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The genus Hexatoma Latreille, 1809 is a large group of aquatic crane flies, with almost 600 species worldwide. The largest subgenus is Eriocera Macquart, 1838, which includes all nine species known from the Korean Peninsula. Molecular methods were used to associate Hexatoma larvae with their putative adult species from South Korea. Mitochondrial Cytochrome c Oxidase Subunit I (COI) gene fragment sequences (DNA barcodes) of recently collected adults of H. (E.) gifuensis, H. (E.) ilwola, H. (E.) pernigrina, and H. (E.) pianigra were compared with twelve sequences of Hexatoma larvae. The larvae of H. (E.) pernigrina, H. (E.) pianigra, and H. (E.) gifuensis were associated with their putative adults. The larvae of H. (E.) gifuensis and H. (E.) pianigra and the larvae and pupae of H. (E.) pernigrina are described and illustrated. The larvae of two species not associated with any adult are described, and their COI gene fragment sequences (DNA barcodes) are presented. This paper presents the morphological characteristics suitable for distinguishing larval species. A key for the identification of larvae of the genus Hexatoma on the Korean Peninsula has been compiled. H (E.) sachalinensis is recorded from the Korean Peninsula for the first time. Our study is the first contribution to the Hexatoma larvae taxonomy using phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial COI fragment (DNA barcode) and one of the first attempts to reveal phylogenetic relationships between Hexatoma species using molecular markers.

A new species of crane fly (Diptera, Limoniidae), Elephantomyia (Elephantomyia) hallasana Podenas & Podeniene, sp. nov., from Jeju Island, South Korea is described. Adult and larval characters are illustrated. Elephantomyia (E.) hallasanasp. nov. is the only species of the genus Elephantomyia Osten Sacken, 1860 recorded from Jeju Island, South Korea. Habitat, elevation range, and seasonality data are presented. Distributional notes on E. subterminalis Alexander, 1954 in the Far East of Russia (Khabarovskiy and Primorskiy regions) are discussed. An identification key for all Eastern Palaearctic species of subgenus E. (Elephantomyia) is presented.

Several families of Diptera are known to be active burrowers. Fly larvae of the genus Symplecta (family Limoniidae) were observed in a sandy substrate of an orange grove in Lepe, SW Spain. Traces produced by Symplecta display: (1), a proximal segment characterized by a winding furrow trail; (2), an intermediate part consisting of burrow segments arranged in zigzag; and (3), a distal part formed by a complex U-shaped burrow. The most complex morphology is present in the intermediate zigzag burrow system, which varies from irregularly sinuous and curved in its most proximal part to spiraled. In the fossil record, the trace would be ascribed to different ichnotaxa depending on the part preserved. In fact, this is a compound trace recording multiple behavioural patterns. The winding furrow shows affinities with Helminthopsis, the zigzag burrows with Treptichnus, and the U-shaped burrow with Arenicolites. Furthermore, the spiral portion shows some similarities with Spirophycus and Spirodesmos. Interestingly, formation of these compound traces is connected with different ontogenetic stages of the producer. The winding and zigzag segments are produced, respectively, by Symplecta larvae and pupae for feeding purposes, whereas the U-shaped burrow is excavated during the end of pupal stage for protection until adulthood. In the fossil record, this incipient compound trace potentially may occur in lake-margin, fluvio-estuarine and overbank deposits, including levee, crevasse splay and pond deposits, forming part of the Scoyenia or the Mermia ichnofacies. Structures similar to those produced by modern diptera are known from freshwater ichnofaunas since the Devonian

Two new species of crane flies belonging to the genus Atypophthalmus Brunetti, 1911, A. (Atypophthalmus) kleini Podenas, sp. nov. and A. (Microlimonia) jeju Podenas & Podeniene, sp. nov. collected in South Korea in 2017 and 2019 are described and illustrated. Larvae and female pupa for A. (Microlimonia) jeju sp. nov. are described. The pupa for the subgenus A. (Microlimonia) is described for the first time. An updated list and key for adults of all Korean Atypophthalmus are presented.

