Discobola Osten Sacken, 1865 (Diptera, Limoniidae) in China: Taxonomic Review, Updated Distribution, and DNA...

The genus Discobola Osten Sacken, 1865 from China is taxonomically reviewed using an integrative approach that combines detailed morphological examination and molecular analysis. Discobola parvispinula (Alexander, 1947), a species widely distributed across the Palaearctic region, is newly recorded from China. Updated distributional data are presented for species known from China: D. annulata (Linnaeus, 1758), D. armorica (Alexander, 1942), D. margarita Alexander, 1924, and D. taivanella (Alexander, 1930). Detailed redescriptions and illustrations, including intraspecific morphological variation, are provided for these species. An identification key to Chinese Discobola species is also presented. Geographical analysis reveals a higher species richness in southern China and the Qinghai-Tibet region, with a progressive decline toward northern and northwestern China. The first DNA barcode reference library for Chinese Discobola is established, comprising 15 mt COI sequences from five species. These sequences, analyzed alongside an additional 101 mt COI sequences from Discobola species in other countries, show that intraspecific divergence within the genus remains below 7.4%, while interspecific divergence ranges from 7.6% to 17.7%. These findings provide important insights into the taxonomy, species delimitation, and biogeography of Discobola in China, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of Discobola diversity across the region.