Discovery of snakeworm gnats in Alaska: a new species of Sciara Meigen (Diptera: Sciaridae) based on morphological, molecular, and citizen science data

Abstract

A new species of Sciara Meigen, 1803, Sciara serpens Pereira, Heller & Sutou, sp. n., is described based on morphological, molecular, and citizen science data. The new species forms larval masses moving in columns, referred to as “snakeworms” or “armyworms” in the literature, and is closely related to Sciara mirabilis (Bechstein, 1794). Sciara minor Strobl, 1898, restit. et stat. n. is revalidated based on morphological and molecular data. Sciara mirabilis is used for a European species previously referred to under its junior synonym Sciara militaris Nowicki, 1868. An estimate of the mitochondrial phylogeny of representative Sciara species, a summary of snakeworm sightings in North America, and a brief review of hypotheses for why such larval mass-movement behavior occurs are provided.