A New Genus and Two New Species of Short-Palped Crane Flies (Diptera: Limoniidae) from Central Asia
2023
Sigitas Podenas | Jon Gelhaus | Virginija Podeniene | Vladimir Devyatkov | Oyunchuluun Yadamsuren | Maria Fernanda Torres Jimenez
A new genus of Limoniidae <i>crane</i> flies, <i>Tauroconopa</i> gen. nov., is described from specimens of two new species from north-central and western Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Russia. Descriptions and illustrations of the distinguishing morphological features, including wing venation, male and female genitalia, and larval and pupal stages are provided. A discussion is presented of the possible classification of <i>Tauroconopa</i> gen. nov., and three species of western North American <i>Symplecta</i> (<i>Psiloconopa</i>) are transferred to <i>Tauroconopa</i> gen. nov. based primarily on their aedeagal structure. Certain deficiencies are outlined in the current identification keys for Holarctic Chioneinae <i>crane</i> flies, and this new genus does not key satisfactorily in the present generic keys. The use of molecular sequences (DNA “barcoding”) allowed for initial identification of the larval stages of <i>Tauroconopa</i> gen. nov. from unreared but associated specimens. A phylogenetic analysis of <i>Tauroconopa</i> gen. nov. is presented based on DNA barcoding evidence and confirms the isolated position of this new genus from other Chioneinae. Habitat information for each species is presented.
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