The egg-larvae of 890 individuals in 8 species belonging to long palped crane flies of the genus Tipula (Diptera: Tipulidae) were obtained from 17 gravid females captured in Lithuania in 2011–2012. Depending on the species, it took from four days to more than eleven weeks for the eggs to hatch. Of the four instars of larvae for crane flies, the second, third and the last instar larvae are very similar in morphology, while the first instar or egg-larva differs radically. Descriptions and illustrations of the external morphology, chaetotaxy of abdominal segments, characters of head capsules and last abdominal segments are given for the previously unknown first instar larvae of T. (Lunatipula) fascipennis, T. (Pterelachisus) irrorata, T. (P.) pabulina, T. (P.) pseudovariipennis, T. (Yamatotipula) pruinosa and poorly known T. (Beringotipula) unca, T. (L.) vernalis T. (Tipula) paludosa. The differences of the head capsule and last abdominal segment among the first instar larvae of these species are more obvious than in the last instar. Characters of the head capsule such as the shape of the teeth of the mandible, shape of the basal segment of the antenna and number of sensillae on it, shape of hypostomium, arrangement of sensory structures on the labrum and frons, all differ among egg-larvae of Tipula. Sclerotisation and the arrangement of setae on the spiracular field are unique for each studied Tipula species. This is the first study to use head capsule characters to distinguish the larvae of Tipula.

The Korean species of Limonia Meigen, 1803 crane flies (Diptera: Limoniidae) are taxonomically revised. Species L. annulata Lackschewitz, 1940 (Lackschewitz, Pagast, 1940), L. bidens Savchenko, 1979, L. episema Alexander, 1924, L. fusciceps fusciceps Alexander, 1924, L. juvenca Alexander, 1935, L. messaurea messaurea Mendl, 1971, L. nemoralis Savchenko, 1983 are new records for the Korean peninsula and L. pia n. sp. is described. Synonymy of L. venerabilis Alexander, 1938 with L. macrostigma (Schummel, 1829) is confirmed. L. tanakai (Alexander, 1921) is not confirmed for the Korean Peninsula. An identification key, redescriptions and illustrations of all species and both sexes of adults, if they were found in Korea, are presented. Descriptions, illustrations and habitat characteristics are given for the previously unknown larva and pupa of L. parvipennis Alexander, 1940. Distinguishing morphological characters of the last instar larvae of Korean Limonia are discussed. Keys to the known Korean Limonia larvae and pupae are compiled.

Description, illustrations and habitat characteristics are given for the previously unknown last instar larvae and pupae of the genus Phyllolabis Osten Sacken, 1877 of the eastern palaearctic species Phyllolabis mongolica Podenas and Gelhaus, 2012 (Diptera: Limoniidae, Limnophilinae). Diagnostic features and phylogenetic relationships are discussed. Characters of the immatures stages of Phyllolabis shows similarities with the genus Austrolimnophila, Epiphragma and Dactylolabis and based on this investigation Phyllolabis is moved back into subfamily Limnophilinae s.l., albeit as one of its basal lineages.

Descriptions, illustrations and habitat characteristics are given for the previously unknown larvae and pupae of the East Palaearctic monotypic aquatic crane fly genus Limnorimarga Alexander, 1945 collected from Korea in hygropetric habitats. Diagnostic features and phylogenetic relationships are discussed.

Description, illustrations and habitat characteristics are given for the previously unknown larva of the eastern palaearctic species Protanyderus stackelbergi (Diptera: Tanyderidae). The larva was found in a Populus leaf “pack”, a habitat not reported previously for the family, in a small stream (braid) of a larger river in Mongolia. Characters of the larval stages of Protanyderus stackelbergi and Protoplasa fitchii are compared and differences between these two genera are discussed.

The investigation of crane flies (Diptera: Tipulidae) in the current territory of Mongolia started in 1880 with specimens collected by G. N. Potanin in north-central Mongolia. The most productive period has been during the last 17 years with the sampling and research fostered by the joint American-Mongolian Lake Hovsgol Survey in 1995–1997 and the Mongolian Aquatic Insect Survey (2003–2011). Since 1995, among the true crane flies, the families Cylindrotomidae (4 species) and Trichoceridae (5 species) have been newly discovered in Mongolia, the number of Tipulidae has doubled (now 136 species), the number of Limoniidae tripled (140 species), and nearly eight times more Pediciidae (15 species). In addition, two species of Tanyderidae (primitive crane flies), and one species of Ptychopteridae (phantom crane flies) are known from Mongolia. Most Mongolian species have Palaearctic (29.0%), Eastern Palaearctic (28.7%), or Mongolian Plateau (14.0%) distribution ranges. The peak flight period for adult c...

