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A, Sericomyia carolinensis male habitus, lateral (CNCD29611); B, S. carolinensis male habitus, dorsal (CNCD29611); C, S. lata female, frontal of head (CNCD601); D, S. lata male habitus, lateral (CNCD2222); E, Sericomyia lata male habitus, dorsal (CNCD2222); F, S. lata female field photo (S.A. Marshall). Scale bars 5 2 mm.
Source publication
The 19 New World species of Sericomyia Meigen are reviewed, including one species new to North America (Sericomyia jakutica (Stackelberg)) and one previously undescribed species (Sericomyia vockerothi Skevington sp. nov. from Alberta, Minnesota, Northwest Territories, Quebec, and Yukon Territory). Mallota powelli Nayar and Cole is recognized as a j...
Citations
... Thompson Trichocera of collecting a rare species of syrphid, which he unfortunately did not find. It is likely that he was trying to find Sericomyia tolli (Frey, 1915), which had previously been collected at this location (Skevington & Thompson 2012). The specimens from this expedition are being processed, and the results will be published in the near future (Pereira & Sikes in prep.). ...
The insect collection of the University of Alaska Museum (UAM) is among the most thor- oughly digitized collections in North America. Alaska is the largest state in the United States, with about one fifth of the country’s total area, and the state with the most rapidly changing climate. The Alaskan Diptera fauna is the state’s most species-rich and least well- studied. The main objectives of this paper are to document Chris Thompson’s contributions to the study of Alaskan Diptera and the University of Alaska Museum Insect Collection.
... Thompson & Skevington (2014) used DNA barcodes of the Bacchini sensu lato genera to place Afrostoma into phylogenetic context. Although the utility of a fragment of a single gene for phylogenetic inference is questionable (see Doyle, 1992;Nichols, 2001;Hebert & Gregory, 2005, among others), the present author followed the analytical methodology used by Thompson & Skevington (2014), explained in Skevington & Thompson (2012), in order to incorporate the new species of Melanostoma without metasternal excavation to the same data matrix and to be able to compare the results of the barcoding analysis with the phylogenetic analysis based on three molecular markers. DNA sequences for the 5′ end of the COI gene for the species analyzed by Thompson & Skevington (2014) were downloaded from GenBank and three sequences from the new Melanostoma species from Cameroon were added to the matrix (658 bp of the 5′ end). ...
The phylogenetic relationships among the genera of the tribe Bacchini sensu lato (i.e., Syrphinae with simple, unsegmented aedeagus) were inferred using molecular evidence. The mitochondrial protein-coding gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and the nuclear ribosomal 28S and 18S rRNA genes for 54 bacchine taxa were analyzed using Bayesian inference and Maximum Likelihood. Among the analyzed taxa there is a new species of Melanostoma (Schiner) from Cameroon, Melanostoma janeceki Mengual, sp. nov. , which is described in full. This new species has a complete metasternum without excavation, a characteristic that is not present in other species of Melanostoma , usually with an excavated metasternum, but it is the diagnostic character of the genus Afrostoma Skevington, Thompson & Vockeroth. Based on the phylogenetic placement of Melanostoma janeceki Mengual, sp. nov. the taxonomic status of Afrostoma as a genus is discussed and a new generic classification of Bacchini stat. rev. and Melanostomini stat. rev. is presented in the light of the inferred phylogeny. Results did not recover Bacchini sensu lato monophyletic, but into two groups as follows: Melanostoma and related genera, and Baccha , Platycheirus and related genera. Pseudoplatychirus van Doesburg is considered junior synonym of Platycheirus Le Peletier & Audinet-Serville, and Afrostoma Skevington, Thompson & Vockeroth as junior synonym of Melanostoma . Pyrophaena Schiner and Eocheilosia Hull comb. nov. are ranked as valid genera, and consequently, the genus Platycheirus is divided into four subgenera: Platycheirus (Carposcalis) (Enderlein), Platycheirus (Pachysphyria) (Enderlein), Platycheirus (Platycheirus) , and Platycheirus (Tuberculanostoma) (Fluke) comb. nov.
