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Phylogeny and classification of the muscomorpha
... The Schizophora comprise just over half of the family-level diversity in Diptera (approximately 80 families) that is generally accepted as monophyletic (McAlpine and Wood 1989). Traditionally, Schizophora as a clade has been divided into two groups: Acalyptratae and Calytratae; McAlpine based morphological features and Junqueira applied poor-samplings mitogenomic data proposed that Acalyptratae and Calytratae are monophyletic separately (McAlpine 1989;Junqueira et al. 2004). Subsequent morphological and molecular investigations denied the Acalytratae are monophyletic but rather detected as a paraphyletic assemblage (Lambkin et al. 2012;Wiegmann et al. 2011;Song, Xi, and Yin 2022). ...
... In our partitioned maximum likelihood analysis, all Acalyptrtae families, with the exception of Ephydroidea, were classified into one to three monophyletic lineages distinct from Calyptrtae plus Ephydroidea ( Figures S3, S5 and S7). This particular pattern, forming several primary clades, aligns to some extent with previous hypotheses (McAlpine 1989;Junqueira et al. 2004), even the comprehensive analysis sampled a substantial number of family members (Wiegmann et al. 2011). It is noteworthy that, there is insufficient family-level coverage in previous investigations to discuss relationships within Acalyptrtae. ...
... However, the uncertainty remains regarding their sister groups, it is therefore clear that sampling selection whether including abundant species from the Mesembrinellinae (Calliphoridae), Polleniinae (Calliphoridae s.l.) and at the same time Oestridae is very much the key component in future attempts to attest the sister group of Tachinidae. Indeed, every other family of Oestrioidea has been hypothesized as its sister by at least one study (Wiegmann et al. 2011;Kutty et al. 2010;McAlpine 1989;Stireman III et al. 2019;Ding et al. 2015;Zhao et al. 2013). The relationship of Oestridae has varied considerably over time and has yet to reach a consensus. ...
The Muscomorpha is one of the most species‐rich brachyceran groups in Diptera, with many species serving as important disease vectors; however, its high‐level phylogenetic relationships have long been controversial and unsolved. This study comparatively analyzed the characteristics of mitogenomes of 131 species that represent 18 superfamilies in Muscomorpha, in which mitogenomes of 16 species have been newly sequenced and annotated, demonstrating that their gene composition, order, AT bias, length variation, and codon usage are consistent with documented dipteran mitogenomes. The phylogenetic topologies demonstrated that the robustness of Muscomorpha and major clades within Muscomorpha are monophyletic: Cyclorrhapha, Schizophora, and Calyptratae. A clade of Empidoidea were recovered as the sister group to Cyclorrhapha. Within Cyclorrhapha, Platypezoidea and Syrphoidea were sequentially placed as basal groups of the Cyclorrhapha. The remaining cyclorrhaph superfamilies gathered as two main clades. Ephydroidea were, in most cases, placed as the sister group to Calyptratae. Within Calyptratae, Hippoboscoidea were sister to an assemblage of lineages composed of an Oestroid grade and Muscoidea. The Muscomorpha was proposed to originate in the early Jurassic, and the main clade diversified near the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event, estimated using the MCMCtree and six fossil calibration points. The ancestral area of origin and geographic range of Muscomorpha was deduced to be the Palaearctic region with 56.9% probability using the RASP software based on a dated tree.
... The body colour of the fly may vary from yellowish-brown to grey and their whole body is moderately micro tomentose (Mathis & Sueyoshi, 2011). Family Dryomyzidae can be characterized by some key morphological features (McAlpine, 1989) including (a) bare metasternum, and (b) 2 to 5 abdominal spiracles present in the ventral margins of their corresponding tergites. Mathis & Steyskal (1980) further resolved the previously existing ambiguity about the genus Oedoparena under the separate tribe Oedoparini within this family based on clypeal, acrostichal, and antennal characters. ...
... Earlier, the genus Helcomyza Curtis and related genera have been classified into the subfamily Helcomyzinae under the family Dryomyzidae (Czerny 1930, Séguy 1934, Griffiths 1972, Steyskal 1987, McAlpine 1989. In 1991, McAlpine discovered several characters that gave subfamily Helcomyzinae the status of a separate family Helcomyzidae within the superfamily Sciomyzoidea. ...
... All relevant data from published papers on this family have been analyzed thoroughly. The present checklist follows the standard classification precedent of McAlpine (1989) which is also followed by (Mathis & Sueyoshi, 2011) in their Word Catalog. Here for each species, the first reference along with all the references have been given in the checklist. ...
The present checklist reveals a total of three species viz. Dryomyza formosa Wiedemann, 1830, Dryomyza pakistana Kurahashi, 1989 and Paradryomyza steyskali Ozerov & Sueyoshi, 2002 under 2 genera belongs to subfamily Dryomyzinae
Schiner, 1862 and tribe Dryomyzini Schiner 1862. Besides that, the present study also depicts their discontinuous and restricted distribution pattern. The current checklist will serve as a primary database to encourage future research on medically and forensically important flies of Indian Dryomyzidae.
... The situation is also complicated by the fact that there is no accepted modern classification of families of Acalyptratae. The only comprehensive system of Acalyptratae Diptera (based on a phylogenetic hypothesis resulting from a manual analysis of morphological characters) remains that by McAlpine (1989). Although the most recent molecular and phylogenomic studies indicate that some groups (superfamilies and suprafamilies) recognized by McAlpine (1989) may not be monophyletic (see Winkler et al. 2010;Wiegmann et al. 2011;Bayless et al. 2021), grouping of the acalyptrate families in these studies is not consistent. ...
... Nerioidea and Diopsoidea belong to these groups, having their monophyly supported and taxonomic limits clarified by Lonsdale (2020) on the basis of a thorough phylogenetic morphological analysis. Also, Tephritoidea are (long recognized, see McAlpine (1989)) recognized as a monophyletic group, which was confirmed morphologically; e.g., by Korneyev (1999) and molecularly by Han & Ro (2016). In addition, the monophyly and taxonomic limits of the Sciomyzoidea have been long recognized (see Tóthová et al. 2013), but the recent inclusion of Chamaemyiidae, Lauxaniidae and even Conopidae on the basis of phylogenomic data (Bayless et al. 2021) has put into question the morphological delimitation of this superfamily. ...
... In addition, the monophyly and taxonomic limits of the Sciomyzoidea have been long recognized (see Tóthová et al. 2013), but the recent inclusion of Chamaemyiidae, Lauxaniidae and even Conopidae on the basis of phylogenomic data (Bayless et al. 2021) has put into question the morphological delimitation of this superfamily. Thus, Conopoidea and Lauxanioidea of McAlpine (1989) have now been included in the expanded concept of Sciomyzoidea by Bayless et al. (2021). Similarly, the monophyly of Carnoidea, analysed morphologically and re-defined by Buck (2006), has recently also been rejected by Bayless et al. (2021). ...
A new family of DipteraAcalyptratae, Christelenkidae Roháček fam. nov. , is established for Christelenka multiplex Roháček gen. et sp. nov. , an unusual extinct taxon described from a unique male specimen preserved in Baltic amber (Mid-late Eocene, ca 48–34 Ma). Apart from detailed examination by light microscopy and photography, the holotype of the new species has also been studied by means of X-ray synchrotron microtomography with the aim of obtaining additional morphological data for consideration of its relationships. Because of a very peculiar combination of morphological characters, the new family is tentatively considered a separate lineage of Acalyptratae having no apparent sister-group relationship with any of the known families. Its probable relationships to some families of Opomyzoidea and Ephydroidea are discussed.
... The Cyclorrhapha (Diptera) is a well-supported clade (McAlpine 1989;Cumming et al. 1995;Wiegmann et al. 2011;Lambkin et al. 2013). With over 65,000 species, it includes the largest fraction of known Diptera, more than 40%. ...
... The cyclorrhaphan larval head consists of an external, membranous section and an internal, sclerotised one (Hennig 1973;Teskey 1981;McAlpine 1989;Courtney et al. 2000;Lambkin et al. 2013). Early workers referred to these subdivisions with various names. ...
... Critical assessment may be required in cases where schizophoran larvae are taken to represent the Cyclorrhapha and hypothesising, for example, that their approximated antennae and maxillary palpi represent a cyclorrhaphan synapomorphy (Teskey 1981;McAlpine 1989). In the Lonchopteridae and Platypezidae, the antennae and maxillary palpi occur in separate positions and not at the apex of the pseudocephalon suggesting that approximation is not a cyclorrhaphan synapomorphy (Rotheray and Lyszkowski 2015). ...
