Concerns about global biodiversity are rising dramatically, yet we are lagging behind in the most basic prerequisite for its understanding and conservation: the inventory. Insect species may make up five or ten times the number of all other plant and animal species combined, and as such they represent one of the major challenges in biosystematic science. World Catalogue of Insects is an initiative aiming at compiling worldscale, authoritative catalogues of monophyletic insect taxa. Volumes in this series contain standard nomenclatoral information on all names pertaining to the taxon treated, including type locality and distribution to the extent this is relevant. Additional information is optional, e.g., location, status and condition of types; biology; bibliographical information; pest status; vector status; etc. This volume nine focuses on Drosophilidae (Diptera). (Series: World Catalogue of Insects)

Many species of Drosophila are very important laboratory animals in almost all fields of biological research, because of the ease of culturing on artificial media as well as of their rapid rate of development. Also the study of natural populations, including their living conditions, has become more and more important. "The Drosophilidae (Diptera) of Fennoscandia" gives a detailed account of the taxonomy, identification, distribution, and biology of 17 genera and 128 species of West European Drosophilidae. Full descriptions and standardized illustrations of the terminalia are provided for 80 North European species. The aims of this books is to faciliate field work by providing identification keys and by giving hints for further studies on biology, distribution and other aspects of drosophilids.

Many species of Drosophila are very important laboratory animals in almost all fields of biological research, because of the ease of culturing on artificial media as well as of their rapid rate of development. Also the study of natural populations, including their living conditions, has become more and more important. "The Drosophilidae (Diptera) of Fennoscandia" gives a detailed account of the taxonomy, identification, distribution, and biology of 17 genera and 128 species of West European Drosophilidae. Full descriptions and standardized illustrations of the terminalia are provided for 80 North European species. The aims of this books is to faciliate field work by providing identification keys and by giving hints for further studies on biology, distribution and other aspects of drosophilids.

The modified mouthparts group is perhaps the largest of the four major Hawaiian Drosophila clades, yet has received relatively little taxonomic attention during the past 40 years. This study reviews unplaced species and the ceratostoma, freycinetiae, semifuscata, and setiger subgroups, with descriptions of 22 new species. We hope this work encourages greater study of the biology of this important group.

The highest single-site species diversity known thus far in the world for Drosophilidae is in Costa Rica, based on findings in this report. A total of 352 species of Drosophilidae (Diptera) were found in a cloud forest (1580 m) in Zurquí de Moravia, San José Province (hereafter “Zurquí”), based on 2908 specimens collected continuously for one year, using eight trapping and collecting methods. There are currently 305 described species from Costa Rica. Zurquí is at the edge of a large, protected area and was the site of an All-Diptera inventory project. For this study, drosophilid specimens were identified to genus/subgenus, sorted to morphospecies, and their abundances plotted by collection method: Malaise traps, flight intercept traps, baited traps, light and yellow pan traps, emergence traps, and hand collecting with nets. The standard method used by drosophilists, bait trapping, captured a small fraction of species. Malaise traps captured 87% of all species, and 41% of the 352 species were captured only this way. Emergence traps captured a surprising diversity (47 species) of Diathoneura and Drosophila, establishing that leaf litter/humus is an important breeding site for some taxa. Combining all collection methods, 11 species were abundant, as defined by 50 or more specimens, and comprised 35% of all specimens in the study; two-thirds (66%) of all species were rare, as defined by five or fewer specimens. Comparisons are made to other well-collected sites and regions around the world. Lowland to mid-montane forests on the eastern slopes of the Andes may be the most diverse area for Drosophilidae, a family that is exemplary for studying the ecology and evolution of tropical diversity.

This volume nine focuses on Drosophilidae (Diptera).