Scenopinus jerei, a new fly species from Finland, has been officially described by scientists. This 4-5 mm long, slender blackish fly is a member of the relatively primitive and species-poor family of window flies (Scenopinidae). The most well-known member of the family is the cosmopolitan window fly (Scenopinus fenestralis), which is commonly found indoors in man-made dwellings. Aside from the common window fly, another species, Scenopinus niger, was previously known from Finland.
Window flies are members of the Scenopinidae, a small family of primitive flies in the Asiloidea superfamily. They have a cosmopolitan distribution, with over 420 species described in 25 genera. The world’s greatest diversity is found in arid regions, as evidenced by the presence of the majority of European species in Mediterranean countries and Macaronesian islands.
Scenopinus jerei, a new fly species from Finland, has been officially described by researchers from the University of Eastern Finland and the Zoological Museum of the University of Turku in the journal ZooKeys. This 4-5 mm long, slender blackish fly is a member of the primitive and species-poor family of window flies (Scenopinidae). The most well-known member of the family is the cosmopolitan window fly (Scenopinus fenestralis), which is commonly found indoors in man-made structures. Scenopinus niger, a species other than the common window fly, was previously known from Finland.
Only about 420 species of window flies are known, the majority of which are found in arid regions of the world. Similarly, the Nordic species are found in dry habitats such as animal nests, where their larvae prey on other insects. Because their larvae prey on indoor pests, common window flies can be considered beneficial. The newly described species lives in the nests of cavity nesting birds in boreal forest habitats and is common but uncommon in Finland. The species is currently only known from Finland, but it is expected to be found in suitable habitats in neighboring countries as well.
The presence of a third Scenopinus species in Finland has been known for several decades, albeit under a different name at first. Mr. Jere Kahanpää, a diptera expert and digitization manager at the Finnish Museum of Natural History, was the first to suspect that the species was new to science. Because window flies are a poorly known group, with few experts even globally, the species’ identity has been debated for years.
However, thanks to the Finnish Ministry of the Environment’s support for a project to improve knowledge of Finnish biodiversity (PUTTE2), the work has now been completed and the new species named, as well as formally approved by the scientific community.
The authors of the study, Jaakko Pohjoismäki and Antti Haarto, named the species Scenopinus jerei to honor Mr. Jere Kahanpää, who played a key role in its discovery. In addition to the species description, the published article includes identification keys for all European window fly species.
The fact that a species previously unknown to science can be discovered in a relatively species-poor and well-studied Nordic country emphasizes how little is known about the local biodiversity.
There are approximately 420 window fly species worldwide, the majority of which live in hot and arid climates. The Finnish species may have also adapted to living in dry habitats, such as animal nests, where their larvae prey on other insects. According to research, the new species can be found all over Finland, particularly in the southern and central parts, but it is extremely rare. There have been no reports of the fly being found outside of Finland as of yet.
The researchers are confident that the species can be found in boreal forest biotopes throughout the Nordic countries. “The fact that a species previously unknown to science can be discovered from a relatively species-poor and well-studied Nordic country underscores how little is known about the local biodiversity,” they wrote. The discovery was detailed in a paper published in the journal ZooKeys.