The larval stage is thought to play a significant role in radiations of Diptera (Insecta), but for the Cyclorrhapha (Diptera), a well-supported and diversified clade, evaluating larval roles is hindered by low taxon sampling, unresolved morphology and presumed similarity. This paper reviews investigations of the cyclorrhaphan larval head based on wider taxon sampling and functional assessment. It examines whether misunderstandings and superficial levels of analysis may have overestimated these difficulties. Functional assessment is a technique for investigating larvae and begins the process of making larvae better known as living organisms. For instance, functional assessments of larvae in the lower Cyclorrhapha helps resolve structures including the antenna and mandible whose homology is unclear. The levels of sclerotisation, alignment and fusion of head structures can predict feeding mechanisms and help turn the enigmatic cyclorrhaphan larval head into an analysable component.
... Mormotomyia hirsuta is classified as the sole representative of the Afrotropical family Mormotomyiidae. Although Mormotomyia is superficially similar to the common yellow dung fly, Scathophaga stercoraria (L.) (Calyptratae: Scathophagidae; [14]), several authors have compared Mormotomyiidae to Sphaeroceridae and Heleomyzidae [13,18,19], two families that are close relatives within the acalyptrate superfamily Sphaeroceroidea [19,20]. This relationship is perhaps suggested by the presence of similarly modified adult features found in Heleomyzidae associated with caves or birds' nests. ...
... Mormotomyia hirsuta is classified as the sole representative of the Afrotropical family Mormotomyiidae. Although Mormotomyia is superficially similar to the common yellow dung fly, Scathophaga stercoraria (L.) (Calyptratae: Scathophagidae; [14]), several authors have compared Mormotomyiidae to Sphaeroceridae and Heleomyzidae [13,18,19], two families that are close relatives within the acalyptrate superfamily Sphaeroceroidea [19,20]. This relationship is perhaps suggested by the presence of similarly modified adult features found in Heleomyzidae associated with caves or birds' nests. ...
... This relationship is perhaps suggested by the presence of similarly modified adult features found in Heleomyzidae associated with caves or birds' nests. McAlpine & Woodley [22], however, found no convincing similarity of Mormotomyia with sphaerocerids and heleomyzids, and these families were combined in D.K. McAlpine's concept of the family Heteromyzidae, although still classified separately by most workers [19,21].As Mormotomyia exhibits characteristics of both calyptrate and acalyptrates [14], Hennig [22] cited instead a possible position as sister group to Calyptratae. In their more recent reevaluation of these flies, Kirk-Spriggs et al. [16] noted features of the female reproductive tract consistent with inclusion in the superfamily Ephydroidea. ...
The schizophoran superfamily Ephydroidea (Diptera: Cyclorrhapha) includes eight families, ranging from the well-known vinegar flies (Drosophilidae) and shore flies (Ephydridae), to several small, relatively unusual groups, the phylogenetic placement of which has been particularly challenging for systematists. An extraordinary diversity in life histories, feeding habits and morphology are a hallmark of fly biology, and the Ephydroidea are no exception. Extreme specialization can lead to “orphaned” taxa with no clear evidence for their phylogenetic position. To resolve relationships among a diverse sample of Ephydroidea, including the highly modified flies in the families Braulidae and Mormotomyiidae, we conducted phylogenomic sampling. Using exon capture from Anchored Hybrid Enrichment and transcriptomics to obtain 320 orthologous nuclear genes sampled for 32 species of Ephydroidea and 11 outgroups, we evaluate a new phylogenetic hypothesis for representatives of the superfamily. These data strongly support monophyly of Ephydroidea with Ephydridae as an early branching radiation and the placement of Mormotomyiidae as a family-level lineage sister to all remaining families. We confirm placement of Cryptochetidae as sister taxon to a large clade containing both Drosophilidae and Braulidae–the latter a family of honeybee ectoparasites. Our results reaffirm that sampling of both taxa and characters is critical in hyperdiverse clades and that these factors have a major influence on phylogenomic reconstruction of the history of the schizophoran fly radiation.
... The monophyly of Eremoneura, Empidoidea and Cyclorrhapha is well supported by morphological (Hennig, 1973;Griffiths, 1984;Stoffolano et al., 1988;McAlpine, 1989;Woodley, 1989;Sinclair, 1992;Griffiths, 1984Griffiths, , 1994Cumming et al., 1995;Sinclair & Cumming, 2006) and molecular (Collins & Wiegmann, 2002a, b;Wiegmann et al., 2003Wiegmann et al., , 2011Moulton & Wiegmann, 2004;Shin et al., 2018) evidence. Cyclorrhapha account for most of the family-level diversity in Diptera (McAlpine, 1989). ...
... The monophyly of Eremoneura, Empidoidea and Cyclorrhapha is well supported by morphological (Hennig, 1973;Griffiths, 1984;Stoffolano et al., 1988;McAlpine, 1989;Woodley, 1989;Sinclair, 1992;Griffiths, 1984Griffiths, , 1994Cumming et al., 1995;Sinclair & Cumming, 2006) and molecular (Collins & Wiegmann, 2002a, b;Wiegmann et al., 2003Wiegmann et al., , 2011Moulton & Wiegmann, 2004;Shin et al., 2018) evidence. Cyclorrhapha account for most of the family-level diversity in Diptera (McAlpine, 1989). In the traditional dipteran classifications, Cyclorrhapha have been divided into two groups: Aschiza and Schizophora (McAlpine, 1989). ...
... Cyclorrhapha account for most of the family-level diversity in Diptera (McAlpine, 1989). In the traditional dipteran classifications, Cyclorrhapha have been divided into two groups: Aschiza and Schizophora (McAlpine, 1989). The former are a paraphyletic assemblage, while the latter are undoubtedly a monophyletic group (Woodley et al., 2009). ...
Brachyceran flies constitute a large radiation of the order Diptera, but the phylogenetic relationships among them have remained controversial. In this study, we used next-generation sequencing to determine mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) for six brachyceran flies. Two of these species represent Milichiidae (Aldrichiomyza flaviventris and Phyllomyza obliqua); two representing Chloropidae (Pachylophus sp.) and Sphaeroceridae (Leptocera erythrocera) are the first sequenced members of these groups; and two species from Lauxaniidae (Homoneura sp.) and Syrphidae (Paragus quadrifasciatus) were newly sequenced. Together with the published mitogenomes, we included a total of 187 species representing 40 dipteran families to investigate the phylogeny of Brachycera. The results strongly supported Brachycera as a monophyletic group. The infra-orders Stratiomyomorpha, Tabanomorpha and Xylophagomorpha were retrieved as the earliest brachyceran lineages, but the clade (Stratiomyomorpha + (Xylophagomorpha + Tabanomorpha)) was not supported. In most analyses, Platypezoidea were recovered as the sister-group to Cyclorrhapha. Syrphoidea were non-monophyletic with respect to Pipunculus. Milichiidae were non-monophyletic because of Pachylophus. Sphaeroceroidea were, in most cases, placed as the sister-group to Ephydroidea. Within Calyptratae, Hippoboscoidea were sister to an assemblage of lineages composed of a muscoid grade and Oestroidea, the latter being monophyletic in the Bayesian analyses using the PhyloBayes site-heterogeneous mixture model.
... The monophyly and the family rank of the Fanniidae have been confirmed based primarily on the morphological characters of the adults, as well as of the larvae [2,17,[22][23][24] and then corroborated by DNA studies [25][26][27]. However, the phylogenetic relationships within the Fanniidae, as well as the systematic position of this family within the muscoid grade, have not been completely established. ...
... As regards the phylogenetic position of the Fanniidae within the muscoids, more traditional views placed the family as the sister group of the Muscidae [22][23][24]29]. Pont [1] suggested that the Fanniidae are the most plesiomorphic lineage of the muscoids and the sister group of the Scathophagidae + Anthomyiidae + Muscidae. ...
... One more diagnostic element within the Fanniidae is the bacilliform sclerite, which is considered an autapomorphous character in the ground plan of the muscoid grade [24]. According to the revised epandrial hypothesis [40,46], the bacilliform sclerite is part of the subepandrial region, which is often prolonged as a pair of rod-like extensions and articulates with the posterolateral corners of the epandrium or base of the surstyli. ...
