Hippoboscidae

Museum of Zoology

Diptera


The research in the Diptera Division Dresden is focussed on faunistics, biosystematics and zoogeography of sciaroid flies, especially the families Bolitophilidae, Diadocidiidae, Ditomyiidae, Keroplatidae and Mycetophilidae. Specimens of different geografic regions will be examined to get a better database for phylogenetic research on this group.

A separate Division Diptera in the Zoological Museum Dresden, regarding the curation of these collections, was established for the first time in 1989. The chief aim of this decision was, to improve the conservation and accessibility of that important collection of pinned Diptera. The collection has grown strongly since then, especially the collection of Diptera preserved in liquid. Besides pinned material, specimens preserved in ethanol are useful in many groups and are essential for the study of fragile dipterans, such as gall midges (Cecidomyiidae) or fungus gnats (Sciaroidea, pt.). In addition, the staff of the Diptera Division is responsible for the curation of Hymenoptera and Dragonflies (Odonata). The conservation and revision of these collections could get improved within the last few years, but are still unsatisfactory.

Besides these activities, an extensive work on Diptera faunistics of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains is going on.

Our research contributes to the Research Field Biodiversity and Systematics.