The identity, richness, and abundance of true flies (Diptera) from the nests of three cavity-nesting raptors (Aves) were investigated in northern Nova Scotia, Canada. After fledging, flies were extracted from the nest material using Berlese funnels within an emergence chamber. Thirty-one species/morphospecies from 14 families were collected, including eight new records for Nova Scotia and two new records for eastern North America.

A new species, Contarinia brassicola Sinclair (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), which induces flower galls on canola (Brassica napus Linnaeus and Brassica rapa Linnaeus (Brassicaceae)), is described from Saskatchewan and Alberta, Canada. Larvae develop in the flowers of canola, which causes swelling and prevents opening, pod formation, and seed set. Mature larvae exit the galls, fall to the soil, and form cocoons. Depending on conditions, larvae will either pupate and eclose in the same calendar year or enter facultative diapause and emerge the following year. At least two generations of C. brassicola occur each year. Adults emerge from overwintering cocoons in the spring and lay eggs on developing canola flower buds. The galls produced by C. brassicola were previously attributed to the swede midge, Contarinia nasturtii (Kieffer) in Saskatchewan; here, we compare and list several characters to differentiate the two species.

Neothaumalea atlanticanew genus, new species (Diptera: Thaumaleidae), is described from the state of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil. This represents the first thaumaleid collected east of the Andes mountain range. The egg, larva, pupa, and both adults are described and illustrated, distribution map presented, and phylogenetic affinities discussed. A key to the genera of South America is also provided.

A new species of gall midge, Stenodiplosis phragmicola Sinclair and Ahee (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), is described. The host plant, Phragmites australis (Cavanilles) Trinius ex Steudel (Poaceae), is a tall, widely distributed emergent aquatic macrophyte. An introduced subspecies of the plant is considered invasive in North America (although a native subspecies also occurs). Insect specimens were collected during September 2010 and 2011 from the florets of common reed at 12 sites around Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. Preliminary data on ecological interactions between the plant and the insect are presented. Out of 2400 florets sampled, 9.5% were host to larvae of S. phragmicola. Three sites had much higher rates of infestation, with between 20% and 30% florets, and up to 100% of sampled shoots containing fly larvae. The largest stands in the sample all hosted fly populations and there was a positive association between the reproductive output of P. australis stands (measured as the average inflorescence mass per stand) and the proportion of shoots per stand containing larvae. The occurrence of S. phragmicola on the native subspecies of P. australis is also documented. Insects that consume reproductive structures of the common reed have not previously been reported from the plant's introduced range in North America.

The history of Diptera research at the Canadian National Collection of Insects is briefly outlined. Short biographic sketches of the coordinators of the Manual of Nearctic Diptera are given and the development of the Manual project is presented to provide background on their achievements. Lists of publications by each of the coordinators and of patronyms honouring them are provided. This Festschrift honours the remarkable contributions of the coordinators, J. Frank McAlpine, Bobbie V. Peterson, Guy E. Shewell, Herbert J. Teskey, J. Richard Vockeroth, and D. Monty Wood.

The Nearctic species of the brachystomatid genus Heleodromia Haliday are revised. The following six species are recognized: Heleodromia boreoalpina Saigusa, H. chillcotti Sinclair sp. nov., H. cranehollowensis Cumming and Coovert sp. nov., H. irwini Wagner, H. pullata (Melander), and H. woodi Brooks sp. nov. The following new Palearctic distribution records are also reported: H. boreoalpina (Russian Far East), H. irwini (Germany, Russian Far East), and H. immaculata Haliday (Russian Far East). A key to adults, illustrations of male terminalia, and known distributions are included.