The abdominal and pregenital segments and the genitalia were studied in males of Fannia subpellucens (Zetterstedt, 1845), Fannia canicularis (Linnaeus, 1761) and Fannia incisurata (Zetterstedt, 1838). In comparison with the remaining members of the muscoid grade, in addition to the symmetry of the pregenital segments, significant reductions of the sclerites and musculature of the male terminalia have been observed in Fanniidae. The muscular structure of pregenital segments confirms that the fused pregenital ring is syntergosternite VI + VII + VIII. Symmetry and fusion, as well as the lower number of the sclerites and muscles of the pregenital segments and male genitalia of the Fanniidae, can be considered apomorphic character states. The presence of the lateral bacilliform sclerite, as well as the presence and position of the epandrial muscles M 26, three pairs of muscles M 19 and paired muscles M 18, can be considered as a plesiomorphic character state of the Fanniidae. The structure of the sclerites and muscles of the male abdominal segments and terminalia place the Fanniidae at the base of the muscoid grade and Oestroidea, as has been confirmed by recent molecular studies.
... In more modern treatments there has been considerable rearrangement of the families. McAlpine (1989) shifted Griffith's concept upwards to superfamily level, thereby reinstating the subgroups to family-level. As a result, Platystomatidae were placed in sister-group context by McAlpine (1989McAlpine ( : 1440 with Tephritidae + Pyrgotidae + Tachiniscidae, remaining more generalised and closer to the groundplan than the other three families, which were really only distinguishable by the acute posteroapical lobe to wing cell cua. ...
... McAlpine (1989) shifted Griffith's concept upwards to superfamily level, thereby reinstating the subgroups to family-level. As a result, Platystomatidae were placed in sister-group context by McAlpine (1989McAlpine ( : 1440 with Tephritidae + Pyrgotidae + Tachiniscidae, remaining more generalised and closer to the groundplan than the other three families, which were really only distinguishable by the acute posteroapical lobe to wing cell cua. ...
... Platystomatidae were included in the monophyletic cluster termed "higher Tephritoidea" by Korneyev (1999: 10), along with Ulidiidae (= Otitidae and = Pterocallidae), Pyrgotidae and Tephritidae (including Tachiniscidae), with the last two named families being the sister-group to the Platystomatidae. Subsequently, Han & Ro (2005) analysed mitochondrial 12S, 16S and COII genes within the Tephritoidea, concluding that the molecular evidence only weakly supported the conclusions of the earlier morphological phylogenies of McAlpine (1989) and Korneyev (1999), with mixed results for the maximum Abbreviations: gn -gena; fc -face; fr -frons. ...
... This group was later treated by Malloch (1922) as a subfamily of Agromyzidae (as Ochthiphilinae, based on the misspelling Ochthiphila by Meigen (1830: 90)), a position he later (Malloch 1930) abandoned, to follow Hendel (1916) in allying the family with Lauxaniidae. McAlpine (1963) divided the family into two subfamilies, Chamaemyiinae and Cremifaniinae, which was strongly endorsed by Hennig (1965) and McAlpine (1989McAlpine ( : 1448 Abbreviations: anepst -anepisternum; fr -frons; lun -lunule; pped -postpedicel; psvb s -pseudovibrissal seta. ...
... tufts on the posterior spiracles, a bare adult prosternum, absence of a proanepimeral seta, flexion of wing vein R1 towards the apical bend of the subcostal vein (Sc), absence of a preapical dorsal tibial seta, presence of heavily grey pruinose body vestiture and the length of tergite 6 in males being less than half that of tergite 5. Griffiths (1972: 187) disagreed with the initial assessment of McAlpine (1963), and treated Cremifaniinae at the familylevel, as an unplaced representative of the Sciomyzoidea, separated from the Lauxanioidea by the asymmetry of male abdominal segments 6-8 and the articulated phallic sclerites, that allow swinging through a wide arc against the phallapodeme to reach a more anteriorly directed position. Griffiths' (1972) opinion was later followed by Tanasijtshuk (1984Tanasijtshuk ( , 1992, although McAlpine (1989McAlpine ( : 1449 pointed to several misinterpretations by Griffiths, including, for example, the complex phallic structure found in many lauxaniids functioning similarly to Cremifania Czerny, allowing for the possibility that this sort of arcing phallus could be in the lauxanioid groundplan, which was secondarily changed (an autapomorphy) in his Chamaemyiinae and some lauxaniids. The same can be said for the presence of three spermathecae (1 + 2) in Cremifania, a characteristic seemingly in opposition to the four spermathecae (2 + 2) typically cited in other chamaemyiids (Papp 1998: 411). ...
... In McAlpine's (1963McAlpine's ( , 1989McAlpine's ( : 1449 scheme, which is followed herein, Chamaemyiinae are supported by four aut apomorphies, including the lack of discrete surstyli on the epandrium, fusion of the phallapodeme to the hypandrium and uniform sclerotisation of the phallus into a rigid and posteroventrally directed structure. Chamaemyiinae are divided into two tribes, Chamaemyiini and Leucopini, with Chamaemyiini weakly supported by the reduction of the pregonite and Leucopini more strongly supported by the lunule being broadly exposed, the absence of postocellar setae, reduction or absence of fronto-orbital setae, Abbreviations: a frorb s -anterior fronto-orbital seta; fr -frons; frorb s -fronto-orbital seta; lun -lunule; oc s -ocellar seta; pped -postpedicel; psvb s -pseudovibrissal seta. ...
... under the family Hippoboscidae at times(McAlpine, 1989). At the same time, different opinions and conclusions existed regarding the evolutionary relationships within the Hippoboscoidea.Hennig (1971) suggested that Glossinidae forms the sister group of the other three families within Hippoboscoidea, and that the families Nycteribiidae and Streblidae constitute a monophyletic group. ...
... At the same time, different opinions and conclusions existed regarding the evolutionary relationships within the Hippoboscoidea.Hennig (1971) suggested that Glossinidae forms the sister group of the other three families within Hippoboscoidea, and that the families Nycteribiidae and Streblidae constitute a monophyletic group. Conversely,McAlpine (1989) supported the concept that Glossinidae and Hippoboscidae together form the sister group of Nycteribiidae and Streblidae. Molecular data and ML analyses byNirmala et al. (2001) andDittmar et al. (2006) supported the latter view, but the Streblidae were found to be a paraphyletic group. ...
The family Streblidae is a significant grouping of dipteran insects within the superfamily Hippoboscoidea, which parasitizes the body surface of bats. With the global spread of bat-related pathogens in recent years, Streblidae has gained increasing attention due to its potential for pathogen transmission. A sample of Brachytarsina amboinensis was sequenced on the B. amboinensis were obtained, compared with available Streblidae mitogenomes, and the phylogeny of Hippoboscoidea was reconstructed. The results indicate that the mitochondrial genome of B. amboinensis exhibits a relatively high degree of conservation, with an identical gene count, arrangement, and orientation as the ancestral insect's genome. Base composition analysis revealed a strong bias towards A and T in the base composition. Selection pressure analysis indicated strong purifying selection acting on cox1 . Pairwise genetic distance analysis showed that cox1 evolved at a relatively slow rate. Regarding phylogenetic relationships, the constructed phylogenetic trees using Bayesian inference and Maximum Likelihood methods supported the monophyly of the Hippoboscoidea, Glossinidae, Hippoboscidae, and Nycteribiidae clades, with high nodal support values. Our research confirmed the paraphyly of the families Streblidae. In the familial relations between Nycteribiidae and Streblidae, New World Streblidae share a closer kinship with Nycteribiidae. This contrasts with prior findings which indicated that Old World Streblidae share a closer kinship with Nycteribiidae. This study not only enhances the molecular database for bat flies but also provides a valuable reference for the identification and phylogenetic analysis of Streblidae.
... The pleurae have a pair of robust setae on the ventral episternum and more setae along the posterior margin of the dorsal episternum. The rib extends to the end of the media and presents two fractures ( Figure 3) [15][16][17][18]. The subcosta is thin but complete and reaches the wing margin. ...
... The abdomen is composed of five apparent urites in the male and six in the female, with the first and second tergites partially fused. Adults frequent the habitat adjacent to sites where postembryonic development took place ( Figure 4) [17][18][19][20]. ...
The families of Anthomyzidae, Aulacigastridae, Odoniidae, and Periscelididae of the Opomyzoidea are rare in nature and, therefore, little represented in collections. However, perhaps this rarity is because its natural history is little known and the appropriate collection methods have not yet been defined. Still, there are records of a considerable number of individuals from this group being captured. Trichoceridae, is a small family of insects in the order Diptera, the only one in the superfamily Trichoceroidea (Nematocera: Tipulomorpha). Apart from Trichoceridae, very few insects appear in adult form during the winter months. They are usually seen in the fall or early spring and can be seen on mild winter days. The objective of this manuscript is to carry out an inventory of the families Anthomyzidae, Aulacigastridae, Odoniidae, Periscelididae, and Trichoceridae. In summary, the following analysis steps were taken: Exhaustive reading of each article aiming for a global understanding and discovery of the approach used by its authors; Identification of the central ideas of each article; Classification of ideas around meaning cores; Comparison between the different meaning cores present in the articles studied; Classification of the meaning cores into broader axes (themes) around which the authors' discussions revolved and Writing interpretative summaries of each theme. After analyzing the contents of the articles, we sought to establish a dialogue between the themes found and the literature that served as the basis for introducing the present study.
