Silesian Museum

Twenty-nine species of Afrotropical Stenichnini occurring in the Republic of South Africa and Zimbabwe and previously misplaced in Magellanoconnus Franz are transferred to Euconnus Thomson, subgenus Tetramelus Motschulsky.

Four new fossil species from two families of Acalyptratae (Diptera), all preserved in Baltic amber (Eocene, 48–34 Ma), are described: Acartophthalmites bicolor sp. nov., A. scotopteryx sp. nov., A. striatus sp. nov. (all Clusiomitidae), as well as Protanthomyza chelicerata sp. nov. (Protanthomyzidae). All new species are diagnosed, illustrated, and their relationships are discussed. Updated identification keys are provided. Based on newly acquired morphological data, the relationships of the subfamily Protanthomyzinae (formerly within Anthomyzidae) are revised. Since this fossil taxon is recognized as the sister group of Anthomyzidae (s. str.) (= without Protanthomyzinae) +Opomyzidae,, this group is elevated to the rank of a family, Protanthomyzidae stat. nov. The addition of four new species contributes to the knowledge of the diversity of Acalyptratae flies in the Eocene Baltic amber forest, even though they belong to extinct families.

Two species used to be included in the African genus Nadus: Nadus overlaeti (Navás, 1931) and Nadus sudanensis Navás, 1935. Following our revision of the genus, we propose that Nadus sudanensis Navás, 1935 (syn.nov.) should be a new junior synonym of Nadus overlaeti (Navás, 1931). The monobasic genus and species are redescribed. Several photographs illustrate morphological features. The distribution, habitat, and seasonal activity of the species are given.

The Technical and Dental Laboratory “Dentstal” in Bytom, a productivity cooperative employing dentist of Jewish origin, operated for a little over two years (1947–1949). It dealt with the production of elements of prosthetic restorations (steel castings, teeth, crowns, and parts for dentures). Due to the scope of the work carried out, the cooperative had a real chance to prosper for many years. As a result of a series of events, resulting from the lack of financial liquidity on the one hand, resulting from the lack of proper management and distribution system for the laboratory’s products, and on the other hand from irregularities revealed during the audit, it was closed. The process of liquidation of the plant, burdened with difficulties caused by several changes of inspectors-liquidators and resulting from improper security of the cooperative’s property and the funds obtained after its sale as repayment of debtors, continued for seven years.

This paper attempts to fill the gaps in knowledge about the biodiversity of some winter-active fly families from snowfields and caves in Vârghiș, Romania. A total of 15 fly species were recorded from caves and 9 species from snowfields. Exechiopsis (Exechiopsis) pseudindecisa Lastovka et Matile, 1974 and Rymosia placida Winnertz, 1863 from caves and Mycetophila mitis (Johannsen, 1912) (all Mycetophilidae) from snow represent the first records for Romania. Habitus photographs of these three species are provided.

Poster in the service of medicine. Public health as a subject of posters from the collection of the Upper Silesian Museum in Bytom (1950s–1980s) The poster is a combination of graphic elements and a text layer that is informative. Its development in the 1940s was influenced by the socio-political situation of the country, which was rebuilding itself from war damage. In the following decades, it was a narrative in line with the ideological foundations of the Eastern Bloc countries. Over time, the poster became a tool of conscious propaganda by the authorities. Social posters, including those dealing with multifaceted issues of public health, broke away from the monotonous narrative. In the collection of the History Department of the Upper Silesian Museum in Bytom, there are over 5.5 thousand posters of various content and caesura. A small part of them, 80 objects, analyzed in this study, concern activities in the field of prevention and health promotion, documenting the activities of the Polish Red Cross or compliance with safety regulations in the work environment and everyday life. Many of them were prepared by artists associated with the Polish Poster School, cooperating with Polskie Zakłady Graficzne, Wydawnictwo Artystyczno-Graficzne, Instytut Wydawniczy Centralnej Rady Związków Zawodowych and Wydawnictwo Państwowego Zakładu Higieny. Posters were placed in visible places, e.g. in hospitals, clinics, offices or mass media. Their task was to educate the society and develop proper habits in everyday life.

