First Sphaeroceridae (Diptera) endemic to Madeira – three new terricolous species of Spelobia and Pullimosina

Researchers have identified three new species of Sphaeroceridae (Diptera) endemic to Madeira, namely Spelobia polymorpha sp. nov., Pullimosina (Pullimosina) kesoni sp. nov., and P. (P.) dorae sp. nov. These terricolous species are inhabitants of the leaf-litter stratum in the original Madeiran laurel forests (Laurisilva), distinguished by their poor flying ability, which confines them to the island. Notably, these species exhibit no close relatives among endemic Sphaeroceridae in other Macaronesian archipelagos, such as the Canary Islands and Azores, where endemic genera differ significantly. The study describes both sexes of these new species, provides illustrations, and discusses their relationships, biology, and distribution. This discovery highlights the unique biodiversity of Madeira's laurisilva ecosystems.

Roháček, J. (2019). First Sphaeroceridae (Diptera) endemic to Madeira – three new terricolous species of Spelobia and Pullimosina. Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae, 59(1), 107–124. https://doi.org/10.2478/aemnp-2019-0009