... En cuanto a su posición filogenética, tradicionalmente Syrphidae y Pipunculidae han sido los únicos integrantes de la superfamilia Syrphoidea, hecho apoyado tanto por caracteres morfológicos de los adultos (Griffiths, 1972;McAlpine, 1989;Cumming et al., 1995;Grimaldi & Cumming, 1999) como de la etapa preimaginal (Rotheray & Gilbert, 2008), e incluso por genes mitocondriales (Skevington & Yeates, 2000). Ambas familias se han considerado el clado hermano de Schizophora, un linaje definido, entre otras características, por una estructura especializada en la cabeza de los adultos, el ptilino o ptilinum, que les permite romper el pupario en la emergencia de los adultos. ...
... Ambas familias se han considerado el clado hermano de Schizophora, un linaje definido, entre otras características, por una estructura especializada en la cabeza de los adultos, el ptilino o ptilinum, que les permite romper el pupario en la emergencia de los adultos. Los Schizophora constituyen la radiación evolutiva más reciente de dípteros (McAlpine, 1989;Cumming et al., 1995;Zatwarnicki, 1996;Yeates & Wiegmann, 1999;Yeates et al., 2007;Bayless et al., 2021). Sin embargo, las relaciones filogenéticas entre los grupos basales de los Cyclorrhapha no están totalmente resueltas, la relación cercana entre Pipunculidae y Syrphidae se ha puesto en entredicho en varias ocasiones, y Syrphoidea se ha resuelto como un grupo parafilético, con ambas familias formando linajes separados (Collins & Wiegmann, 2002;Moulton & Wiegmann, 2004;Wiegmann et al., 2011;Tachi, 2014;Young et al., 2016;Pauli et al., 2018). ...
Resumen. Los sírfidos (Diptera: Syrphidae) son moscas de tamaño pe-queño a grande (4-25 mm) y coloración variable. Los adultos presentan frecuentemente mimetismo batesiano con avispas, abejorros y abejas (Hymenoptera, Aculeata). Se reconocen por sus alas con celdas basales grandes (br, bm y cup), celda apical r 4+5 cerrada, venas posteriores (dm-cu y M 1) paralelas al borde posterior del ala y "vena espuria" o falsa vena entre los sectores radial y medial. Comúnmente se denominan "moscas de las flores", debido a que los adultos visitan a las mismas, o "moscas cernidoras", por su característico vuelo estático. Las larvas poseen un amplio rango de modos de vida que incluye desde la depredación de otros artrópodos de cuerpo blando (lo que les confiere importancia agronómica como controladores biológicos de plagas) a especies saprófagas, micófagas o fitófagas. Debido a sus diversas funciones ecológicas, son considerados importantes bioindicadores de la calidad de los ecosistemas. A nivel mundial se han descrito aproximadamente 6300 especies y en el Neotrópico se conocen unas 2000 especies. La fauna argentina está representada actualmente por 244 especies y 64 géneros. Sin embargo, el número real de especies es sin duda superior, deduciéndose la necesidad de la realización de más estudios. Se presenta una clave para géneros, una lista de las especies registradas en la Argentina y su distribución por provincias.
... Diastatidae are a small family of acalyptrate flies that is included in the superfamily Ephydroidea. McAlpine (1989) suggested a close relationship with the family Ephydridae. More recently, however, and based on molecular data, Winkler et al. (2022) recovered the family Diastatidae as the sister-group of Curtonotidae within the Ephydroidea. ...
... The family may be superficially similar to Drosophilidae but are easily distinguished mainly from this family in having two large fronto-orbital setae, Drosophilidae have three, also by the dorsolateral position of the large proclinate fronto-orbital seta relative to the reclinate fronto-orbital seta and often by the weakly spinose costal margin. Drosophilidae also have a bare anepisternum, and Diastata has a setulose anepisternum (McAlpine 1989;Kirk-Spriggs & Mathis 2021). Species of the genus Diastata are distinguished externally by subtle distinctions in wing pattern and characters of the thoracic pleurae, mesonotum and frons. ...
The ephydroid family Diastatidae is recorded for the first time from Brazil. A new species, Diastata fachini Costa, Pirani & Mathis, sp. nov. which was collected from the Atlantic Forest, is described. The description is based on an adult male and female and includes photographs and detailed illustrations.
... Later, Papp (1984) cataloged the family, noting that Achaetorisa brevicornis Papp was parasitic on its host caterpillar. J. F. McAlpine (1989) questioned the necessity for a separate family in his discussion on the phylogeny of the Risidae and included skeptical comments on the parasitic relationships noted previously. J. F. McAlpine (1989) suggested that Risa is no more than a genus of Milichiidae. ...
... J. F. McAlpine (1989) questioned the necessity for a separate family in his discussion on the phylogeny of the Risidae and included skeptical comments on the parasitic relationships noted previously. J. F. McAlpine (1989) suggested that Risa is no more than a genus of Milichiidae. More recently, Kotrba & Mathis (2009) described the internal female reproductive tract of Risa, discussed the relationship of Risa with Ephydridae, and first suggested its membership in the subfamily Discomyzinae Acloque. ...
The systematic and somewhat controversial history of Risa Becker is presented, and its relationship with Diasemocera Bezzi (tribe Psilopini, Ephydridae) is documented by morphological evidence and an association with host plants in the family Amaranthaceae. The tribe Risini Papp (as Risidae) is synonymized with Psilopini Cresson. Notorisa gen. nov., from Australia, is described (type species: Notorisa mcalpinei sp. nov.; Australia. Victoria: Big Desert National Park, near Lake Hindmarsh; 36°03.7'S 141°54.8'E). Achaetorisa Papp is retained as a subgenus within Risa and includes five species, including two new combinations: Risa brevicornis (Papp) comb. nov., Risa salsolae (Mathis & Zatwarnicki) comb. nov., and two new species: R. brevirostris sp. nov. (Israel. Ẕomet Zohar; 31°08.5'N 35°21.6'E) and R. nettae sp. nov. (Israel. Ẕomet Zohar; 31°08.5'N 35°21.6'E). A fourth new species is described in the subgenus Risa: R. (Risa) kotrbae sp. nov. (Israel. Ẕomet Zohar; 31°08.5'N 35°21.6'E).
... Phylogenetic relationships of the subfamilies within Psilidae and the genus-level groups within Psilinae are in need of further study. Most works have treated Psilidae as a member of the superfamily Diopsoidea following Hennig [91] and McAlpine [92]. This superfamily also includes Diopsidae, Nothybidae, and several other families, but its composition keeps changing [28]. ...
... Diopsoidea has been reviewed and redefined by Lonsdale [28] to include 7 families, and this point of view has been tested by a morphology-based phylogenetic analysis. However, the resulting topologies from all analyses in the present study indicate that Diopsoidea is not a monophyletic group, with Psilidae either forms sister groups with Agromyzidae or with ((Diopsidae + Nothybidae) + Agromyzidae), and the positions of Diopsidae and Nothybidae Most works have treated Psilidae as a member of the superfamily Diopsoidea following Hennig [91] and McAlpine [92]. This superfamily also includes Diopsidae, Nothybidae, and several other families, but its composition keeps changing [28]. ...
Psilidae (Diptera: Brachycera) is a moderate-sized family currently placed in the superfamily Diopsoidea and contains some destructive agricultural and forestry pests. The systematic position and intrafamilial classification of rust flies are in need of further study, and the available molecular data of Psilidae are still limited. In this study, we present the mitochondrial genomes of 6 Psilidae species (Chamaepsila testudinaria Wang and Yang, Chyliza bambusae Wang and Yang, Chy. chikuni Wang, Loxocera lunata Wang and Yang, L. planivenaWang and Yang and L. sinica Wang and Yang). Comparative analyses show a conserved genome structure, in terms of gene composition and arrangement, and a highly Adenine plus Thymine biased nucleotide composition of the 6 psilid mitogenomes. Mitochondrial evolutionary rates vary among the 6 species, with species of Chylizinae exhibiting a slower average rate than species of Psilinae. The length, the nucleotide composition, and the copy number of repeat units of the control region are variable among the 6 species, which may offer useful information for phylogenetic and evolutionary studies of Psilidae. Phylogenetic analyses based on 4 mitogenomic datasets (AA, PCG, PCG12RNA, and PCGRNA) support the monophyly of Psilidae, and the sister relationship between Chylizinae and Psilinae, while Diopsoidea is suggested to be non-monophyletic. Our study enlightens the future application of mitogenomic data in the phylogenetic and evolutionary studies of Psilidae, based on denser taxon sampling.