Description, illustrations and habitat characteristics are given for the previously unknown larvae and pupae of Eloeophila persalsa (Alexander, 1940), Limnophila (Limnophila) chinggsiskhani Podenas and Gelhaus, 2001 and Phylidorea (Macrolabina) temelskin Podenas and Gelhaus, 2001 based on specimens from Mongolia. Sclerotisation of the spiracular field, arrangement of the sensory structures on the labrum, length of the antennal segments, and number and shape of the mandible teeth are the main characters found to distinguish the larvae of these genera. The larvae were found in the riparian zone, usually in silt, sand or gravel. Pupae and pupal exuviae of these genera were found in mosses growing on the riverbanks. The female pupal stage is described for the first time for the genus Phylidorea. Eloephila persalsa is recorded from Mongolia for the first time.

The crane fly family Cylindrotomidae is newly recorded for Mongolia. Four species, Cylindrotoma distinctissima (Meigen, 1818), C. nigriventris Loew, 1849, Diogma glabrata (Meigen, 1818), Phalacrocera replicata (Linnaeus, 1758) are first recorded in Mongolia from sampling during 2002–2006. An illustrated key to identify these species, and the regional C. japonica Alexander, is presented. The two subspecies of Diogma glabrata (Meigen, 1818), D. g. megacauda Alexander 1931 and the nominotypical subspecies, are not supported as distinct.

Description, illustrations and habitat characteristics are given for the previously unknown larvae and pupae of Nearctic species Hexatoma (Eriocera) californica, H. (E.) fuliginosa and East Palaearctic species H. (E.) sachalinensis, H. (E.) stackelbergi, H. (E.) ussuriensis and H. (s.str.) nubeculosa. Hexatoma (E.) sachalinensis, H. (E.) stackelbergi, and H. (s.str.) nubeculosa are reported new for Mongolia based on larval and reared adult collections. There are no distinguishing morphological characters to separate last instar larvae of the subgenera H. (Eriocera) and H. (Hexatoma), while pupae of these subgenera can be separated by the size and shape of the spines on the terminal segments. This study indicates that microscopic setae on the last abdominal segment, length of maxillary palpi, sclerotization of the spiracular field, length of spiracular lobes, length of setae on the apical part of the ventral lobes, the shape of the labrum and the arrangement of sensory structures on the labrum are the main larval characters to distinguish among species in this genus. The shape and length of the respiratory horns, size and number of the horns of the cephalic crest, length of the antennal sheaths, the lengths of the sheaths of the legs, size and shape of tubercles on the antennal scape are the main distinguishing pupal characters for the species of this genus. Nearly all known species of Hexatoma develop in sand or gravel in bottom of large and medium size rivers, smaller streams and creeks while last instar larvae and pupae can be found in the riparian zone, usually in gravel, sand or under stones.

The Korean crane fly species of the genus Heterangaeus Alexander, 1925 (Diptera: Pediciidae) is taxonomically revised. H. gloriosus gloriosus (Alexander, 1924) is redescribed. A new species Heterangaeus koreanus n. sp., which is the first species of Pediciidae from South Korea, is described and illustrated.

Descriptions, illustrations and habitat characteristics are given for the previously unknown larvae and pupae of Tipula (Arctotipula) hovsgolensis T. (A.) caliginosa and T. (A.) quadriloba and pupae of T. (A.) salicetorum. In addition the larval stage of Tipula (A.) conjuncta conjuncta is redescribed. For the first time in Tipula (Arctotipula) microscopic hairs on the abdomen, length of the abdominal tubercles, length of the lateral abdominal setae, the arrangement of hairs on the spiracular lobes and the sclerotisation of spiracular field are discovered as the main characters to distinguish the larvae. Pupae of this subgenus can be separated by the shape and arrangement of the spines on the terminal segments. Larvae of most these species develop on the benthic and riparial zones of Mongolian rivers and springs; a few develop in marshy meadows.

