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The decline of woodland birds around the world is well known. There are likely to be many causal factors acting together and interacting synergistically, such as habitat fragmentation and the invasion of exotic species. Similarly, insect declines, which likely have been occurring for some time in Australia, have been recorded around the world in recent years, especially in areas of intensive agriculture or urbanisation. Because a large proportion of woodland birds are insectivorous, we ask whether the loss of food resources could also be a driver of bird declines. We encourage more research into this. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antissella White, 1914 is a small genus of soldier flies endemic to Australia, previously thought to comprise only two described species and suspected to have a role in pollination. Six new species of Antissella are named, described and illustrated herein, and an updated identification key to all known species is provided. The new species include: Antissella alicespringsensis Lessard & Woodley sp.n. , Antissella elongata Lessard & Woodley, sp.n. , Antissella kalbarriensis Lessard & Woodley sp.n. , Antissella nigricentralis Lessard & Woodley sp.n. , Antissella ottensorum Lessard & Woodley, sp.n. , and Antissella purprasina Lessard & Woodley, sp.n. A lectotype and paralectotype are also selected for Antissella quinquecella (Macquart, 1846). Eight species of Antissella are now recognised from Australia. Three of the new species are known from areas burned by the devastating 2019/2020 Australian summer bushfires. Now that they are formally named and described, the species may be recognised in future bushfire recovery monitoring programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A taxonomic treatment for the genera of the soldier fly subfamily Stratiomyinae is provided for the Australian fauna, including the first key to the Australian genera and updated key for the genus Acanthasargus White, 1914. Each genus is diagnosed and illustrated, including: Acanthasargus , Odontomyia Meigen, 1803 , the newly recorded genus Prosopochrysa de Meijere, 1907 and new species Prosopochrysa lemannae Lessard & Woodley, sp.n. , and the new genus and species Scutellumina parvatra Woodley & Lessard, gen.n. et. sp.n. Four genera and 30 species of Stratiomyinae are now recognised from Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many eye‐catching and undescribed species of Australian soldier flies have been collected but left undiagnosed in entomological collections. We describe Opaluma Lessard & Woodley gen. nov., a new genus of iridescent soldier fly endemic to Australia from the subfamily Antissinae, and provide an updated key to the five Australian antissine genera. Seven new species are described and illustrated herein, along with an identification key to all known species. The new species are Opaluma ednae Lessard & Woodley, sp. nov., O. fabulosa Lessard & Woodley, sp. nov., O. iridescens Lessard & Woodley, sp. nov., O. opulens Lessard & Woodley, sp. nov., O. rupaul Lessard & Woodley, sp. nov., O. sapphira Lessard & Woodley, sp. nov. and O. unicornis Lessard & Woodley, sp. nov. All but one are known from locations directly impacted by the recent 2019/2020 spring and summer Australian bushfires. Now that the new species are formally named and described, they may be included in future bushfire recovery monitoring programs. Eight genera of Antissinae are now recognised in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assassin or robber flies (Asilidae) and bee flies (Bombyliidae) are two of the largest and most diverse fly families with over 7400 and 4700 described species worldwide, respectively. Adult assassin flies are predatory, feeding on smaller insects captured on the wing, and larvae predate on soft‐bodied arthropods in the soil or rotting wood. Adult bee flies feed on nectar and pollen. Almost all bee fly larvae are external or internal parasitoids of other insect larvae, usually in the soil. Although the interaction between bee fly larvae and their hosts has been rarely observed, we recently discovered assassin fly larvae hosting bee fly Lepidanthrax linguatus (Anthracinae: Villini) endoparasitoids in riverine sandy soil in southern NSW, Australia. While bee fly larvae have been known to attack other fly larvae, Asilidae is an uncommon host group. Furthermore, to find bee fly larvae inside the host is even less common because most bee fly larvae are ectoparasitoids. Here we describe and illustrate the host assassin fly (Bathypogon nigrinus: Bathypogoninae) larva and pupa, as well as the first instar bee fly larva (planidium) though careful external examination of the surface of the asilid larva, which is translucent, allowing us to see the internal parasite. This is the first larva and pupa from Bathypogoninae to be described. We also illustrate the bee fly larva in detail based on scanning electron microscopy of a larva in situ, after dissection from the host. Finally, we describe the late instar larval and pupal exuvia of the endoparasitoid. Like other endoparasitoid bombyliid larvae in the Villini, the first instar larva causes the host to produce a breathing tube that surrounds the posterior half of the parasitoid, allowing the parasitoid to maintain contact with atmospheric oxygen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Daptolestes Hull, 1962 is a small genus of distinctive, ornate