... Anthomyzidae have long been considered as sister-group to the Opomyzidae (Hennig 1958;McAlpine 1989McAlpine : 1460Roháček 1998Roháček , 2006Roháček , 2013a. McAlpine (1989McAlpine ( : 1460 placed these two families in the suprafamily Opomyzoinea, which, together with 11 other families form the suprafamilies Clusioinea, Agromyzoinea and Asteioinea, constituted the superfamily Opomyzoidea. ...
... Anthomyzidae have long been considered as sister-group to the Opomyzidae (Hennig 1958;McAlpine 1989McAlpine : 1460Roháček 1998Roháček , 2006Roháček , 2013a. McAlpine (1989McAlpine ( : 1460 placed these two families in the suprafamily Opomyzoinea, which, together with 11 other families form the suprafamilies Clusioinea, Agromyzoinea and Asteioinea, constituted the superfamily Opomyzoidea. Different classifications have been applied in the past however. ...
The chapter discusses the acalyptrate family Anthomyzidae of the Afrotropical Region, with a review of previous knowledge, an identification key and a synopsis of all genera recorded to date for this region.
... The concept of Canacidae adopted here, comprises what were previously considered two families, i.e., the Canacidae and Tethinidae. At the family-level, McAlpine (1989McAlpine ( : 1472 identified five synapomorphies that link the Canacidae sensu stricto with Tethinidae and noted that "... there are clear indications of a sister-group relationship between them ... and may even indicate that they are subgroups of a single family". Other authors (e.g., Freidberg 1995;Griffiths 1972: 258;Hennig 1958;McAlpine 1982), have also suggested a relationship between these two families. ...
... Other authors (e.g., Freidberg 1995;Griffiths 1972: 258;Hennig 1958;McAlpine 1982), have also suggested a relationship between these two families. According to McAlpine's (1989McAlpine's ( : 1469 cladogram, which included an analysis of 25 character states for the families Canacidae sensu stricto and Tethinidae, the Canacidae sensu lato, together with Australimyzidae (non-Afrotropical), Braulidae, Carnidae, Chloropidae (including Minidae and Siphonellopsidae), Cryptochetidae, Milichiidae and Risidae (non-Afrotropical) comprise the super family Carnoidea (= Chloropoidea). Of the 25 character states McAlpine considered, five were determined to be synapomorphies that establish the monophyly of the Canacidae/Tethinidae lineage. ...
The chapter discusses the Diptera Canacidae of the Afrotropical Region, with an identification key and a synopsis to all genera recorded to date for this region.
... Hennig (1976) refuted the sister-group argument for Lonchopteridae and the rest of the Cyclorrhapha. Subsequently, Peterson (1987: 679) and McAlpine (1989McAlpine ( : 1422, rather than placing the family in a superfamily of its own, positioned Lonchopteridae as a highly specialised representative of the Platypezoidea, defined by the shared synapomorphic loss of the holoptic condition in males in Lonchopteridae and Phoridae and non-Afrotropical Ironomyiidae and Sciadoceridae. The most obvious autapomorphic character of the Lonchopteridae is the peculiar, pointed wings (McAlpine 1989(McAlpine : 1422. ...
... Subsequently, Peterson (1987: 679) and McAlpine (1989McAlpine ( : 1422, rather than placing the family in a superfamily of its own, positioned Lonchopteridae as a highly specialised representative of the Platypezoidea, defined by the shared synapomorphic loss of the holoptic condition in males in Lonchopteridae and Phoridae and non-Afrotropical Ironomyiidae and Sciadoceridae. The most obvious autapomorphic character of the Lonchopteridae is the peculiar, pointed wings (McAlpine 1989(McAlpine : 1422. ...
Diagnosis Small-sized (body length: 2.0-5.0 mm), yellowish to brown flies, with strongly developed setae and distinctively pointed wing apices (Fig. 1). Head (Figs 2-4) rounded; frons broad, with robust interfron-tal, ocellar and upper fronto-orbital setae; 2 pairs of convergent inner vertical setae present, continuous with distinctive row of strongly developed postocular and subvibrissal setae (Figs 2-4); 1 pair of convergent to parallel postocellar setae; setae varying from pale to dark brown (pale colouration especially noticeable in postocular group); compound eyes dichoptic in both sexes, bare; antennal postpedicel distinctly rounded; pedicel with apical conus; antennal arista long, inserted sub-apically, with 2 basal articles (Fig. 2). Thorax (Fig. 1) elongate, dorsally convex; setae comprising 2 notopleural setae, 1 or 2 anepisternal setae, single pairs of diminutive presutural dorsocentral, presutural intra-alar, post-sutural intra-alar, postpronotal, supra-alar, postalar and apical scutellar setae and weak prescutellar dorsocentral setae, plus 3 strong dorsocentral setae. Scutellum triangular, slightly wider than long. Wing (Figs 5, 6) with membrane hyaline or tinged, with sexually dimorphic venation, pointed at apex; crossveins only situated at wing base; basicosta usually with pair of strong setae; longitudinal veins bearing dark dorsal setae; vein R1 short, bearing short dark setae; veins R2+3 and R4+5 converge apically; veins M1 and M2 present; vein CuA+CuP reaching hind margin in male (Fig. 5), but ending in vein M4 in female (Fig. 6), thereby producing combined vein M4+CuA+CuP leading from junction of vein CuA+CuP with vein M4 to posterior wing margin. Legs (Fig. 1) moderately slender, femora
... Celyphidae are representatives of the superfamily Lauxanioidea, with a clearly close relationship to Lauxaniidae and may, in fact, be a subordinate group within that family. McAlpine (1989McAlpine ( : 1444 considered celyphids as the sister-group of non-Afrotropical Eurychoromyiidae (both together being the sister-group of Lauxaniidae), but Gaimari & Silva (2010) revised the status of the latter to a subfamily of Lauxaniidae, not necessarily close to celyphids. Molecular phylogenetic works that have included celyphids and lauxaniids (e.g., Li et al. 2017) have suffered from a lack of broad taxon sampling (in the cited paper, only five lauxanioid taxa were sampled), so no topology beyond the sister-group relationship between the two families has been uncovered. ...
... This viewpoint is followed here, but with the caveat that they are likely a monophyletic lineage within the Lauxaniidae. Although considered a synapomorphy for Lauxaniidae (McAlpine 1989(McAlpine : 1444, celyphids also display the male accessory glands as a dense tangle, due to repeated branching (Sturtevant 1925(Sturtevant , 1926 (Fig. 17), making this characteristic a synapomorphy for Lauxaniidae + Celyphidae. Several characteristics of the Celyphidae make them stand out from Lauxaniidae in general, although various lauxaniid genera share these characteristics, at least in part. ...
... Shewell (1977: 183) later added the presence of one or two extra mid tibial spurs (actually not true spurs, but stout apical setae), as further support for the subfamily; also proposing the paraphyletic subfamily Lauxaniinae for the remainder of the family, based on costal setulae ending just beyond the apex of wing vein R2+3 and a single mid tibial spur. The conditions cited for Lauxaniinae are clearly plesiomorphic and are likely part of the groundplan for the entire Muscomorpha (McAlpine 1989(McAlpine : 1446 and both Stuckenberg (1971) and Shewell (1977: 182) acknowledged the likely paraphyly for the group. Within this group, two tribes have been proposed for compact groups of genera, including the Trigonometopini (Becker 1905: 41) and Noonamyiini (Sasakawa 1995); the former of which was also treated at this level by Papp (2007Papp ( , 2008, who also discussed the need to define smaller monophyletic groups of genera to deal with the paraphyly of Lauxaniinae. ...
... Although Lauxaniidae is among the largest families of Acalyptratae, the internal classification of the family is in its infancy. The monophyly of the family is supported by several autapomorphies (McAlpine 1989(McAlpine : 1446, including: the male accessory glands forming a dense tangle, due to repeated branching (Sturtevant 1925(Sturtevant , 1926, the phallus being reduced to a rigid tubular process and the lunule being unexposed. Within the Lauxanioidea, Lauxaniidae is clearly separated from Chamaemyiidae, but the monophyly of the family relative to Celyphidae and non-Afrotropical Eurychoromyiidae has been contentious and so the last mentioned was revised to subfamily status (Gaimari & Silva 2010b), with a thorough discussion of the history of its classification. ...