Sixteen genera are recognized in the Clinocerinae (Diptera: Empididae): Dipsomyia Bezzi, Proagomyia Collin, Asymphyloptera Collin, Proclinopyga Melander, Rhyacodromia Saigusa, Trichoclinocera Collin, Clinocera Meigen, Oreothalia Melander, Roederiodes Coquillett, Clinocerella Engel, new status, Hypenella Collin, Kowarzia Mik, Dolichocephala Macquart, Phaeobalia Mik, Bergenstammia Mik, and Wiedemannia Zetterstedt. The subgenera of Clinocera are no longer recognized and the genus is divided into six tentative informal species groups. The following new generic synonyms are proposed: Hydrodromia Macquart = Clinocera; Archiclinocera Frey and Hypoclinocera Frey = Kowarzia; Lamposoma Becker, Fur Garrett Jones, and Obstinocephala Garrett Jones = Dolichocephala. A key to genera is provided for the identification of adult specimens of Clinocerinae, all genera are described, several lectotypes are designated, and male and female terminalia are illustrated. A world list of species is included for each genus, identifying new combinations. Cladistic relationships of the genera of the Clinocerinae are presented.

Zanclotus Wilder is transferred from the Clinocerinae to the Oreogetoninae. Dryodromia Rondani, also formerly in Clinocerinae, is considered to be most closely related to Hesperempis Melander, both of which are hypothesized to share apomorphies with the Empidinae + Hemerodromiinae. The genera Boreodromia Coquillett, Ceratempis Melander, Ephydrempis Saigusa, Niphogenia Melander, Sabroskyella Wilder, and Trichopeza Rondani also are removed from the Clinocerinae and transferred to the subfamily Trichopezinae, new status. In addition, Apalocnemis Philippi, Gloma Meigen, Hyperperacera Collin (all formerly in Oreogetoninae) and Heleodromia Haliday (formerly in Hemerodromiinae) are transferred to the Trichopezinae. Heterophlebus Philippi (formerly in Oreogetoninae) and Rubistella Garrett Jones (formerly in Brachystomatinae) are removed from synonymy and also transferred to the Trichopezinae. This subfamily is described, and the phylogenetic relationships and.geographic distribution of the included genera are discussed. The Trichopezinae is considered most closely related to the Brachystomatinae (exclusive of Homalocnemis Philippi) and Ceratomerinae. These three subfamilies are hypothesized to represent the sister group to the Microphorinae + Dolichopodidae.

There are 16 species of Trichoclinocera Collin recognized from the Nearctic region, including eight new species. Four of six species-groups of Trichoclinocera are recognized in the Nearctic region, with the following included species: (1) T. comata group — T. cascadensis sp.nov. (type-locality Starvation Creek, Oregon, U.S.A.), T. comata (Melander) comb.nov., and T. rupestris sp.nov. (type-locality Newton Creek, Wyoming, U.S.A.); (2) T. dolicheretma group — T. dolicheretma (Melander); (3) T. lapponica group — T. lapponica (Ringdahl) comb.nov.; (4) T. longipes group — T. agilis sp.nov. (type-locality Fall Creek Falls, Tennessee, U.S.A.), T. ctenistes (Melander), T. dasycoxa sp.nov. (type-locality Ottawa, Ontario, Canada), T. falcata sp.nov. (type-locality Gatineau Park, Quebec, Canada), T. fumosa (Vaillant) comb.nov., T. hamifera (Melander), T. longipes (Walker). T. minor (Melander), T. ozarkensis sp.nov. (type-locality Haw Creek Falls, Arkansas, U.S.A.), and T. pectinifemur sp.nov. (type-locality Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.). The following new synonyms are proposed: T. brunnipennis (Melander) = T. dolicheretma; and Seguyella saltans (Vaillant) = T. hamifera. Lectotypes are designated for T. comata, T. ctenistes, T. dolicheretma, T. brunnipennis, T. hamifera, T. lapponica, and T. stackelbergi Collin. Seguyella Vaillant and Acanthoclinocera Saigusa are newly synonymized with Trichoclinocera and all species formerly placed in these genera are transferred to Trichoclinocera, except Acanthoclinocera glaucescens (Brunetti) which is transferred as Wiedemannia glaucescens (Brunetti) comb.nov.This revision includes a key to Nearctic species, a description of each species, and maps of species distributions. Homologies of male terminalia of Clinocerinae are summarized and the first descriptions of the immature stages of species of Trichoclinocera also are provided. A world list of described species of Trichoclinocera is provided and all species are assigned to one of six species-groups, except T. cummingi sp.nov. (type-locality Robber’s Cave, Oklahoma. U.S.A.), T. fluviatilis (Brunetti) comb.nov., T. fuscipennis Saigusa, and T. maewa Smith, which remain unplaced. The monophyly of Trichoclinocera is justified and phylogenetic relationships to the remaining Clinocerinae and among species-groups are discussed.