robber flies (Asilidae) endemic to Australia, currently placed in the subfamily Brachyrhopalinae, containing three described species, D. limbipennis, D. nicholsoni and D. sergius. Adults of Daptolestes species (except D. sergius) have patterned wings, brown and yellow integumental colour and a waisted abdomen and could be mistaken for vespid wasps when foraging for insect prey on flowers. Here, we present a phylogeny based on a morphological survey of adult specimens. Based on the phylogenetic results, we provide a description and revised diagnosis for Daptolestes and describe four new species: D. leei Robinson & Yeates, sp. nov.D. bronteflavus Robinson & Yeates, sp. nov.D. feminategus Robinson & Yeates, sp. nov. and D. illusiolautus Robinson & Yeates, sp. nov. We also erect a new genus, Humorolethalis Robinson, Li & Yeates, gen. nov. to accommodate Dasypogon sergius Walker [=Daptolestes sergius (Walker)]. For all species of both genera, we illustrate external features of the adults and male and female terminalia. Key to all Daptolestes species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mydidae are a small family (~470 described species) of medium to large‐bodied flies belonging to the Asiloidea and are closely related to the Asilidae and Apioceridae. The biology of mydas flies, as they are commonly known, is poorly known globally, with the larva and pupa of only one American species described a century ago. Field work over the past few years in south‐eastern Australia has uncovered the life histories of two Australian species belonging to different subfamilies: Diochlistus gracilis (Macquart 1847) (Diochlistinae) and Miltinus viduatus (Westwood 1835) (Apiophorinae). Here, we present detailed descriptions and illustration of the larvae and pupae of these species and compare them with Mydas clavatus Drury (Mydinae) from North America. We also present some observations on the mating behaviour of D. gracilis. The relationships of the 10 Mydidae subfamilies, based exclusively on characters of the adult stage, are poorly resolved. The differences between the larvae and pupae of these two Australian genera provides evidence that there may be phylogenetically informative variation in the immature stages that could be used in future comprehensive studies on the relationships of mydas flies. These descriptions of mature larvae represent the second and third species to be published worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We review the endemic Australian bee fly genus Eusurbus Roberts (Bombyliidae, Bombyliinae) and recognize two described species and three new species. The monotypic genus Bromoglycis Hull is identified as a new junior synonym of Eusurbus. Another species, E. nigracinctus Roberts, is designated as the type species of a new genus Zentamyia gen. nov. This new genus is similar to Eusurbus based on several combined external characters including two-segmented palp, one-segmented flagellomere, open anal cell and cell r5, and the cell br much longer than cell bm. However, Zentamyia gen. nov. has a more flattened scutum, and the apex of the flagellum is tapered. Moreover, the male genitalia are very different from Eusurbus, the male epandrium is narrow and long, and its posterolateral margin has a cluster of dense hairs; the female lacks a sand chamber, and the sperm pump is long and strong. A morphological phylogeny to Eusurbus species is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of Fergusonina flies are described from terminal leaf bud galls on Eucalyptus from south-eastern Australia. Fergusonina herbaservus Nelson sp. nov. and Fergusonina manchesteri Purcell sp. nov. are the first species of fly from the genus Fergusonina to be described from Eucalyptus stellulata (black sallee) and E. viminalis (manna gum), respectively. The two species can be distinguished from all other described Fergusonina by host specificity, adult colour and setation, morphology of the genitalia, and morphology of the dorsal shield. These records represent the first record of Fergusonina galling for black sallee and a new Fergusonina gall type for manna gum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first fly fossil discovered from the Upper Jurassic Talbragar Fish Bed in Australia is described and illustrated. Based on a single, well preserved wing, Calosargus (Calosargus) talbragarensis new species is assigned to the extinct brachyceran family Archisargidae. Wing morphology suggests a relationship between this extinct family and Stratiomyidae. The Archisargidae have so far only been found in China, Kazakhstan and Mongolia. Calosargus Mostovski, 1997 currently comprises seven species from the Callovian (late Middle Jurassic) of China and three species from the Oxfordian (early Upper Jurassic) of Kazakhstan. This oldest brachyceran fossil from Australia and first record of the Archisargidae in the southern hemisphere presents evidence that higher flies were present in this region in the Jurassic, when this group is thought to have commenced its diversification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new genus of Australian and New Zealand horse fly, Anzomyia Lessard, gen.n., is described, with its type species Anzomyia anomala (Mackerras) originally placed in the Scaptia (Walker, 1850) subgenus Pseudoscione (Lutz, 1918). The new genus Anzomyia is diagnosed and illustrated, along with the description of three new species. A taxonomic key is also provided to include all known