... DNA extraction, COI amplification and sequencing followed the methods outlined in Skevington and Thompson (2012). GenBank numbers are provided in the material examined list after the relevant specimens and begin with the letters KX (e.g. ...
Trichopsomyia formiciphila sp. n., a new ant inquiline flower fly, is described from eastern Australia. It has been reared in association with weaver ants of the genus Polyrhachis (Cyrtomyrma) Forel, in the nests of which its larvae are probably brcoc predators.
... So far, only two studies dealt with DNA barcoding of Syrphidae, viz. one on West Palaearctic Pandasyopthalmus [20] and one on the genus Merodon from Lesvos Island (Greece) [21], although COI barcodes have been used in several taxonomic studies of Syrphidae e.g. [22,23,24]. Nevertheless, there are many COI barcodes/sequences in GenBank (a search with the keywords "Syrphidae and barcode" or "Syrphidae and COI" on 2 September 2015 retrieved 1,328 and 2,841 records, respectively) and in the Barcoding of Life Database System (BOLD; http://www.barcoding-life.org) ...
The identification of Afrotropical hoverflies is very difficult because of limited recent taxonomic revisions and the lack of comprehensive identification keys. In order to assist in their identification, and to improve the taxonomy of this group, we constructed a reference dataset of 513 COI barcodes of 90 of the more common nominal species from Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria (W Africa) and added ten publically available COI barcodes from nine nominal Afrotropical species to this (total: 523 COI barcodes; 98 nominal species; 26 genera). The identification accuracy of this dataset was evaluated with three methods (K2P distance-based, Neighbor-Joining (NJ) / Maximum Likelihood (ML) analysis, and using SpeciesIdentifier). Results of the three methods were highly congruent and showed a high identification success. Nine species pairs showed a low (< 0.03) mean interspecific K2P distance that resulted in several incorrect identifications. A high (> 0.03) maximum intraspecific K2P distance was observed in eight species and barcodes of these species not always formed single clusters in the NJ / ML analayses which may indicate the occurrence of cryptic species. Optimal K2P thresholds to differentiate intra- from interspecific K2P divergence were highly different among the three subfamilies (Eristalinae: 0.037, Syrphinae: 0.06, Microdontinae: 0.007-0.02), and among the different general suggesting that optimal thresholds are better defined at the genus level. In addition to providing an alternative identification tool, our study indicates that DNA barcoding improves the taxonomy of Afrotropical hoverflies by selecting (groups of) taxa that deserve further taxonomic study, and by attributing the unknown sex to species for which only one of the sexes is known.
... one on West Palaearctic Pandasyopthalmus [20] and one on the genus Merodon from Lesvos Island (Greece) [21], although COI barcodes have been used in several taxonomic studies of Syrphidae e.g. [22,23,24]. Nevertheless, there are many COI barcodes/sequences in GenBank (a search with the keywords "Syrphidae and barcode" or "Syrphidae and COI" on 2 September 2015 retrieved 1,328 and 2,841 records, respectively) and in the Barcoding of Life Database System (BOLD; http://www.barcoding-life.org) ...
The identification of Afrotropical hoverflies is very difficult because of limited recent taxo-nomic revisions and the lack of comprehensive identification keys. In order to assist in their identification, and to improve the taxonomy of this group, we constructed a reference data-set of 513 COI barcodes of 90 of the more common nominal species from Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria (W Africa) and added ten publically available COI barcodes from nine nominal Afrotropical species to this (total: 523 COI barcodes; 98 nominal species; 26 gen-era). The identification accuracy of this dataset was evaluated with three methods (K2P distance based , Neighbor-Joining (NJ) / Maximum Likelihood (ML) analysis, and using SpeciesIdentifier). Results of the three methods were highly congruent and showed a high identification success. Nine species pairs showed a low (< 0.03) mean interspecific K2P distance that resulted in several incorrect identifications. A high (> 0.03) maximum intraspecific K2P distance was observed in eight species and barcodes of these species not always formed single clusters in the NJ / ML analayses which may indicate the occurrence of cryptic species. Optimal K2P thresholds to differentiate intra-from interspecific K2P divergence were highly different among the three subfamilies (Eristalinae: 0.037, Syrphinae: 0.06, Microdontinae: 0.007–0.02), and among the different general suggesting that optimal thresholds are better defined at the genus level. In addition to providing an alternative identification tool, our study indicates that DNA barcoding improves the taxonomy of Afrotropical hoverflies by selecting (groups of) taxa that deserve further taxonomic study, and by attributing the unknown sex to species for which only one of the sexes is known.
