazakhstan

Data on the crane fly fauna of the families Cylindrotomidae, Ptychopteridae and Tanyderidae (Diptera) of eastern and northeastern Kazakhstan

Preliminary study of the benthic fauna in lakes of the Novaya Zemlya Archipelago and Vaigach Island (the Russian Arctic)

The biodiversity of freshwater fauna of the Arctic Islands of the Russian Federation is currently poorly studied and to date there are insufficient molecular genetic data concerning most of the taxa. This study presents the new data on species composition and distribution of freshwater benthic invertebrates in lakes of the Novaya Zemlya Archipelago and Vaigach Island based on both the published and the original records. A total of 29 species of invertebrates in 4 classes and 14 orders were found. Considering the published data, the list of species expands to 136 species. The copepod Mesocyclops leuckarti, the pontoporeid amphipod Monoporeia affinis, the ostracod Leucocythere mirabilis, and the mollusk Euglesa globularis were recorded for the first time from the Novaya Zemlya Archipelago. The oligochaete Rhyacodrilus coccineus, the stonefly Nemoura sahlbergi, the caddisflies Agrypnia obsoleta, Micrasema gelidum and Philarctus bergrothi were registered for the first time from Vaigach Island; P. bergrothi was also recorded for the first time from Europe. The crane fly larvae of Tipula (Arctotipula) were recorded as inhabitants of the bottom layer of Arctic lakes for the first time. The obtained molecular data are in accordance with the tabula rasa hypothesis that the invertebrate fauna of the Novaya Zemlya Archipelago and Vaigach Island are the result of recent species immigration after the Last Glacial Maximum. Our data can be used in further ecological studies and conservation management. The molecular data are of considerable interest for the taxonomy and biogeography of the fauna of the Arctic islands during the Pleistocene.

Tipula (Vestiplex) hasiya sp. nov., a new crane fly species (Diptera, Tipulidae) from Nepal

A new crane fly species from Nepal, Tipula (Vestiplex) hasiya sp. nov. (Diptera: Tipulidae), is described and illustrated. The male and female genitalia are A new crane fly species from Nepal, Tipula (Vestiplex) hasiya sp. nov. (Diptera: Tipulidae), is described and illustrated. The male and female genitalia are illustrated for the most closely related species, T. (V.) subtincta Brunetti, 1912. The female of T. (V.) subtincta is described for the first time.

ZN AND FE CONTAMINATION INDEX FOR RIVER USING RIVER INSECTS AND WATER PLANTS IN THE KINOKAWA RIVER CATCHMENT

It has not been studied whether river insects and water plants are useful for an index of Zn and Fe contamination in the Kinokawa River catchment. Useful species as an index of Zn and Fe contamination needs a high concentration in a contaminated area, a low concentration in a non-contaminated area and a high and a wide range of their concentrations. Zn and Fe concentrations of crane fly larva around the closed Cu mine were high (88 to 420 and 1,300 to 9,300 mg/kg-dry for Zn and Fe). Zn and Fe concentrations of bryophyte around the closed Cu mine were high (34 to 8,900 and 110 to 58,000 mg/kg-dry for Zn and Fe). Crane fly larva(81 to 420 and 110 to 9,300 mg/kg-dry for Zn and Fe) in river insects and bryophyte (24 to 8,900 and 110 to 58,000 mg/kg-dry for Zn and Fe) in water plants had high and a wide range of Zn and Fe concentration.Therefore, it was thought that crane fly larva and bryophyte were useful species for an index of Zn and Fe contamination. Zn concentrations of Pottiaceae and Fe concentrations of Brachytheciaceae around the Cu mine area (75 to 8,900 for Pottiaceae and 940 to 58,000 mg/kg-dry for Brachytheciaceae) were high. Pottiaceae (75 to 8,900 mg/kg-dry for Zn) and Brachytheciaceae (220 to 58,000 mg/kg-dry for Fe) had high and a wide range of metal concentration. Therefore, Pottiaceae for Zn and Brachytheciaceae for Fe were useful species for an index of metal contamination.

A new species of Elephantomyia crane fly (Diptera, Limoniidae) from Jeju Island, South Korea.

