From Valery Korneyev on Facebook:

Sad news from Saint Petersburg: Dr. Vera Andreevna Richter, a famous expert in Tachinidae, Asilidae, Nemestrinidae, and Tephritidae, died tonight, February 7, 2015, from the consequences of a serious stroke happened a week ago. She was born on August 28, 1936, in Yerevan (Armenia) in a family of Margarita Ter-Minassyan, and Andrey Richter, two famous soviet coleopterists. R.I.P.

Dear Fellow Dipterists and Friends,

We have worked heavily on the organization of the 8th International Symposium on Syrphidae (ISS8), and now we can offer you the final details and all the available information for your convenience in the attached file.

Anyway, the same information is posted on our website: www.iss8.zfmk.de

We look forward to meeting you all in Monschau.

Best wishes,

Björn Rulik & Ximo Mengual


--
The Organizing Committee
8th International Symposium on Syrphidae
June 4 - 8, 2015. Monschau, Germany
syrphidae8@gmail.com

ATTACHMENT

"Catalogue of the Insects of Japan, volume 8 Diptera"

A compilation of works of 31 Japanese authorities, published by the Entomological Society of Japan, and distributed overseas by Touka Shobo Co. through JPT (Japan Publications Trading Co., Ltd).

It is published in two volumes, and deals with all Diptera species ever recorded from Japan (124 families, 1,668 genera and 7,658 species, in 1,101 pages). Though this publication is made mainly in Japanese, scientific names, original descriptions, original combinations, type localities, and distributions for all species are given in English (or in Roman alphabet), it is worth purchasing for non-Japanese entomologists.

Price and how to order:
Catalogue of the Insects of Japan, volume 8 Diptera
Part 1, Nematocera - Brachycera Aschiza: 15,700 Yen
Part 2, Brachycera Schizophora and indexes: 15,700 Yen
(Parts 1 2 together 31,400 Yen)
Order at JPT web-site (https://jptco-s.cms2.jp/business/export/contact_e.html)

Editor, Takeyuki Nakamura (craneflyheaven@ybb.ne.jp),
Toyohei Saigusa and Masaaki Suwa

Evert I. Schlinger passed away during the lunar eclipse in the early morning of Wednesday, October 8, 2014. He was a giant of a man in both stature and accomplishment. He fought for advancing science and improving the environment all of his life. He had a lazar-like ability to dissect problems and find solutions. He was gentle, caring, yet held strong convictions. His work in the systematics of the small-headed fly family Acroceridae was deep and provided the foundation for future workers; his work in biological control was less known but profoundly influenced the course and development of integrated pest management. Perhaps his greatest gift to science was a cadre of students that have made impacts in many areas of entomology and education. For me, he will always be remembered as my best friend and a great mentor.

Michael E. Irwin

Dear all,

I decided to write to all Syrphidologist the bad news about Pavel Láska's death.

Last weeks was Pavel ill and he probably knew that his lifetime was near the end. He was in hurry to finish his projects on Syrphidae as soon as possible. But computer world was unearthly for him (as other older people) to live with computer world in full fruitful friendship. It is pity, that last years I had not enought time to work up all Pavel's requests on Syrphidae work and to finish all his project and plans on Syrphidae as he wanted. I had to visit him in hospital or at his home for many times last weeks to work on our Syrphidae project and his intelect was always in excelent condition. But when I visited him in hospital in Friday to ask for some about Eupeodes, it was the first time in my life (and probably also in his) when his interest in Syrphidae was limited by his health.

Libor Mazánek

[from the Syrphidae mailing list]