... The monophyly of Lonchopteridae remains strongly supported by the synapomorphies: pointed wings with distinctive venation, sexually dimorphic (except in instance of H. tautineura Yang, 1998), absence of empodia, and absence of surstyli (Hennig 1976;McAlpine 1989;Cumming et al. 1995). There seems insufficient evidence to support genera other than Lonchoptera Meigen, 1803 at present, so with the aim of greater nomenclatural stability in the family, Homolonchoptera Yang, 1998 andSpilolonchoptera Yang, 1998 are established here as new synonyms of Lonchoptera Meigen, 1803, rendering Lonchoptera once more the only extant genus in the family Lonchopteridae. ...
The family Lonchopteridae (spear-winged flies) comprises a single extant genus, Lonchoptera Meigen, 1803, currently with 72 extant and three extinct species. Although eight species have previously been assigned to either Homolonchoptera Yang, 1998 (one species) and Spilolonchoptera Yang, 1998 (seven species) there seems little to substantiate the erection and persistence of these genera as they are poorly supported by 1 and 2 autapomorphies respectively. It is here proposed that the species assigned to these two genera are in fact consistent with the concept of the genus Lonchoptera.
... Diptera comprises of a large family called Drosophilidae, which is an acalyptrate family in the superfamily Ephyroidea (McAlpine, 1989). Since Fabricius's description of Musca funebris in 1787, which was later moved into a new genus and named Drosophila funebris, the type species of the family, there have been descriptions of Drosophilidae species. ...
A preliminary study on drosophilids with special reference to host plant preference in the subtropical and temperate forest of Kumaun and Garhwal region of Central Himalayas in Uttarakhand state was carried out during June, 2009 in Killbury (Nainital), during August, 2010 in Srinagar (Pauri) and during October, 2010 in Mandal (Chopta). The present paper reports the host plant preference, feeding and breeding habitats, as well as geographical distribution of drosophilid fauna and the recent update of Drosophilid species described and recorded till yet from hilly areas of Uttarakhand.
... Catalogs have been published by Aczél (1950) and Steyskal (1968). Various authors (Griffiths 1972, Hennig 1958, McAlpine 1989, Korneyev 1999 have published on the phylogenetic relationships of the family and all have placed it among the basal groups of the Tephritoidea. In the most recent and only parsimony analysis (Korneyev 1999), however, the Richardiidae were an unresolved polytomy with respect to the derived (=higher of Korneyev) tephritoids and the more primitive ones (=lower of Korneyev). ...
A new genus and species of richardiid flies are described from the Neotropical biotic region (Johnrichardia Perez-Gelabert & Thompson, type species, vockerothi Perez-Gelabert & Thompson (Dominican Republic)).
... El grupo hermano de la familia es controversial. Rhinophoridae (Wood, 1987, McAlpine, 1989, Sarcophagidae (Pape, 1992, Rognes, 1997 o el clado Rhyncomya (Rhiniidae) + Rhinophoridae (Cerreti et al., 2014) han sido postulados en distintos análisis morfológicos; mientras que la evidencia molecular indicó a Sarcophagidae (Tachi & Shima, 2010), Calliphoridae-Mesembrinellinae (Wiegmann et al., 2011) y Mesembrinellidae (Marinho et al., 2012, Junqueira et al., 2016. En estudios filogenómicos recientes Buenaventura et al. (2020) recuperaron a Polleniidae (Pollenia rudis) como grupo hermano de los taquínidos, coincidiendo con otros estudios moleculares (Kutty et al., 2010, Singh & Wells, 2013, Winkler et al., 2015Cerretti et al., 2019;Stireman et al., 2019). ...
Resumen Las Tachinidae constituyen una familia de moscas extre-madamente diversa perteneciente al infraorden Calyptra-tae, que poseen más de 8500 especies. Se destacan por presentar una variación morfológica, de quetotaxia y de coloración notable. La clasificación actual reconoce cuatro subfamilias: Exoristinae, Tachininae, Dexiinae y Phasiinae. La exitosa radiación evolutiva de los taquínidos está estre-chamente ligada con su condición de endoparasitoides que utilizan otros artrópodos como huéspedes, principalmente otros insectos holometábolos. Los taquínidos se denomi-nan específicamente como parasitoides de tipo koinobion-tes, donde la hembra no mata ni paraliza al huésped, sino que deposita los huevos sobre su tegumento o en las cer-canías, y las larvas se desarrollan dentro del huésped, ma-tándolo. Estas características confieren a las Tachinidae una gran importancia como reguladores poblacionales de huéspedes fitófagos que en muchos casos constituyen pla-gas agrícolas, siendo utilizados en aplicaciones de control biológico. La fauna argentina incluye 346 especies y unos 159 géneros, aunque la magnitud de este valor subestima la riqueza real de la familia, resultando necesario profun-dizar el conocimiento sobre estas moscas. Abstract Tachinidae are an extremely diverse family of flies belonging to the infraorder Calyptratae, with more than 8,500 species. They stand out for having a remarkable variation in morphology, chaetotaxy and coloration. The current classification recognizes four subfamilies: Exoristinae, Tachininae, Dexiinae and Phasiinae. The successful evolutionary radiation of tachinids is closely linked to their status as endoparasitoids that exploit other arthropods as hosts, mainly other holometabolous insects. Tachinids are specifically koinobiont-like parasitoids, where the female does not kill or paralyze the host but lays eggs on or near its integument, and larvae develop within the host, killing it. These characteristics contribute to the Tachinidae great importance as population regulators of phytophagous hosts that in many cases constitute agricultural pests, being used in biological control applications. The Argentinean fauna includes 346 species belonging to 159 genera, although the magnitude of this value underestimates the real richness of the family, making it necessary to increase knowledge on these flies. Introducción Las Tachinidae constituyen una familia de moscas ex-tremadamente diversa, perteneciente al infraorden Calyptratae, que poseen más de 8500 especies a nivel mundial (O'Hara et al., 2020). Se trata de moscas que están presentes en todos los continentes y las grandes islas, con excepción de la Antártida, habitando una amplia variedad de ambientes terrestres. De acuerdo con el número de especies, hoy se la ubican en segun-do lugar, detrás de Tipulidae, entre las mayores fami-lias de Diptera, aunque su diversidad real se estima que es mucho mayor. Algunos autores sugieren que el
... Guimarães & D'Andretta (1956) considered Hershkovitzia to be a primitive group and placed it basally within Nycteribiidae. Subsequent papers reporting on the position of Nycteribiidae in the context of the phylogenetic relationships and biogeography of Hippoboscoidea did not include Hershkovitzia (McAlpine 1989;Nirmala et al. 2001;Dittmar et al. 2006Dittmar et al. , 2015Petersen et al. 2007;Kutty et al. 2010;Wiegmann et al. 2011). ...
Hershkovitzia Guimarães & D’Andretta, 1956 belongs to Nycteribiidae (Diptera), a family of hematophagous and obligate ectoparasites of bats. Hershkovitzia parasitize bats in the Thyropteridae family, which includes only one genus, Thyroptera Spix, 1823. Hershkovitzia species mostly have a one-to-one association pattern with their hosts, except for H. cabala Peterson & Lacey, 1985 and Hershkovitzia autinoae sp. nov., which share the same host. A review is presented of the species known to date, i.e., H. primitiva Guimarães & D’Andretta, 1956, H. coeca Theodor, 1967, H. inaequalis Theodor, 1967, H. cabala, and H. mariae Hrycyna, Santos, Rêbelo & Graciolli, 2022, and a new species, H. autinoae sp. nov., is described herein. A parsimony analysis of Hershkovitzia was carried out based on a matrix of morphological characters. A cophylogenetic analysis of these parasites and their hosts was performed using a phylogeny of Thyroptera based on a modified version of a previously-published character matrix. As a result, both Hershkovitzia and Thyroptera are monophyletic. Hershkovitzia was divided and organized into two morphological groups based on its phylogeny. As the host of H. coeca is not known, five hypothetical coevolutionary scenarios were performed with each species of Thyroptera. For each coevolutionary scenario only one solution was generated, and all scenarios indicate that the hypothetical ancestor of Hershkovitzia emerged together with the hypothetical ancestor of Thyroptera. An identification key to Hershkovitzia species is presented together with schematic drawings of the abdomen, head, and legs of each species.
... In Brazil they are often referred to as blowflies because the larvae of this family can be biontophagous, scavengers or necrobiontophagous, which can cause obligatory and facultative myiasis, making them extremely important in the health of animals [15,16] . causes obligate primary myiasis, and the other species mentioned are considered secondary wound invasive or facultative species (Figures 12-14) [22][23][24][25][26] . Yellow tessellated golden blowflies are dusty metallic blue in colours. ...
