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Rhaphiomidas terminatus terminatus Cazier, 1985 (Diptera: Mydidae): Notes on the rediscovery and conservation biology of a presumed extinct species
Abstract
Rhaphiomidas terminatus terminatus has been assumed extinct for over 30 years. In July of 2001 a small population was rediscovered. We provide a brief review of the known biology of Rhaphiomidas species and specifically address conservation concerns for R. terminatus terminatus.
... suffrutescens. Other notable species include the endangered Palos Verdes blue butterfly (Glaucopsyche lygdamus palosverdensis) and the El Segundo flower-loving fly (Raphiomidas terminatus terminatus), until recently thought to be extinct and a close relative of the endangered Delhi Sands flowerloving fly (Raphiomidas terminatus abdominalis) (George and Mattoni 2006). Unfortunately, this 57acre site is overrun with exotic plants such as Eucalyptus, Acacia, Bromus diandrus Roth, and many others. ...
Coastal dune systems were once extensive in southern California. Pervasive human modification of easily disturbed and highly desirable coastal strand areas have left only small remnants. In order to assess the remaining extent of coastal dunes in the region, I have repeatedly surveyed the remaining coastal dune vegetation from Santa Monica, Los Angeles County, to the U.S.-Mexico border. Species characteristic of California coastal dunes include Abronia maritima, Ambrosia chamissonis, and Camissonia cheiranthifolia subsp. suffruticosa. The introduced Cakile maritima and Carpobrotus edulis are ubiquitous. Less common perennials include Abronia umbellata, Atriplex leucophylla, Calystegia soldanella, and Distichlis spicata. Annuals tend to be more easily extirpated and are found less frequently, including Lotus nuttallianus and Nemacaulis denudata var. denudata. A small dune system in central Orange County contained a population of Cryptantha leiocarpa, previously undocumented south of Point Conception. The principal threats to the remaining dunes include continuing coastal development and especially the extensive beach raking by parks and recreation departments that removes the vegetation from many miles of coastal strand annually.
... This approximately 80 hectare reserve is the largest remaining habitat in the historical coastal El Segundo dune system in southwestern Los Angeles (Mattoni 1990). The dune system supports several rare species of insects and plants, including the endangered El Segundo blue butterfly, Euphilotes battoides allyni (Shields), and the El Segundo giant flower-loving fly, Rhaphiomidas terminatus terminatus Cazier (Mydidae), which was until recently thought to be extinct (George & Mattoni 2006). The holotype of P. dilatus was collected in 1918 from Naples, likely at nearby Long Beach, which abuts the southern edge of the El Segundo dune system. ...
The Nearctic species of Parathalassius Mik are revised and the world species are reviewed. Twelve species are recorded from the Nearctic Region including nine new species: P. abela sp. nov., P. aldrichi Melander, P. candidatus Melander, P. dilatus sp. nov., P. infuscatus sp. nov., P. melanderi Cole, P. midas sp. nov., P. sinclairi sp. nov., P. socali sp. nov., P. susanae sp. nov., P. uniformus sp. nov., and P. wheeleri sp. nov. Lectotype designations are made for P. aldrichi Melander and P. melanderi Cole. A key to the 15 world species is provided and the distributions of the Nearctic species are mapped. COI mitochondrial DNA barcode sequences were obtained for 12 species of Parathalassius. A morphological phylogenetic analysis of the included species is presented and known ecological information is summarized.
... Several species are of threatened status, for example, R. terminatus, R. trochilus and R. moapa (Rogers & Van Dam, 2007). Rhaphiomidas terminatus terminatus is only known from 20 ha, in the middle of a golf course on the Palos Verdes Peninsula (George & Mattoni, 2006). ...
To examine the role of geological history, connectivity and distance in shaping the biogeographical structure of North American desert clades that are restricted to habitat islands (sand dunes and relictual aquatic habitats), using statistical model choice on old and new probabilistic biogeographical models. North America, Mojave, Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts. Dated phylogenies were estimated for three field-sampled insect clades (Trigonoscuta, Rhaphiomidas and sand treader crickets), and five other literature-sampled clades (the snails Assiminea, Pyrgulopsis and Tryonia; the desert fringe-toed lizard Uma; and the desert pupfish Cyprinodon). BioGeoBEARS was used to statistically compare biogeographical models assuming unconstrained or connectivity-constrained dispersal, with or without founder-event speciation (jump dispersal) permitted. Finally, we introduce and test a novel distance-based dispersal model (+x) where dispersal probability is multiplied by distance to the power x. We observed little concordance between biogeographical patterns and timing of geological events. Model comparisons were decidedly in favour of inclusion of founder-event speciation in the models for most taxa, with only a small taxon, Uma, showing support for the model favouring vicariance. The inclusion of a constrained-dispersal matrix was favoured by three of the eight taxa examined (Cyprinodon, sand treader crickets, and Trigonoscuta). Surprisingly, tests for distance influencing dispersal probability were mostly negative. Our results do not show support for any one geological event shaping the biogeographical patterns of these desert taxa. Instead, the histories of desert dune and aquatic taxa are largely products of rare jump dispersal events, and can be considered island-like systems. Although results are negative for the distance-based dispersal model, this in itself demonstrates the superiority of explicit statistical model testing over a priori assumption of fixed models in historical biogeography.
... Several species are of threatened status, for example, R. terminatus, R. trochilus and R. moapa (Rogers & Van Dam, 2007). Rhaphiomidas terminatus terminatus is only known from 20 ha, in the middle of a golf course on the Palos Verdes Peninsula (George & Mattoni, 2006). ...
Island systems have been indispensablein understanding the processes generating biodiversity. Examples from the Galapagos, Caribbeanand Hawaiian archipelagos demonstrate the utility of islands for the study ofadaptation, community assembly, and speciation. In addition to oceanic islands,habitat islands are also of great interest to evolutionary biologists. Unlike oceanic islands, habitat islandsare discrete patches of habitat surrounded by a contrasting habitat that islikely to change through time. Barriers between the different habitats may bemore or less stringent for some taxa. This is a notable difference, as the rules governing dispersal andvicariance may not be the same between oceanic and habitat islands. A study of sand dunes, a habitat islandsystem, in the desert southwest of North America will provide insight into theways in which dispersal and vicariance operate in this unique islandsystem. To do this I propose to examinethe comparative phylogeographic histories of three different insectgroups. My focal taxa include thegiant flower loving flies Rhaphiomidas(Diptera), flightless sand treader crickets Macrobaenetes and Ammobaenetes (Orthoptera) and flightless weevils Trigonoscuta (Coleoptera). I will present the current phylogenies for these taxa and their majorbiogeographic patterns.
... Two taxa similar to R. terminatus abdominalis (Cazier 1985), are Rhaphiomidas terminatus terminatus Cazier and R. trochilus (Coquillett), are also near extinction. R. terminatus terminatus is only known from 20 ha in the middle of a golf course (George and Mattoni 2006 (US Fish and Wildlife Service 1997). Extensive efforts to find Rhaphiomidas moapa sp. ...
Two new species of Mydidae, Rhaphiomidas pachyrhynchus sp. nov. and Rhaphiomidas moapa sp. nov. are described and illustrated here for the first time. Rhaphiomidas pachyrhynchus represents the southeastern most record of the genus. Notes on the adult ecology of R. moapa are given.