Simple SummaryBlack-winged fungus gnats (family Sciaridae) are one of the most species-rich groups of flies (Diptera), with about 3000 described species worldwide. Their taxonomy is notoriously challenging, as many genera are difficult to delimit and species identification relies almost exclusively on the male genitalia. Existing phylogenetic hypotheses based on DNA sequences are often contradictory, presumably due to low taxon or gene sampling. In this paper, a new multigene phylogenetic analysis is presented to support the concept and monophyly of a new genus, containing eight species, seven of them being described as new to science.The genus Spinopygina gen. nov. (type species Camptochaeta uniceps Hippa & Vilkamaa, 1994) from western North America is described. The genus includes the following eight species: Spinopygina acerfalx sp. nov.; S. aurifera sp. nov.; S. camura sp. nov.; S. edura sp. nov.; S. peltata sp. nov.; S. plena sp. nov.; S. quadracantha sp. nov.; and S. uniceps (Hippa & Vilkamaa, 1994) comb. nov., transferred from Corynoptera Winnertz. The new species are described and Spinopygina uniceps is re-diagnosed. The species are keyed and illustrated. In the maximum-likelihood phylogenetic hypothesis based on four gene fragments (28S, 18S, 16S and COI), Spinopygina gen. nov. appears as the sister group of Claustropyga Hippa, Vilkamaa & Mohrig, 2003. In the same analysis, a remarkable, undescribed species is placed within Camptochaeta Hippa & Vilkamaa clade.

The belfry is an element of key importance in the complex of the Vilnius Archcathedral Basilica and the Higher and Lower Castles, as well as one of the main vertical landmarks of the Old Town of Vilnius, which has become a symbol of the city. As a heritage object, the building is acclaimed for its volume, décor elements and authentic constructions. The 13th century tower originally was part of the defensive wall. Its ground floor has survived almost in its entirety. It is one of the oldest and best-preserved brickwork structures in Lithuania. In Lithuania, the appearance of large bells is related to the name of Grand Duke of Lithuania Algirdas. The master K.S. Skobeltas cast the first large bell for this ruler in the second half of the 14th century. In the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, bells and cannons were most often cast in weapon foundries by the same masters. Sigismund Augustus established such a foundry in the territory of the Lower Castle in the 16th century. From the 16th century onwards, bells began to be cast in Varniai, Kaunas and Nesvizh as well. In 2002, six large bells were consecrated in the Vilnius Cathedral Square and installed in the belfry. It was a gift from the Archdiocese of Cologne to the Vilnius Cathedral and the city. As a token of gratitude to Archbishop of Cologne Joachim Meisner (1933-2017), the largest bell was given the name of Saint Joachim. In 2002, the bells were cast in one of the largest foundries of Germany, “Petit und Edelbrock” in Westphalia, which is in operation since the second half of the 18th century. The clock of the belfry of the Vilnius Cathedral is the oldest and most important clock in the capital of Lithuania. It was installed in this tower in 1672. It is presumed that the mechanism of the clock was produced in Germany, but the name of the master is unknown. The date 1803 incised on the forged frame bears witness to the last significant repair of the clock, supervised by the elder of the Vilnius clock makers’ guild Juozapas Bergmanas. When the clock tower of the Vilnius Town Hall collapsed in the late 19th century, this mechanism became the city’s main clock. The bell cast in 1673 by Jan Delamars, the bellfounder working in Vilnius, strikes the hours in the cathedral belfry. Its height is 58 cm, and its diameter is 107 cm. The bell is a work of art: it is encircled with a Latin inscription and an ornament, and decorated with the figures of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the patrons of the Vilnius Cathedral, Saint Casimir and Saint Stanislaus.

Abstract Associations of insects that live in nests and burrows of small mammals are relatively poorly explored. This work therefore tries to expand the knowledge about Diptera communities (Psychodidae and Sphaeroceridae) of two small mammals, namely Micromys minutus (Pallas, 1771) and Muscardinus avellanarius (Linnaeus, 1758). In nests of Eurasian harvest mouse two psychodid species and one sphaerocerid species, while in hazel dormouse nest one psychodid species and three sphaerocerid species have been found, all representing new nest records.

Abstract A synopsis of the fauna of the family Heleomyzidae (Diptera) in the Gemer area (Slovakia) is presented. A total of 66 species are treated based on previously published records and material examined (largely from the Muránska planina National Park and the Cerová vrchovina Protected Landscape Area). Each species is listed with comments about its general distribution, biology and faunistic and/or nature-conservancy importance. The regional fauna of Heleomyzidae is distinguished for high species diversity and for the occurrence of a number of rare or stenotopic species. Four species are new additions to the fauna of the whole of Slovakia, viz. Neoleria ruficeps (Zetterstedt, 1838), Oldenbergiella brumalis Czerny, 1924, O. seticerca Papp, 1980 and Orbellia myiopiformis Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830; in addition, 13 species belong to rare and little-known taxa with only a few previous records from the country. The fauna of the Gemer area is enriched by 22 species; 32 species are recorded from the Muránska planina NP and 31 from the Cerová vrchovina PLA for the first time. The peculiarities of the fauna of Heleomyzidae in the Gemer territory are discussed including a review of species associated with cave habitats and species most important from the ecological, biogeographical and nature-conservancy points of view.