Adults of the Calliphoridae family are attracted to the odor generated by the wounds of all types of vertebrates, but they can also be found in flowers and foliage. Eggs are laid in substrates such as feces, carrion, necrotic tissue or healthy open-wounded tissue from which there the larvae develop. Adults primarily feed on exudates from previous substrates. The objective of this work is to investigate the biology, ecology, habitat, geographic distribution, taxonomy, life cycle, phenology, biological control, and work done on the Calliphoridae family (Insecta: Calliphoridae). A literature search involving articles published between 1950 and 2022 was conducted in order to carry out research related to quantitative, taxonomic, and conceptual aspects. A mini-review was prepared in Goiânia, Goiás, between September and October 2021, by means of the Biological Abstracts, Periodicals CAPE S and Scielo.
... Dataset (i) includes the mitochondrial and nuclear genes (COI (LCO1490/HCO2198), 28S, and CAD) of 63 species, including 61 ingroup species (27 of which were sequenced in this study) and two outgroup species of Agromyzidae (Appendix D). Two species of Odiniidae and Fergusoninidae were selected as outgroups referencing previous studies (McAlpine 1989;Dempewolf 2005;Scheffer et al. 2007). Dataset (ii) includes the mitochondrial and nuclear genes (COI, COII, Cytb, 28S, and CAD) of 19 species, including 16 ingroup species of Liriomyza and three outgroup species sequenced in this study (Appendix A). ...
Leaf-mining flies (Diptera: Agromyzidae) are a diverse family of small-bodied insects that feed on living plant tissues as larvae. Various species in this family are considered globally invasive and have caused great agricultural economic losses. In China, economically important vegetable crops have been seriously damaged by these pest insects, especially by species of the genus Liriomyza. However, these species are difficult to differentiate because of their morphological similarities, and the Chinese fauna remains poorly known. To explore the relevant pest species in China and their phylogeny, agromyzid leafminers were collected from 2016 to 2019, and identified based on morphological characteristics and DNA barcodes. In total, 27 species from five genera of Agromyzidae were sampled and identified, including 16 species of Liriomyza. Both mitochondrial and nuclear genes were used to reconstruct their phylogenetic relationships and estimate the divergence time. Highly congruent and well-supported phylogenetic trees were obtained using the Bayesian inference and maximum-likelihood methods. This analysis revealed two main clades in Liriomyza, and clade 2 was inferred to have diverged from clade 1 approximately 27.40 million years ago (95% highest posterior density: 23.03–31.52 million years ago) in the Oligocene. Differences were observed in the distribution patterns and host associations between the Liriomyza clades. Clade 2 species are distributed in cool, high-latitude environments, suggesting that they may have evolved into a cool-adapted lineage.
... The convention of Huckett and Vockeroth (1987) is followed here, who include Fanniinae as a subfamily within family Muscidae. However, McAlpine (1989) advocated for the elevation of Fanniinae to family Fanniidae, which is now the general convention. ...
Written in two parts, this guide introduces the reader to the insects in cattle dung on pastures across Canada. Part I focuses on general aspects of insect diversity and ecology. Part II is intended to help the reader identify insects. It provides information on the biology and morphology of different insect groups and is supplemented with colour photographs. Although the species mentioned in this guide are specific for Canada, most of them also occur in the United States. References are provided to taxonomic keys to aid in species identification. The guide concludes with an extensive list of references that allows the reader to explore topics in more depth and discover sources of information that might otherwise be overlooked.
... Five are polyphagous species feeding on greater than four plant families, and eight are oligophagous species feeding on hosts in two or three plant families (Spreadsheet in the supplementary files). The families Fergusoninidae and Odiniidae were chosen as outgroups as they have been found to be closely related to Agromyzidae based on McAlpine's (1989) classification and the recent phylogenomic study of the families of schizophoran Diptera (Bayless et al., 2021). Specimens were field collected using Malaise traps, hand nets, and/or reared from host plants. ...
Leaf-mining flies (Diptera: Agromyzidae) are a diverse clade of phytophagous Diptera known largely for their economic impact as leaf- or stem-miners on vegetable and ornamental plants. Higher-level phylogenetic relationships of Agromyzidae have remained uncertain because of challenges in sampling of both taxa and characters for morphology and PCR-based Sanger-era molecular systematics. Here, we used hundreds of orthologous single-copy nuclear loci obtained from anchored hybrid enrichment (AHE) to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships among the major lineages of leaf-mining flies. The resulting phylogenetic trees are highly congruent and well-supported, except for a few deep nodes, when using different molecular data types and phylogenetic methods. Based on divergence time dating using a relaxed clock and model-based historical biogeography analysis, leaf-mining flies are shown to have diversified in multiple lineages since the early Paleocene, approximately 65 million years ago. Our study not only reveals a revised classification system of leaf-mining flies, but also provides a new phylogenetic framework to understand their macroevolution.
... The families Hippoboscidae, Nycteribiidae, Streblidae and Glossinidae have been combined into 1 superfamily because of their unique reproductive mode, adenotrophic viviparity (Petersen et al., 2007). Except for family Glossinidae which is free-living, the other 3 families are all true ectoparasites, spending all or most of their adult lives within the fur or feathers of their mammalian and bird hosts, and thus undergo parasitic adaptations (McAlpine, 1989). This, together with the relatively small amount of molecular data on Hippoboscoidea species, has led to disagreement in the classification of Hippoboscoidea. ...
In recent years, bat-associated pathogens, such as 2019 novel coronavirus, have been ravaging the world, and ectoparasites of bats have received increasing attention. Penicillidia jenynsii is a member of the family Nycteribiidae which is a group of specialized ectoparasites of bats. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of P. jenynsii was sequenced for the first time and a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of the superfamily Hippoboscoidea was conducted. The complete mitochondrial genome of P. jenynsii is 16 165 base pairs (bp) in size, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes and 1 control region. The phylogenetic analysis based on 13 PCGs of the superfamily Hippoboscoidea known from the NCBI supported the monophyly of the family Nycteribiidae, and the family Nycteribiidae was a sister group with the family Streblidae. This study not only provided molecular data for the identification of P. jenynsii , but also provided a reference for the phylogenetic analysis of the superfamily Hippoboscoidea.
... The putative sister group of the Fergusoninidae is the Agromyzidae, (McAlpine, 1989), a cosmopolitan family of more than 2700 described species (Spencer, 1990). As larvae, agromyzids feed internally in plant tissue as miners of leaves, stems, flowers and roots. ...
... The majority of pipunculid larvae are endoparasitoids of Auchenorrhyncha (Skevington & Yeates, 2000). The sister-group relationship of Syrphidae and Pipunculidae was supported based mainly on the morphological characters (Cumming et al., 1995;Griffiths, 1972;McAlpine, 1989). This relationship was also retrieved in an earlier molecular study using two mitochondrial gene fragments (16S and 12S ribosomal RNA [rRNA], Skevington & Yeates, 2000). ...
The mitochondrial genome has become the most widely used genomic resource in resolving the insect phylogenetic relationships. In this study, we assess the interrelationships among the syrphid and pipunculid members of Syrphoidea using mitochondrial genome sequences of 152 taxa, 9 of which are newly reported and three are assembled from the existing transcriptome data. The Pipunculidae was found to be deeply nested members of Schizophora, which resulted in a nonmonophyletic Syrphoidea. In the monophyletic Syrphidae, unequivocal robust support was found for Microdontinae as the sister group of all other Syrphidae. The subfamily Eristalinae was nonmonophyletic. The Pipizinae was recovered as the sister group to the Syrphinae, albeit with strong support. As a whole, our results are concord with previously established hypotheses on Syrphoidea from the genome scale data. The mitochondrial genomes were successful in producing a robustly supported phylogenetic framework for the Syrphoidea. The Syrphoidea was nonmonophyletic with respect to Pipunculidae. The Microdontinae was sister to all other Syrphidae. The subfamily status of Pipizini was confirmed. The Syrphoidea was nonmonophyletic with respect to Pipunculidae. The Microdontinae was sister to all other Syrphidae. The subfamily status of Pipizini was confirmed. The Syrphoidea was nonmonophyletic with respect to Pipunculidae. The Microdontinae was sister to all other Syrphidae. The subfamily status of Pipizini was confirmed.
... A classification based on molecular analysis, which suggested the group (Conopidade + Lauxanioidea) as sister to all Schizophora. However, most authors consider conopids more closely related to Tephritoidea ( Figure 26) [13,14,15,16,17,18]. Conopid flies, as a family, utilize a variety of host organisms, with bees and wasps being the most commonly used. ...