species. The three new species are Anzomyia chrysomallis Lessard, sp.n. and Anzomyia pegasus Lessard, sp.n. from Australia, and Anzomyia herculensis Lessard, sp.n. from New Zealand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Fergusonina (Diptera: Fergusoninidae) fly is described from terminal leaf bud galls (TLBGs) from the Eucalyptus pauciflora Sieb. ex Spreng. (snow gum) species complex from Australia. Fergusonina tasmaniensis Nelson sp.n. is the first species from the genus Fergusonina to be described from Tasmania and the fourth from this host complex. Fergusonina tasmaniensis sp.n. can be distinguished from the other snow gum Fergusonina species by differences in adult size, markings on the mesonotum and the male genitalia, and from all other described Fergusonina by host specificity and differences in adult colouration, setation, genitalia and the morphology of the larval dorsal shield. In a molecular phylogeny of the snow gum-inhabiting Fergusonina species, F. tasmaniensis sp.n. was resolved as monophyletic, and sister (mean distance = 3.82%) to a clade comprising F. daviesae Nelson and Yeates and F. omlandi Nelson and Yeates (mean interspecific distance = 2.48%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The mesic biome, encompassing both rain forest and open sclerophyllous forests, is central to understanding the evolution of Australia's terrestrial biota and has long been considered the ancestral biome of the continent. Our aims are to review and refine key hypotheses derived from palaeoclimatic data and the fossil record that are critical to understanding the evolution of the Australian mesic biota. We examine predictions arising from these hypotheses using available molecular phylogenetic and phylogeographical data. In doing so, we increase understanding of the mesic biota and highlight data deficiencies and fruitful areas for future research. Location The mesic biome of Australia, along the eastern coast of Australia, and in the south-east and south-west, including its rain forest and sclerophyllous, often eucalypt-dominated, habitats. Methods We derived five hypotheses based on palaeoclimatic and fossil data regarding the evolution of the Australian mesic biota, particularly as it relates to the mesic biome. We evaluated predictions formulated from these hypotheses using suitable molecular phylogenies of terrestrial plants and animals and freshwater invertebrates. Results There was support for the ancestral position of mesic habitat in most clades, with support for rain forest habitat ancestry in some groups, while evidence of ancestry in mesic sclerophyllous habitats was also demonstrated for some plants and herpetofauna. Contraction of mesic habitats has led to extinction of numerous lineages in many clades and this is particularly evident in the rain forest component. Species richness was generally higher in sclerophyllous clades than in rain forest clades, probably due to higher rates of net speciation in the former and extinction in the latter. Although extinction has been prominent in rain forest communities, tropical rain forests appear to have experienced extensive immigration from northern neighbours. Pleistocene climatic oscillations have left genetic signatures at multiple levels of divergence and with complex geographical structuring, even in areas with low topographical relief and few obvious geographical barriers. Main conclusions Our review confirms long-held views of the ancestral position of the Australian mesic biome but also reveals new insights into the complexity of the processes of contraction, fragmentation, extinction and invasion during the evolution of this biome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Horse flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) are recognised for their medical and veterinary importance, but they also have an important role in pollination. The genus Scaptia Walker 1850 contains more than 100 species and comprises seven subgenera with an exclusively southern distribution from Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea and South America. Five new Australian species are described in the subgenus Plinthina, which previously comprised only seven species, and an existing key is modified to include the new species, all of which are diagnosed and figured. The new species are: S. (Plinthina) arnhemensis sp.n. Lessard, S. (Plinthina) aurifulga sp.n. Lessard, S. (Plinthina) beyonceae sp.n. Lessard, S. (Plinthina) nelsonae sp.n. Lessard and S. (Plinthina) nigripuncta sp.n. Lessard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In tropical rainforests, insects show especially high species richness and local endemism of species relative to vertebrates. One possible cause is that insects respond to historical fluctuations of rainforests on a smaller spatial scale than do vertebrates. To evaluate this hypothesis, we combine environmental niche models and mitochondrial DNA phylogeography for two pairs of sister species of the dung beetle genus Temnoplectron ( T. aeneopiceum– T. subvolitans and T. politulum– T. reyi) from the rainforests of northeastern Australia, where climate-driven rainforest fluctuations in the Quaternary have strongly influenced genetic and species diversity of vertebrates. Within both species pairs, the bioclimatic niche was conserved, but the T. aeneopiceum– T. subvolitans species pair had the narrower environmental range, and thus more restricted potential distribution. Coalescent