50 new species for the 49th state - Alaska: using integrative taxonomy to illuminate a dark taxon (Diptera: Phoridae)

Thalles’ research focuses on the diversity of flies (Diptera), especially the Phoridae family, using morphological and molecular data (barcoding with nanopore sequencing technology). Additionally, his interests include natural history collections-based research, taxonomy, systematics, and co-phylogeny of ant parasitoid flies (Apocephalus series: Phoridae: Diptera). Although his previous papers and new species described (9) were based on neotropical specimens, his new project will focus on Alaskan and Beringian specimens (from +40°C to -40°C!). He will be using Large-scale Integrative Taxonomy, aiming to better understand the diversity of Phoridae in the Arctic and Subarctic Regions and its distribution patterns across Alaska, Canada, and Sweden.