MSc Student
Advisor: Luise Kruckenhauser

Museum of Natural History Vienna
Unit for Integrative Zoology, Department of Evolutionary Biology
University of Vienna

Bombyliidae, bee flies in English, are a diverse group within the taxon of true flies (Brachycera). Over 4500 species have been described globally. There is, however, no complete species list for Austria, no up-to-date identification key that covers these species, and DNA barcoding reference data is highly incomplete. This fact impedes research into the biology and ecology of the group. Bee flies are larval parasitoids of important pollinator taxa (native bees and moths) and pollinators themselves as adults. Thus, the study of Bombyliidae is highly relevant to the field of pollination ecology, which is growing in importance in face of the biodiversity crisis and subsequent policy decisions. This thesis attempts to close the gap in the foundational knowledge of the group. A thorough review of all public and some private collections is performed to update and correct existing knowledge of the Austrian Bombyliidae fauna. DNA barcoding of a large number of specimens aims to improve the reference data coverage, and identification literature is compiled to cover the species found to be native to Austria. At time of writing, 24 barcodes are complete and two species previously not known in Austria have been recorded for the first time.