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) echinatumb34Mohrig & 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 truncatulab2Mohrig & 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.