# Cover article for Integrative Systematics January 04, 2024 - [ News ](/news-categories/news) ![Cover of Integrated Systematics V6 I2](/sites/g/files/omnuum6366/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/farrell/files/240104_thalles_sbnav2-6a2cover.jpeg?h=767529e4&itok=PXvBKcvz) Now available in *Integrative Systematics: Stuttgart Contributions to Natural History:* Thalles and colleagues article "Discovery of snakeworm gnats in Alaska: a new species of *Sciara* Meigen (Diptera: Sciaridae) based on morphological, molecular, and citizen science data." "A new species of *Sciara* Meigen, 1803, *Sciara serpens* Pereira, Heller & Sutou, **sp. n.**, is described based on morphological, molecular, and citizen science data. The new species forms larval masses moving in columns, referred to as “snakeworms” or “armyworms” in the literature, and is closely related to *Sciara mirabilis* ([Bechstein, 1794](https://bioone-org.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/journals/integrative-systematics-stuttgart-contributions-to-natural-history/volume-6/issue-2/2023.673937/Discovery-of-snakeworm-gnats-in-Alaska--a-new-species/10.18476/2023.673937.full#bibr02)). *Sciara minor* [Strobl, 1898](https://bioone-org.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/journals/integrative-systematics-stuttgart-contributions-to-natural-history/volume-6/issue-2/2023.673937/Discovery-of-snakeworm-gnats-in-Alaska--a-new-species/10.18476/2023.673937.full#bibr73), **restit. et stat. n.** is revalidated based on morphological and molecular data. *Sciara mirabilis* is used for a European species previously referred to under its junior synonym *Sciara militaris* [Nowicki, 1868](https://bioone-org.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/journals/integrative-systematics-stuttgart-contributions-to-natural-history/volume-6/issue-2/2023.673937/Discovery-of-snakeworm-gnats-in-Alaska--a-new-species/10.18476/2023.673937.full#bibr55). An estimate of the mitochondrial phylogeny of representative *Sciara* species, a summary of snakeworm sightings in North America, and a brief review of hypotheses for why such larval mass-movement behavior occurs are provided." Learn more about this research in [Publications](/publications/discovery-snakeworm-gnats-alaska-new-species-sciara-meigen-diptera-sciaridae) Share on:- [ Facebook ](#) - [ Twitter ](#) - [ Linkedin ](#)