... The first and last comprehensive treatment of the group was by Hull (1949: 351), who recognized four genera (Pseudovolucella, Pyritis, Sericomyia & Tapetomyia) and four subgenera of Sericomyia (Arctophila, Condidea, Pararctophila & Sericomyia). More recently Skevington and Thompson (2012) reviewed the New World species of the group and considered Arctophila, Condidea and Conosyrphus as synonyms of a broader concept for Sericomyia. The group Arctophila merely represented species that are mimics of bumble bees (genus Bombus), but without a common phyletic origin. ...
A new species of flower flies is described from China (Sichuan & Yunnan: Hengduan Mountains), Sericomyia khamensis Thompson & Xie). A key is provided to the species of the subtribe Sericomyiina found in China along with nomenclatural and taxonomical notes on them.
... In addition, all sequences were deposited in GenBank (Table 1). Analytical methods followed Skevington and Thompson (2012). TABLE 1. Voucher data for molecular specimens. ...
A new genus and species of flower flies (Diptera: Syrphidae: Syrphinae: Syrphini) are described from central Africa (Kenya & Uganda), Afrostoma quadripunctatum. A key to the Afrotropical genera of the subfamily Syrphinae is given. A review of the melanostomine [Bacchini] genera and subgenera is provided along with a key to them. Phylogenetic placement of Afrostoma is included based on mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) data.
For the first time since 1924 an overview of the flower flies of Nebraska is compiled. Thecollection of the University of Nebraska State Museum, records from literature and othercollections and specimens from fieldwork by the author are summarized. A total of 5,061specimens are databased. Altogether 160 species are recorded from Nebraska, increas-ing the number of state records by 49. One new synonym is proposed: Chilosia laevifronsJones, 1907 = Cheilosia comosa Loew, 1863.
Hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) are a diverse group of pollinators and a major research focus in ecology, but their phylogenetic relationships remain incompletely known. Using a genome skimming approach we generated mitochondrial genomes for 91 species, capturing a wide taxonomic diversity of the family. To reduce the required amount of input DNA and overall cost of the library construction, sequencing and assembly was conducted on mixtures of specimens, which raises the problem of chimera formation of mitogenomes. We present a novel chimera detection test based on gene tree incongruence, but identified only a single mitogenome of chimeric origin. Together with existing data for a final set of 127 taxa, phylogenetic analysis on nucleotide and amino acid sequences using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference revealed a basal split of Microdontinae from all other syrphids. The remainder consists of several deep clades assigned to the subfamily Eristalinae in the current classification, including a clade comprising the subfamily Syrphinae (plus Pipizinae). These findings call for a re-definition of subfamilies, but basal nodes had insufficient support to allow such action. Molecular-clock dating placed the origin of the Syrphidae crown group in the mid-Cretaceous while the Eristalinae-Syrphinae clade likely originated near the K/Pg boundary. Transformation of larval life history characters on the tree suggests that Syrphidae initially had sap feeding larvae, which diversified greatly in diet and habitat association during the Eocene and Oligocene, coinciding with the diversification of angiosperms and the evolution of various insect groups used as larval host, prey, or mimicry models. Mitogenomes proved to be a powerful phylogenetic marker for studies of Syrphidae at subfamily and tribe levels, allowing dense taxon sampling that provided insight into the great ecological diversity and rapid evolution of larval life history traits of the hoverflies.