analyses indicated Late Pliocene or Early Pleistocene divergences for both species pairs, and earlier speciation in ( T. aeneopiceum– T. subvolitans) than in ( T. politulum– T. reyi). Phylogeographic structure in ( T. aeneopiceum– T. subvolitans) was more pronounced than in ( T. politulum– T. reyi), with significant isolation-by-distance in the former species-pair only. Nested clade and coalescence analyses indicated local range expansions for the T. aeneopiceum– subvolitans species pair and range-wide expansion for both T. politulum and T. reyi. We suggest that stronger phylogeographic structure and earlier divergence in ( T. aeneopiceum– T. subvolitans) than in ( T. politulum–T. reyi) reflects a stronger influence of environmental barriers to gene flow under the present climate and greater sensitivity to warmer and drier periods of the Quaternary. The two species pairs evidently responded to Quaternary rainforest fluctuations at spatial scales similar to those seen within low-vagility species of vertebrate. Despite this similarity of scale, these insect lineages are reproductively isolated at parapatric boundaries, whereas analogous lineages of vertebrates often are not. We suggest that rapid evolution of genitalia may facilitate geographic speciation in rainforest beetles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Australia's insect fauna comprises a very large component of its biodiversity, and one that remains a largely unknown and untapped resource. Estimates of global and Australian insect species richness are reviewed, and Australia's insect biodiversity is placed in its biogeographical context of Mesozoic, Gondwanan connectivity and Tertiary isolation. Some unique, relict faunal elements derived from Australia's long periods of isolation are highlighted. Examples of the dramatic insect evolutionary radiations are profiled that are the consequence of successful adaptation to new biomes made available by the environmental transformations in Australia in the latter half of the Tertiary. Then conservation of Australian forests and the major processes threatening Australian biodiversity are discussed: invasive species, habitat conversion and climate change. The four components necessary to build sustainability in Australia or throughout the world are discussed: description and understanding, direct action for conservation, promoting sustainable use in balance with conservation, and providing education and information to maintain the overall effort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Australian insect fauna is highly endemic and characterised by numerous unique higher-level taxa. In addition, a number of groups are noticeably absent or depauperate on the continent. Many groups found in Australia show characteristic Gondwanan distribution patterns on the southern continents. There are extensive radiations on the plant families Myrtaceae and Mimosaceae, a specialised arid/semiarid fauna, and diverse taxa associated with rainforests and seasonally wet tropical regions. The fauna is also poorly studied, particularly when compared with the flora and vertebrate groups. However, studies in the last two decades have provided a more comprehensive picture of the size of the fauna, relationships, levels of endemism, origins and its evolution. Here we provide an overview of these and other aspects of Australian insect diversity, focusing on six groups, the Thysanoptera and the five megadiverse orders Hemiptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary The endemic Australian genus Bonjeania Irwin & Lyneborg is revised. Seven species are described as new: B. angelikae sp.n., B. clamosis sp.n., B. dynastis sp.n., B. flavofemoralis sp.n., B. irwinae sp.n., B. orphne sp.n. and B. trilineata sp.n. Three species, B. actuosa (White), B. nitidifrons (Macquart) and B. segnis (White), are redescribed. All species of Bonjeania were compared in a cladistic analysis with Agapophytus albobasalis Mann and five exemplars of the speciose sister genus Parapsilocephala Kröber, and the phylogenetic relationships of Bonjeania discussed. The male genitalic musculature of B. clamosis sp.n. is described and figured, and discussed with respect to previous studies on other Therevidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Larvae of 19 species of Melolonthini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) are important sugarcane pests in eastern Australia. Larvae of five of these pest species cannot be identified confidently using morphological characters: Lepidiota frenchi Blackburn, Lepidiota negatoria Blackburn and Lepidiota noxia Britton; and Antitrogus consanguineus (Blackburn) and Antitrogus rugulosus (Blackburn). To develop a DNA-diagnostic tool, we assessed mtDNA diversity within each species and confirmed their specific status. Species-level base pair differences in the cytochrome oxidase II gene ( COII) were used to develop a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) protocol for species identification. PCR-RFLP is a useful tool for identifying morphologically similar species of canegrubs in large-scale pest identifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approximately 2500 fly species comprise the Sarcophagidae family worldwide. The complete mitochondrial genome of the carrion-breeding, forensically important Sarcophaga impatiens Walker (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) from Australia was sequenced. The 15,169 bp circular