A new species of crane fly (Diptera, Limoniidae), Elephantomyia (Elephantomyia) hallasana Podenas & Podeniene, sp. nov., from Jeju Island, South Korea is described. Adult and larval characters are illustrated. Elephantomyia (E.) hallasanasp. nov. is the only species of the genus Elephantomyia Osten Sacken, 1860 recorded from Jeju Island, South Korea. Habitat, elevation range, and seasonality data are presented. Distributional notes on E. subterminalis Alexander, 1954 in the Far East of Russia (Khabarovskiy and Primorskiy regions) are discussed. An identification key for all Eastern Palaearctic species of subgenus E. (Elephantomyia) is presented.

Are the Neglected Tipuloidea Crane Flies (Diptera) an Important Component for Subterranean Environments?

Usually, biospeleological studies focus on cave-specialist taxa showing strong adaptation to the subterranean environment, as their unusual morphological and ecological features represent intriguing case studies. On the other hand, species occurring in subterranean environments but without marked adaptations have been generally overlooked, probably because they are thought to be accidental and not very important for the ecosystem. Particularly exemplificative is the case of Tipuloidea crane flies (Diptera), which although abundant, are rarely considered in biospeleological studies. Here, by analyzing the crane fly occupancy, we observed that individuals occur within the shallowest areas of subterranean environments throughout the year, with a peak of presence during hot season. Crane flies occupy dark and warm areas close to the connection with surface and with smoother walls. Furthermore, we observed that the presence of crane flies is positively related to the abundance and the richness of cave predators, highlighting their importance for the sustainment of the local community. With this study we aim to stimulate future researches on these important, but still neglected cave species.

Magnesium and zinc stable isotopes as a new tool to understand Mg and Zn sources in stream food webs

AbstractNon‐traditional stable isotopes of metals were recently shown as new dietary tracers in terrestrial and marine mammals. Whether these metal stable isotopes can be used to understand feeding habits in stream food webs is not known yet. In this study, we explored the potential of stable isotopes of essential Mg (δ26Mg) and Zn (δ66Zn) as a new tool in stream ecology. For this purpose, we determined δ26Mg and δ66Zn values of stream organisms and their potential metal sources in upper and lower reaches of two streams in the Lake Biwa catchment, Central Japan. Our goals were (1) to explore variations in δ26Mg and δ66Zn across organisms of different feeding habits and (2) to understand Mg and Zn sources to stream organisms. Overall, δ26Mg and δ66Zn values of organisms were neither related to each other, nor to δ13C and δ15N values, indicating different elemental sources and factors controlling isotopic fractionation depending on element and taxa. Low δ26Mg values in filter‐feeding caddisfly larvae and small gobies indicated aqueous Mg uptake. Higher δ26Mg values in leaf‐shredding crane fly and grazing mayfly larvae suggested Mg isotopic fractionation during Mg uptake from the diet. While the δ26Mg values of stonefly nymphs reflected those of caddisfly larvae as a potential prey, the highest δ26Mg values found in dobsonfly nymphs can be explained by 26Mg enrichment during maturing. δ66Zn values of caddisfly and mayfly larvae indicated Zn was a mixture of aqueous and dietary available Zn, while higher δ66Zn values in crane fly larvae pointed to Zn isotopic fractionation during Zn uptake from plant litter. δ66Zn values in stonefly and dobsonfly nymphs were often in the range of those of caddisfly larvae as their prey, while dragonfly nymphs and small goby were depleted in 66Zn relative to their dietary Zn sources. We conclude that δ26Mg is a promising indicator to assess Mg sources in stream ecology depending on taxa, while the use of δ66Zn is limited due to the complexity in Zn sources.

Twenty-one new species of craneflies (Diptera: Tipulidae and Limoniidae), and a new fold-wing cranefly (Diptera: Ptychopteridae) from Mount Kupe, Cameroon, with notes on eighteen other species new to the country from the same location

