New data on mitogenomes of Thienemanniella Kieffer, 1911 (Diptera: Chironomidae, Orthocladiinae)

The mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) has been widely used as a powerful marker in phylogenetic and evolutionary studies of various Dipteran groups. However, only a few mitogenomes from the Thienemanniella genus have been reported till now. Furthermore, there is still indeterminacy in the phylogenetic relationships of the genus Thienemanniella. In this study, mitogenomes of five Thienemanniella species were sequenced and analyzed newly. Combined with the published mitogenome of Thienemanniella nipponica, the obtained results showed that mitogenomes of Thienemanniella were conserved in structure, and all genes were observed to be arranged in the same gene order as the ancestral mitogenome. Nucleotide composition varied significantly among different genes, and the control region displayed the highest A + T content. All protein coding genes are subjected to purification selection, and the fastest evolving gene is ATP8. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses showed the phylogeny of Thienemanniella which was supported in five topologies. Our present study provides valuable insight into the phylogenetic relationships of Thienemanniella species.

First complete mitogenome of Axarus fungorum (Albu, 1980) from Guizhou Province, China (Diptera, Chironomidae)

Axarus fungorum (Albu, 1980) exhibits certain adaptations to different aquatic environments, appearing as an important evaluation element for freshwater quality monitoring. In this study, complete mitogenome of A. fungorum was provided for the first time to define the systematic and phylogenetic history of this taxon. The whole mitogenome is 15,696 bp long with high A + T content that consists of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes, and a noncoding control region. ML analysis showed support for monophyly of Chironominae and close relationship between A. fungorum and Chironomus generic genera.

Monopelopia Fittkau, 1962, a newly recorded genus from Oriental China (Diptera, Chironomidae) with a description of Monopelopia zhengi Lin sp. n

The genus Monopelopia Fittkau, 1962 is newly recorded from Oriental China. Monopelopia zhengi Lin sp. n., is described and illustrated based on an adult male from Jianfengling National Nature Reserve, Hainan, China. In addition, an updated key to adult males of Monopelopia is provided.

New Mycodiplosis gall midge (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) feeding on fungal rusts (Fungi: Pucciniomycetes) that are pathogenic on cultured plants

Larvae of a gall midge were found feeding on the fungal rust Maravalia pterocarpi (Pucciniomycetes: Pucciniales: Chaconiaceae) infesting the economically important sua tree Dalbergia tonkinensis (Fabaceae) on Hainan Island, China. The adults, pupae and larvae were collected, their morphology was studied and a segment of the Cytochrome Oxidase unit I (COI) mitochondrial gene was sequenced. The gall midge proved to be a species new to science that belongs to the genus Mycodiplosis (Diptera: Cecdiomyiidae). Comparison of the sequence to published Cecdiomyiidae sequences revealed that, despite being undescribed and unnamed, it was previously found in east and south-east Asia to feed on several rust species: Puccinia coronata (Pucciniomycetes: Pucciniales: Pucciniaceae) that develops on Lolium multiflorum (Poaceae), Puccinia sp. on Zea mays (Poaceae), Puccinia arachidis on Arachis hypogaea (Fabaceae) and Puccinia allii on Allium fistulosum (Amaryllidaceae). The new species is described and named here Mycodiplosis puccinivora Jiao, Bu Kolesik. It occurs in China, Japan, Thailand, Bangladesh and possibly Malaysia and Australia. In Hainan it has four to five generations per year.

A new species of Procontarinia (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) damaging fruit of mango, Mangifera indica (Anacardiaceae), in China

Larvae of a previously unknown species of gall midge were found feeding on young fruit of mango, Mangifera indica (Anacardiaceae), in Guangxi Autonomous Region in southern China, causing severe damage to the crop. The new species is named Procontarinia fructiculi Jiao, Wang, Bu Kolesik, its morphology is described, the basic biology is given, and the Cytochrome Oxidase subunit I (COI) mitochondrial gene segment is sequenced and compared to other congeners. Procontarinia contains now 16 described species, each feeding on mango. All but three species cause variously shaped galls on leaves, while P. mangiferae (Felt) malforms inflorescence and young leaves, and two species feed on fruit - P. frugivora Gagné causing deep lesions and P. fructiculi sp. nov. tunnel-like holes. Of the two fruit-feeding species, P. frugivora is confined to the Philippines while the new species has thus far been recorded only from southern China.

Notes on the Genus Brachyneurina Mamaev (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) with Description of Two New Species from China

Ke-Long Jiao, Yi-Ran Mu, and Wen-Jun Bu (2017) The generic diagnosis of mycophagous Brachyneurina is revised to give an adequate description, and an updated key to males of all known Brachyneurina species is given for distinguishing from each other. First records of Brachyneurina in Asia are provided including two new species, Brachyneurina hemisphaerica sp. nov. and Brachyneurina rhombica sp. nov. from China are described and illustrated.