A Systematic Classification of Fungus Gnats (Diptera: Mycetophilidae) of the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument (GSENM), Utah

Authors

Mark Robert Nelson, Brigham Young University
Dr. C. Riley Nelson, Brigham Young University

Keywords

fungus gnat, Mycetophilidae, Grand Staircase, GSENM, Utah, Escalante National Monument

College

Life Sciences

Department

Biology

Abstract

Mycetophilidae (fungus gnat) is a species-rich family of flies, existing on every continent but Antarctica, which has received little documentation on a global basis and no documentation in Utah (Vockeroth, 1981). In the most recent and comprehensive catalog of flies in North America only about sixty of the thousands of fungus gnats known are predicted to be found in Utah (Laffoon, 1965). My mentor, Riley Nelson, and I believe that this figure is likely a gross underestimate that will be rectified, in part, with the conclusion of my study. Not only will my research document the known fungus gnats in the Grand Staircase, but I also expect to describe previously undocumented species. This project has already uncovered specimens which, in early systematic testing, appear to be unknown to science.

Recommended Citation

Nelson, Mark Robert and Nelson, Dr. C. Riley (2013) "A Systematic Classification of Fungus Gnats (Diptera: Mycetophilidae) of the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument (GSENM), Utah," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013: Iss. 1, Article 1014.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/1014