The Genus ISpinopygina/I gen. nov. from Western North America: Preliminary Molecular Phylogeny and Description of Seven New Species

Black-winged fungus gnats (family Sciaridae) are one of the most species-rich groups of flies (Diptera), with about 3000 described species worldwide. Their taxonomy is notoriously challenging, as many genera are difficult to delimit and species identification relies almost exclusively on the male genitalia. Existing phylogenetic hypotheses based on DNA sequences are often contradictory, presumably due to low taxon or gene sampling. In this paper, a new multigene phylogenetic analysis is presented to support the concept and monophyly of a new genus, containing eight species, seven of them being described as new to science. The genus Spinopygina gen. nov. (type species Camptochaeta uniceps Hippa & Vilkamaa, 1994) from western North America is described. The genus includes the following eight species: Spinopygina acerfalx sp. nov.; S. aurifera sp. nov.; S. camura sp. nov.; S. edura sp. nov.; S. peltata sp. nov.; S. plena sp. nov.; S. quadracantha sp. nov.; and S. uniceps (Hippa & Vilkamaa, 1994) comb. nov., transferred from Corynoptera Winnertz. The new species are described and Spinopygina uniceps is re-diagnosed. The species are keyed and illustrated. In the maximum-likelihood phylogenetic hypothesis based on four gene fragments (28S, 18S, 16S and COI), Spinopygina gen. nov. appears as the sister group of Claustropyga Hippa, Vilkamaa & Mohrig, 2003. In the same analysis, a remarkable, undescribed species is placed within Camptochaeta Hippa & Vilkamaa clade.