Neoempheria Osten Sacken (Diptera: Mycetophilidae) from the Neotropical region: redescriptions of two species with complete life cycles

Abstract

Summary Despite the rich biodiversity of the Neotropical Region, there is a dearth of recent studies on new Mycetophilidae species or their immature stages. To address this gap, we conducted a survey of Neoempheria species in the state of Paraná, Brazil, and provide the first descriptions of the immature stages of two species: Neoempheria plaumanni Edwards and N. spinosa Edwards. We also redescribed the adults of these two species, detailing their morphology and biology, including notes on their life cycles. Immatures were collected from a piece of decaying wood containing lichens and fungi, and were subsequently reared in the laboratory. Our findings represent the first records of both species in the State of Paraná, and we update the geographic distribution of these two species accordingly. Our study contributes to a better understanding of the diversity and ecology of Mycetophilidae in the Neotropical Region.