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The Holarctic genus Piezura Rondani (Diptera, Fanniidae) is reviewed. Phylogenetic relationships among the species in this group, as well as the biogeography of these species, are discussed on the basis of a cladistic analysis. Piezura graminicola shanxiensis Xue, Wang and Wu, 1998 is redescribed and elevated to species rank based on comparison of its morphology and phylogenetic relationships. Syllegopterula flava Hsue, 1983 and its replacement name Thricops flavidus Xue, 1998 are treated as junior synonyms of Piezura graminicola (Zetterstedt, 1846).

The present study proposed a phylogenetic hypothesis of the family Fanniidae based on a cladistic analysis using characters from adult external morphology and female and male terminalia. The main purpose of this study was to clarify the phylogenetic position of newly described or poorly known species, mostly from southern South America, the Neotropics, Africa, Australia and New Zealand. In total, 151 characters from adult male and female external morphology and terminalia were scored for 78 species of Fanniidae. Ten continuous characters were included and analysed as such. Three genera of Fanniidae and all the species-groups and subgroups proposed for the genus Fannia, except for the admirabilis-group and the setifer-subgroup were included as terminal taxa. An heuristic parsimony analysis under implied weights was performed. The analysis recovered the monophyly of the Fanniidae and the genus Fannia, as well as the monophyly of several species-groups within Fannia. Male and female external morphological characters were, in general, highly homoplasious, whereas characters from male terminalia showed low level of homoplasy and provided resolution at suprageneric nodes and species-groups.

The Fannia hirticeps-group, an endemic Holarctic group, is reviewed to include Fannia xuei sp. nov. from China (Guizhou). The F. hirticeps-group is redefined and a key is given to the twelve known world species. Fannia limbata (Tiensuu) is transferred to this group, and new data on distributions are reported for the included species.

The Fannia serena-subgroup belongs to the Fannia serena-group Chillcott. This paper outlines early studies on the F. serena-subgroup and F. serena-group. The F. serena-group is redefined and a key is given to its four subgroups: serena-subgroup Chillcott, rondanii-subgroup Chillcott, sociella- subgroup Chillcott, and mollissima-subgroup Pont. Two new species, Fannia diploura Wang, Xue & Zhang sp. nov. and Fannia setifemorata Wang, Xue & Zhang sp. nov., are described from China. The eleven known Chinese species of the F. serena-subgroup are reviewed and keyed.

The world fauna of the genus Piezura Rondani is revised in order to resolve a series of long standing taxonomic errors. All species are redescribed, and species concepts and distribution ranges of most species have been modified. The genitalia of all species are illustrated and keys to each sex are provided. The female of P. nearctica Chillcott is described for the first time. Piezura pardalina shanxiensis Wang et al, 1992 is treated as an unavailable name, and P. pardalina shanxiensis Xue et al, 1999 is accepted as the valid name for this taxon.

The Fanniidae (Diptera) of the Neotropical Region are catalogued. Two genera and 75 valid species are listed, with references to original descriptions, location of types, geographic distribution, and subsequent taxonomic and applied literature. Mesazelia trichopoda Blanchard, 1942 is a new synonym of Anthomyia pusio Wiedemann, 1830.

In this study, successional patterns, relative abundance of larvae and adults of sarcosaprophagous insects, carcass decay, diversity and seasonality of species, and their potential as forensic indicators were studied. Four experiments were carried out in each season in a natural area of southeastern Brazil. Two pigs (Sus scrofa L.) were used in each experiment and were exposed to sunlight and shade, respectively. The Calliphoridae outnumbered the Sarcophagidae in specimens collected and reared from the carcasses. More insects were collected from carcasses exposed to the sun, while a larger number of specimens were reared from those in the shade. Temperature and rainfall influenced the stages of carcass decay and insect activity and abundance. Chrysomya albiceps was the most abundant species in all four experiments. The carcasses were used as a protein source and substratum for oviposition. The dark putrefaction and fermentation stages yielded more flies than the other stages. These results show that flies are important in carcass decay and are, therefore, also of forensic importance. Seven species can be considered valuable forensic indicators in Southeastern Brazil. However, only three species were useful as forensic indicators in wooded areas: P. intermutans, H. segmentaria, and H. semidiaphana.