genome contains the 37 genes found in a typical Metazoan genome: 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes and 22 transfer RNA genes. It also contains one non-coding A++T-rich region. The arrangement of the genes was the same as that found in the ancestral insect. All the protein initiation codons are ATN, except for cox1 that begins with TCG (encoding S). The 22 tRNA anticodons of S. impatiens are consistent with those observed in Drosophila yakuba, and all form the typical cloverleaf structure, except for tRNA-Ser(AGN) that lacks the DHU arm. The mitochondrial genome of Sarcophaga presented will be valuable for resolving phylogenetic relationships within the family Sarcophagidae and the order Diptera, and could be used to identify favourable genetic markers for species identifications for forensic purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Patterns of species richness and composition vary markedly among invertebrate taxa. • Individual taxa are poorly correlated with 'total diversity' • Representative target taxa should be complementary in their diversity patterns. • Our simple approach to target taxa selection is widely applicable and informative. It is usually not practical for invertebrates to be comprehensively included in biodiversity surveys that underpin conservation planning, and so a representative subset of taxa needs to be selected. One approach to representativeness is to select taxa whose patterns of richness and composition are most strongly correlated with those of total invertebrates (i.e. all taxa combined). However, if different groups show very different distribution patterns then 'total diversity' cannot be considered as representative of the diversity of invertebrate taxa, and so an alternative approach to achieving representativeness is to base selection on complementarity (i.e. representing the full range of distribution patterns shown by different taxa). We use data on 12 invertebrate families (comprising ants, beetles, flies and spiders) sampled using pitfall traps across 78 sites in a tropical savanna landscape of northern Australia to identify a subset of target taxa (families) to represent their diversity patterns. We use a simple scoring system that incorporates both survey practicality and biological representativeness to compare selection of taxa based on (1) representing 'total diversity' and (2) representativeness through complementarity ('complementary diversity'). Congruence among taxa in terms of both species richness and composition was generally low (ρ < 0.5), suggesting that taxa are poorly representative of each other and thus a complementary approach is required for target taxa selection. The taxa that scored highest in representing 'complementary diversity' were very different to those representing 'total diversity'. To our knowledge, this is the first time that invertebrate representativeness based on 'total diversity' and 'complementary diversity' have been directly compared. The selected target taxa are specific to our study system, but our simple method for selecting representative invertebrate taxa for conservation planning is widely applicable, including for biodiversity monitoring and environmental impact assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Glow-worms are bioluminescent fly larvae (Order Diptera, genus Arachnocampa) found only in Australia and New Zealand. Their core habitat is rainforest gullies and wet caves. Eight species are present in Australia; five of them have been recently described. The geographic distribution of species in Australia encompasses the montane regions of the eastern Australian coastline from the Wet Tropics region of northern Queensland to the cool temperate and montane rainforests of southern Australia and Tasmania. Phylogenetic trees based upon partial sequences of the mitochondrial genes cytochrome oxidase II and 16S mtDNA show that populations tend to be clustered into allopatric geographic groups showing overall concordance with the known species distributions. The deepest division is between the cool-adapted southern subgenus, Lucifera, and the more widespread subgenus, Campara. Lucifera comprises the sister groups, A. tasmaniensis, from Tasmania and the newly described species, A. buffaloensis, found in a high-altitude cave at Mt Buffalo in the Australian Alps in Victoria. The remaining Australian glow-worms in subgenus Campara are distributed in a swathe of geographic clusters that extend from the Wet Tropics in northern Queensland to the temperate forests of southern Victoria. Samples from caves and rainforests within any one geographic location tended to cluster together within a clade. We suggest that the morphological differences between hypogean (cave) and epigean (surface) glow-worm larvae are facultative adaptations to local microclimatic conditions rather than due to the presence of cryptic species in caves. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The endemic Australian bee fly genus Meomyia Evenhuis is revised, including six described species and three newly described: Meomyia hortorum sp. nov., Meomyia kochae sp. nov., Meomyia melanocincta sp. nov. Bombylius tetratrichus Walker is excluded from Meomyia and placed in Dissodesma Bowden Li. Meomyia is characterised by the slender and elongate antennal flagellum, and the black abdominal band and dense black tuft on apex of abdomen. A key to species of Meomyia is provided. Species are found in southern Australia.