Last instar larvae of two species of the genus Gonempeda Alexander, 1924, the palearctic G. flava (Schummel, 1829) and nearctic G. burra (Alexander, 1924), are described and illustrated for the first time for the genus. The pupa of G. burra is also newly described and compared to the pupa known previously for G. flava. Distinguishing characteristics of the immature stages allowing separation of this genus from other Chioneinae are presented, and the aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats used by the immatures are summarized. Characters of the larvae and pupae indicate that the genus Gonempeda belongs in a clade with Ormosia Rondani, 1856, Rhypholophus Kolenti, 1860 and Scleroprocta Edwards, 1938, but the exact relationships remain unresolved.

A new species of Pediciidae, Heterangaeus mongolicus is described from specimens collected during the fieldwork of the Mongolian Aquatic Insect Survey Project in north-central Mongolia, Tov Aimag (district). Descriptions and illustrations of the distinguishing morphological features are provided. Habitat information is presented. Female ovipositor and larvae of Heterangaeus are described and illustrated for the first time. This discovery of Heterangaeus in Mongolia represents a 1700 kilometer extension of the known distribution for the genus.

1830 egg-larvae of 7 species belonging to long palped crane flies (Tipulidae): Ctenophora guttata Meigen, Nephrotoma pratensis Linnaeus, N. dorsalis Fabricius, N. scurra Meigen, N. flavescens Linnaeus, N. submaculosa Edwards and N. crocata Linnaeus were obtained from 22 females captured in Lithuania in 2011-2012. It took from five days to more than three weeks for eggs to hatch. Crane flies have four instars of larvae. Second, third and the last instar larvae are very similar, when the first instar or egg-larvae differs radically. Descriptions and illustrations of external morphology, chaetotaxy of abdominal segments, characters of head capsules and last abdominal segments are given for the previously unknown first instar larvae of Ct. guttata, N. crocata, N. dorsalis, N. flavescens, N. pratensis, N. scurra and poorly known N. submaculosa. It was found out that difference of head capsule and last abdominal segment among the first instar larvae of above mentioned species of genus Nephrotoma are more obvious than in last instar. During this study it was found, that such characters as shape of apical teeth of mandible, shape of basal segment of antenna and number of sensillae, shape of hypostomium and arrangement of sensory structures on labrum, differ among egg-larvae of Nephrotoma. It was found, that pads on frontal part of prothorax and shape of lateral plates of egg-larvae labrum of Nephrotoma differ significantly from that of Ctenophora and could be used as genus separating characters.

A new species of Pediciidae, Heterangaeus mongolicus is described from specimens collected during the fieldwork of the Mongolian Aquatic Insect Survey Project in north-central Mongolia, Tov Aimag (district). Descriptions and illustrations of the distinguishing morphological features are provided. Habitat information is presented. Female ovipositor and larvae of Heterangaeus are described and illustrated for the first time. This discovery of Heterangaeus in Mongolia represents a 1700 kilometer extension of the known distribution for the genus.

1830 egg-larvae of 7 species belonging to long palped crane flies (Tipulidae): Ctenophora guttata Meigen, Nephrotoma pratensis Linnaeus, N. dorsalis Fabricius, N. scurra Meigen, N. flavescens Linnaeus, N. submaculosa Edwards and N. crocata Linnaeus were obtained from 22 females captured in Lithuania in 2011-2012. It took from five days to more than three weeks for eggs to hatch. Crane flies have four instars of larvae. Second, third and the last instar larvae are very similar, when the first instar or egg-larvae differs radically. Descriptions and illustrations of external morphology, chaetotaxy of abdominal segments, characters of head capsules and last abdominal segments are given for the previously unknown first instar larvae of Ct. guttata, N. crocata, N. dorsalis, N. flavescens, N. pratensis, N. scurra and poorly known N. submaculosa. It was found out that difference of head capsule and last abdominal segment among the first instar larvae of above mentioned species of genus Nephrotoma are more obvious than in last instar. During this study it was found, that such characters as shape of apical teeth of mandible, shape of basal segment of antenna and number of sensillae, shape of hypostomium and arrangement of sensory structures on labrum, differ among egg-larvae of Nephrotoma. It was found, that pads on frontal part of prothorax and shape of lateral plates of egg-larvae labrum of Nephrotoma differ significantly from that of Ctenophora and could be used as genus separating characters.