Brief notes are given on the life and Diptera collection of Carl Fredrik Fallén (1764-1830). The 62 species-group names that he proposed in the present families Fanniidae and Muscidae are listed, their type-material and identities discussed, and lectotypes designated where appropriate. Primary types of 51 species are in Stockholm (Naturhistoriska Riksmuseum), 10 are in Lund (Museum of Zoology), and 1 is considered lost. 55 lectotypes are designated. Spilogona falleni sp. n. is described. The following 6 new synonyms are established: Hydrotaea armipes (Fallén, 1825) (syn. n.: occulta (Meigen, 1826)); Helina confinis (Fallén 1825) (syn. n.: anceps (Zetterstedt, 1838)); Phaonia errans (Meigen, 1826) (syn. n.: erratica (Fallén, 1825), preocc.); Phaonia laeta (Fallén, 1823) (syn. n.: trigonalis (Meigen, 1826)); Spilogona litorea (Fallén, 1823) (syn. n.: longipes (Ringdahl, 1918)); Mydaea urbana (Meigen, 1826) (syn. n.: rustica (Fallén, 1825), preocc.).

Larvae of 9 species are described and illustrated. They are Euryomma peregrinum (Meigen), Fannia albitarsis Stein, F. canicularis (Linnaeus), and 6 unnamed species of which 5 are endemic. The larvae living in guano of the New Zealand short-tailed bat have retained a circular posterior spiracular plate with a typical cyclorrhaphous arrangement of the spiracular openings. Larvae of a subantarctic species have as many as 20 lobes on the anterior spiracle. The morphology and possible role of the paired segmental outgrowths of fanniid larvae are discussed.

Linnaeus described eleven species in the genera Musca and Conops that are now placed in the Fanniidae, Anthomyiidae and Muscidae. A study is presented of the types and other material of these three families in his collection.

Notes are given on the life of Charles De Geer ( 1720-1778), on the history of his insect collection, and on some nomenclatural aspects of his work. The 10 species he described into the present families Fanniidae, Anthomyiidae and Muscidae are listed, their typematerial and identities discussed, and iectotypes designated where appropriate. 4 new synonyms are established: Fannia scalaris (Fabricius, 1794) (syn: minordomestica De Geer, 1776), Pegomya steini Hendel, 1925 (syn: fungorum De Geer, 1776, preocc.), Pegomya testacea (De Geer, 1776) (syn: silacea Meigen, 1830), and Lucilia caesar (Linnaeus, 1758) (syn: viridicaerulea De Geer, 1776).

Most reports published in the field of forensic entomology are focused on Diptera and neglect the Hymenoptera community. However, Hymenoptera are part of the entomofaunal colonization of a dead body. The use of Hymenoptera parasitoids in forensic entomology can be relevant to evalu- ate the time of death. Hymenoptera parasitoids of the larvae and pupae of flies may play an important role in the estimation of the post-mortem period because their time of attack is often restricted to a small, well-defined window of time in the development of the host insect. How- ever, these parasitoids can interfere with the developmental times of colonizing Diptera, and therefore a better understanding of their ecology is needed. The work reported here monitored the presence of adult Hymenoptera parasitoids on decaying pig carcasses in an urban biotope during the summer season (from May to September). Six families and six species of parasitoids were recorded in the field: Aspilota fuscicornis Haliday (Braconidae), Alysia manducator Panzer, Nasonia vitripennis Walker (Pteromalidae), Tachinaephagus zealandicus Ashmead (Encyrtidae), Trichopria sp. (Diapriidae), and Figites sp. (Figitidae). In the laboratory, five species emerged from pupae collected in the field: Trichopria sp., Figites sp., A. manducator, N. vitripennis, and T. zealandicus. These five species colonize a broad spectrum of Diptera hosts, including those species associated with decomposing carcasses, namely those from the families Calliphoridae, Muscidae, Fanniidae, and Sarcophagidae.

Australian Faniidae are revised, and notes given on species from the adjacent regions of the Pacific and New Zealand. Mention is made of the medical and veterinary significance of the group. Thirteen species in three genera are included. One new genus, Australofannia, is described with the type-species A. spiniclunis. Six new species are described: Australofannia spiniclunis, Fannia anteroventralis, F. norfolki, F. tasmaniae, F. howei and F. capitalis.

The paper describes the immature stages of 29 muscoid flies that were found to breed in cow-dung in Australia (25 spp. of Muscidae, one Fanniidae, two Sarcophagidae, and one undescribed species, probably Anthomyiidae). Eggs, all larval instars and puparia were studied where available, and their significant morphological features are described and illustrated. A general account of immature stage morphology is presented, and keys are given to all larval instars and to puparia. The taxonomic and biological significance of some of the morphological features are discussed, and some traditional concepts on the functional morphology of larvae are re-examined. Hebecnema nigrita Vockeroth, 1972, is a new junior synonym of H. uniseta Hennig, 1952.