Following the award of a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust (WCMT) Fellowship the author was able to visit the Charles P. Alexander (1889–1981) collection at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington D. C. to study craneflies gifted to him from fieldwork in Cameroon. They were collected by Malaise trap in forest clearings near streams on Mount Kupe, near Nyasoso, Cameroon. 21 new species of cranefly (Diptera: Tipulidae and Limoniidae): Dolichopeza (Dolichopeza) vicki sp. n., Nephrotoma mawdsleyi sp. n., Baeoura nyasosoensis sp. n.,Ellipteroides (Ellipteroides) nigromaculatus sp. n., Hovamyia gelhausi sp. n.,Limnophilomyia (Limnophilomyia) alexanderi sp. n., Ormosia (Neserioptera) cameroonensis sp. n., Afrolimnophila mederosi sp. n., A. oosterbroeki sp. n., Neolimnomyia kupensis sp. n., Pseudolimnophila (Pseudolimnophila) staryi sp. n., Achyrolimonia prycei sp. n., Dicranomyia (Dicranomyia) tuberculata sp. n., D. (Idioglochina) stubbsi sp. n., Elephantomyia (Elephantomyia) gilsonae sp. n., Libnotes (Afrolimonia) trimaculata sp. n., Metalimnobia (Tricholimnobia) krameri sp. n., Thaumastoptera (Thaumastoptera) churchilli sp. n., Toxorhina (Ceratocheilus) holvia sp. n., Trentepohlia (Trentepohlia) zorro sp. n., and Trichoneura (Xipholimnobia) jacksoni, and a new species of fold-wing cranefly (Diptera: Ptychopteridae): Ptychoptera (Ptychoptera) fasbenderi sp. n., are described. 18 species of cranefly known from elsewhere in the Afrotropical region are recorded here from Cameroon for the first time: Gonomyia (Leiponeura) hyperion Alexander, 1956, Limnophilomyia (Limnophilomyia) medleriana Alexander, 1976, Styringomyia vittata Edwards, 1914, Afrolimnophila hartwigi (Alexander, 1974), A. urundiana (Alexander, 1955), Austrolimnophila (Phragmocrypta) fulani Alexander, 1974, Hexatoma (Eriocera) brevifurca Alexander, 1956, H. (E.) trichoneura Alexander, 1956, H. (E.) tumidiscapa (Alexander, 1920), Medleromyia nigeriana Alexander, 1974, Achyrolimonia recurvans (Alexander, 1919), Atypopthalmus (Atypopthalmus) submendicus tuberculifer (Alexander, 1956), Dicranomyia (Dicranomyia) redundans (Alexander, 1956), Libnotes (Afrolimonia) rhanteria (Alexander, 1920), L. (A.) illiterata (Alexander, 1937), Limonia woosnami (Alexander, 1920), Orimarga (Protorimarga) bequaertiana (Alexander, 1930) and Toxorhina (Ceratocheilus) nigripleura (Alexander, 1920). In total 40 species are presented as new for Cameroon. A further 23 species already known from Cameroon were identified, and are listed here as some of them have not been recorded since their original description close to, or in some cases over, a hundred years ago.

Thermal tolerances and species interactions determine the elevational distributions of insects

AbstractAimPhysiological limits to thermal extremes are often thought to determine the abundance and geographical distribution of species, but more recent evidence suggests that species interactions might be equally important. Moreover, the relative importance of these constraints might shift with changing abiotic conditions, such as climate change. Here, we explore the relative importance of physiological tolerances to heat and species interactions in determining the distribution of insects along two elevational gradients. The gradients contrast in precipitation but not temperature, allowing us to separate these two climatic factors.LocationMontane rainforest in Costa Rica.Time period2015–2016.Major taxa studiedBromeliad‐dwelling aquatic insect larvae.MethodsWe estimated the elevational preferences of five insect taxa by surveying 170 bromeliads along the moist Atlantic and the dry Pacific slopes of Monteverde and determined their critical thermal maxima (CTmax) experimentally. We determined whether taxon‐specific heat tolerances predicted their elevational preferences, using Deming regressions, and tested whether potential predators mediated effects on the elevation of insect distributions, using structural equation models.ResultsOn the moist Atlantic slope, heat tolerances of insects explained their elevational distributions: taxa with high heat tolerances preferred low elevations where conditions were warmest, whereas taxa with low heat tolerances preferred high elevations where conditions were coldest. In contrast, on the drier Pacific slope, the elevational abundance pattern of many insects reflected negative interactions from crane fly larvae. These larvae are known to become predatory in drought conditions and were disproportionally abundant at low elevations on the Pacific slope.Main conclusionsWe show that under drought, indirect effects mediated by species interactions can override any direct physiological effects of environmental conditions on insect distributions. The relative importance of limits to physiological tolerance and species interactions thus depends on the environmental context, an important insight given that environmental conditions are expected to shift with climate change.