We review Sisyromyia White (Bombyliidae, Bombyliinae), a remarkable Australian endemic bee fly genus, which includes 11 species, including six species we describe as new here: Sisyromyia albisquama sp. nov., Sisyromyia angustivitta sp. nov., Sisyromyia elongata sp. nov., Sisyromyia maculipennis sp. nov., Sisyromyia umbra sp. nov., Sisyromyia vittata sp. nov. The genus can be easily distinguished from other Australian genera in the subfamily by having a one-segmented antennal flagellum, subapex of flagellum with some long hairs; a pale median stripe present on the abdomen consisting of dense, decumbent short scales, cell r5 open; cell br nearly as long as cell bm, crossvein m-m located on base of cell dm; crossvein m-m long, nearly as long as crossvein r-m. We also recognized one new synonym, and propose a new combination for Sisyromyia binghi Evenhuis. A key to species of Sisyromyia is provided, and we extensively illustrate their internal and external morphology.

Known as a monotypic genus for over a century, Marmasoma White, 1916 is an endemic Australian bee fly genus belonging to the tribe Eclimini of the subfamily Bombyliinae. A new species: Marmasoma hortorum sp. nov. is described based on a series of specimens from Western Australia and South Australia. This new species can be easily distinguished from the congener by the inconspicuous pale wing markings and mostly white to pale yellow scales on the body, as well as characters of both male and female genitalia. M. sumptuosum is found in south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania, and some specimens have been collected on Kangaroo Island, South Australia. M. hortorum sp. nov. occurs in south Western Australia, and a pair of specimens has been taken just north of Port Augusta in South Australia. A key to species of Marmasoma is provided.

The first crane fly (Diptera: Tipuloidea) fossil discovered in the Upper Jurassic Talbragar Fish Bed in Australia is described and illustrated. Eotipula grangeri sp. nov., described from a single specimen, is assigned to the family Limoniidae based primarily on the conformation of wing veins. It is the second and oldest record of Limoniidae from Australia, and the first of Jurassic age from the southern hemisphere.

The first water snipe fly (Diptera: Tabanomorpha) fossil discovered in the Late Jurassic Talbragar Fish Bed in Australia is described and illustrated. Notoatherix antiqua gen. et sp. nov., described from a single wing specimen, is assigned to the family Athericidae based on the diagnostic feature of this family: the vein R 2+3 ending very near to R 1 (marginal cell closed). It is the first record of Athericidae from Australia and the oldest adult record of this family worldwide.

Horse flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) are ecologically important pollinators and vectors of many disease-causing organisms, as adult females are known to mechanically transfer multiple disease agents during feeding affecting humans, livestock, and many native mammals. Scaptia (Pseudoscione) Lutz in Lutz, Araujo, & Fonseca 1918 has the widest distribution of all genera in the tribe Scionini, occurring in Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand, and South America. Seven new species of Australian S. (Pseudoscione) are described and included in an updated key to the subgenus. The new species are: S. (Pseudoscione) baylessi sp. nov. Lessard, S. (Pseudoscione) casseli sp. nov. Lessard, S. (Pseudoscione) mackerrasi sp. nov. Lessard, S. (Pseudoscione) moritae sp. nov. Lessard, S. (Pseudoscione) turcatelae sp. nov. Lessard, S. (Pseudoscione) turneri sp. nov. Lessard, and S. (Pseudoscione) wiegmanni sp. nov. Lessard. In addition, S. (Pseudoscione) occidentalis Mackerras, 1960, previously described as a subspecies, has been raised to species level. One new species significantly extends the known distribution of Scaptia into central Australia, >1,200 km NW from the nearest recorded species within the subgenus.