The adult, pupa, and final-instar larva of Trichothaumalea elakalensis sp.nov. (Diptera: Thaumaleidae) are described and illustrated. This is the first record of this genus from eastern North America and first description of the immature stages. In addition, reinterpretation of the homologies of the male terminalia and preliminary observations on the male reproductive system of Thaumaleidae are presented and the phylogenetic implications upon the monophyly of the Chironomoidea are discussed.

The first record of a European blackberry leaf gall midge, Dasineura plicatrix (Loew), is confirmed from North America. Specimens were reared from damaged leaves of blackberry, Rubus laciniatus Willd. (thornless variety ‘Chester’), and red raspberry, R. idaeus L. (variety ‘Cascade Delight’) (Rosaceae), in southwestern British Columbia. Photographs of the damage and illustrations of the male terminalia and female ovipositor are presented to assist future determinations.

The male genital tract of Chaoboridae, represented by Eucorethra underwoodi Underwood, Mochlonyx velutinus (Ruthe), and Chaoborus trivittatus (Loew), is described for the first time. All genera have paired accessory glands that are attached anteriorly to the vasa deferentia or the base of the testes, a feature that is proposed as a synapomorphy of Chaoboridae + Culicidae. Mochlonyx Loew and Chaoborus Lichenstein have distinctive pigment cells covering their testes and a portion of the vasa deferentia. The simplified male genital tract of Corethrellidae + Chaoboridae + Culicidae is correlated with the virtually unique abrupt and permanent 180° rotation of the male genitalia between segments 7 and 8. In taxa with an accessory-gland complex, the male genitalia are rotated in a more gradual manner, often during copulation.

Two species of Androprosopa Mik are reported from Mexico, one of which is newly described (A. zempoalasp. nov.). This new species is related to a small group of western Nearctic species defined by a pair of posterolateral hook-like epandrial processes.

The male genital tract of Axymyiidae and Tanyderidae, represented by Axymyia furcata McAtee and Protoplasa fitchii Osten Sacken, respectively, are described and illustrated for the first time. The tract of A. furcata is foreshortened, with relatively short, thick vasa deferentia that meet medially at the ejaculatory duct, which empties dorsal to the ejaculatory apodeme. The accessory glands are large and either firmly appressed or fused medially. The tract of P. fitchii has elongate vasa deferentia that curve ventrally and enter the ejaculatory duct separately. The short accessory glands are separate but their exit is uncertain. Neither of these male genital tracts shed further light on the phylogenetic position of these families within the nematocerous Diptera, although Tanyderidae do lack the synapomorphic multi-chambered accessory glands grouping Ptychopteridae + Culicomorpha + Bibionomorpha.

Dolichocephala Macquart is revised for America, north of Mexico. New descriptions and diagnoses of the genus and a previously known species are presented. Six new species are described: Dolichocephala arnaudisp. nov., Dolichocephala borkentisp. nov., Dolichocephala chillcottisp. nov., Dolichocephala teskeyisp. nov., Dolichocephala vockerothisp. nov., and Dolichocephala woodisp. nov. Previous Nearctic records of Dolichocephala irrorata Fallén are based on misidentifications. Dolichocephala bellstedti Joost is newly recorded from Sweden. A key to adults, photographs of wings, illustrations of male terminalia, and known distributions are included.

Syneches Walker from Fiji is revised, including the description of two new species: S. bezziisp. nov. and S. insolitussp. nov. A lectotype is designated for S. pullus Bezzi and a key to the five recognized species is provided. Epiceia Walker, Harpamerus Bigot syn. nov., and Parahybos Kertész syn. nov. are considered congeneric with Syneches; all species affected by these changes are listed, including the following new replacement names: S. meijereinom. nov. and S. yanginom. nov.