Conopid larvae are internal parasitoids, most are parasitoids of Hymenoptera, particularly those of the Aculeata group, wasps and bees and orthopterans. Adult females are aggressive when attacking their hosts in flight to lay their eggs. The abdomen of the females is modified, it is like a can opener with which they can separate the segments of the abdomen of their victims to insert an egg. The subfamily Stylogastrinae, including the genus Stylogaster, is somewhat different. The egg is shaped like a harpoon, capable of piercing the host's integument. Some species of Stylogaster are mutualistic with army ants. The most important economic and ecological impact caused by Conopidae is probably its harmful effect on pollinating populations of Hymenoptera, especially bumblebees. Conopidae therefore significantly regulates highly infected insect populations and provides substantial selective forces, reducing the colonies' ability to produce sex in late summer. This review aims to verify the biological characteristics of the Conopidae Family. In order to achieve the main objective, a qualitative method was used based on research and analysis of theoretical books, theses banks, university dissertations, national and international scientific articles, scientific journals, documents and digital platforms. The verification of the mini review of the Conopidae Family was carried out from 1961 to 2022.
... It has long been proposed that the Tachinidae are a monophyletic clade depending on larval and adult characters [2,9] and the current molecular studies nearly entirely reported this view [3,5,10,15]. However, the works so far contain few outgroup taxa [4], unable to solve this issue. ...
The parasitoids from Tachinidae family have important role in biological control; nevertheless, the phylogenetic relationships of supra genera groups are poorly studied. Here, we present phylogenetic analyses of the family based on molecular data. 73 species of parasitoid flies belonging to 30 tachinid genera, including the four currently recognized subfamilies (Dexiinae, Exoristinae, Phasiinae, Tachininae) and 20 tribes were analyzed in the molecular study. The Tachinidae are reconstructed as a monophyletic assemblage based on morphological data and with four nonhomoplasious apomorphies (synapomorphies). Monophyly is well supported by a bootstrap value. Our morphological analysis generally supports the subfamily grouping Dexiinae + Phasiinae, while Tachininae + Exoristinae is not supported as one group, and with only the Exoristinae and the Phasiinae reconstructed as monophyletic assemblages. The Dexiinae, which were previously considered a well-established monophyletic assemblage (except for few studies), are reconstructed as polyparaphyletic with respect to the Phasiinae. The Tachininae are reconstructed as a paraphyletic grade, while monophyly of Exoristinae was recovered except genus Admontia Brauer & Bergenstamm, which arose within subfamily Tachininae. In contrast to molecular analysis, all subfamilies are polyparaphyletic groups in which they interact with each other, with the exception of Phasiinae, which includes most of its taxa in a monophyletic group.
... We chose the likelihood method of inference because of the numerous pitfalls associated with distance methods usually used for barcoding analyses (summarized in DeSalle and Goldstein 2019). Although not fully resolved, a number of studies strongly support the dipteran superfamily Ephydroidea, which includes the major families Ephydridae, Camillidae, Diastidae, Drosophilidae, and Curtonidae (summarized in McAlpine 1989, Grimaldi 1990. For the analyses shown here, a COI sequence from Diastidae (KM928824) was used as an outgroup. ...
Great Salt Lake (GSL) is the center of a valuable wetland ecosystem in the Great Basin of North America. The lake is an important site for millions of migratory birds that feed on two principle invertebrates, brine shrimp and brine flies (Diptera: Ephydridae). In spite of their ecological and economic importance, there are no published genetic studies of either resident GSL invertebrates. The family Ephydridae (shore flies and brine flies) is one of the largest in the order Diptera, with nearly 2000 described species. Members of this family are prominent in a variety of aquatic environments and are of particular interest because of their adaptation to a number of marginal habitats. These include hot springs, oil ponds, highly saline lakes, and inland alkaline pools and marshes. This report provides cytochrome c oxidase (COI) DNA barcodes for five species of GSL shore flies, distributed among five genera and three subfamilies. The phylogenetic content of these DNA sequences is explored by comparing a molecular phylogeny to those based on morphological features. Over the past decade, urbanization and inflow diversion have reduced the surface area of GSL by nearly 50%, with unknown consequences for the ecosystem. This study establishes a genetic framework for assessing changes in GSL invertebrate diversity that will be important in monitoring the effects of anthropogenic and climate pressures on this important natural resource.
... As per the common nature of the internal parasitism of the arthropods and subscutellum development, some poorly defined families (e.g. Rhinophoridae (not in this study)) have also been proposed as a sister group of tachinids 217,218 . In any case this is less convincing as in reality certain representatives of Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, and Oestridae have sclerotized subscutellum 219 . ...
Uziflies (Family: Tachinidae) are dipteran endoparasites of sericigenous insects which cause major economic loss in the silk industry globally. Here, we are presenting the first full mitogenome of Blepharipa sp. (Acc: KY644698, 15,080 bp, A + T = 78.41%), a dipteran parasitoid of Muga silkworm (Antheraea assamensis) found in the Indian states of Assam and Meghalaya. This study has confirmed that Blepharipa sp. mitogenome gene content and arrangement is similar to other Tachinidae and Sarcophagidae flies of Oestroidea superfamily, typical of ancestral Diptera. Although, Calliphoridae and Oestridae flies have undergone tRNA translocation and insertion, forming unique intergenic spacers (IGS) and overlapping regions (OL) and a few of them (IGS, OL) have been conserved across Oestroidea flies. The Tachinidae mitogenomes exhibit more AT content and AT biased codons in their protein-coding genes (PCGs) than the Oestroidea counterpart. About 92.07% of all (3722) codons in PCGs of this new species have A/T in their 3rd codon position. The high proportion of AT and repeats in the control region (CR) affects sequence coverage, resulting in a short CR (Blepharipa sp.: 168 bp) and a smaller tachinid mitogenome. Our research unveils those genes with a high AT content had a reduced effective number of codons, leading to high codon usage bias. The neutrality test shows that natural selection has a stronger influence on codon usage bias than directed mutational pressure. This study also reveals that longer PCGs (e.g., nad5, cox1) have a higher codon usage bias than shorter PCGs (e.g., atp8, nad4l). The divergence rates increase nonlinearly as AT content at the 3rd codon position increases and higher rate of synonymous divergence than nonsynonymous divergence causes strong purifying selection. The phylogenetic analysis explains that Blepharipa sp. is well suited in the family of insectivorous tachinid maggots. It's possible that biased codon usage in the Tachinidae family reduces the effective number of codons, and purifying selection retains the core functions in their mitogenome, which could help with efficient metabolism in their endo-parasitic life style and survival strategy.
... Our study supports Calliphoridae as a sister to (Polleniidae (Mesembrinellidae, Tachinidae)) (PP = 0.99; BP = 100) based on the mitogenomic datasets. In addition, in our study, the Calliphoridae, being monophyletic, was supported based on PCG123 and PCG123rRNA (PP = 0.99; BP = 100) (Figure 5,Supplementary Figures S4,6,7), which is consistent with previous studies based on putative synapomorphies (McAlpine, 1989a), Pape, 1992), and single-copy nuclear protein-coding genes (Yan et al., 2021). The non-monophyly status of Calliphoridae is supported here based on PCG12 using BI and ML analyses (Supplementary Figures S3,S5). ...
The Calliphoridae (blowflies) are significant for forensic science, veterinary management, medical science, and economic issues. However, the phylogenetic relationships within this family are poorly understood and controversial, and the status of the Calliphoridae has been a crucial problem for understanding the evolutionary relationships of the Oestroidea these years. In the present study, seven mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes), including six calliphorid species and one Polleniidae species, were sequenced and annotated. Then a comparative mitochondrial genomic analysis among the Calliphoridae is presented. Additionally, the phylogenetic relationship of the Calliphoridae within the larger context of the other Oestroidea was reconstructed based on the mitogenomic datasets using maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian methods (BI). The results suggest that the gene arrangement, codon usage, and base composition are conserved within the calliphorid species. The phylogenetic analysis based on the mitogenomic dataset recovered the Calliphoridae as monophyletic and inferred the following topology within Oestroidea: (Oestridae (Sarcophagidae (Calliphoridae + (Polleniidae + (Mesembrinellidae + Tachinidae))))). Although the number of exemplar species is limited, further studies are required. Within the Calliphoridae, the Chrysomyinae were recovered as sister taxon to Luciliinae + Calliphorinae. Our analyses indicated that mitogenomic data have the potential for illuminating the phylogenetic relationships in the Oestroidea as well as for the classification of the Calliphoridae.
... Owing to their ability to rapidly breed under suitable conditions, Sphaeroceridae form an important component of insect communities in habitats with cumulated decaying media, e.g., dung on pastures and manure heaps (Papp 1974a(Papp , b, 1976(Papp , 1985(Papp , 1992(Papp , 1993(Papp , 2007, salt lake shore mud (Papp & Izsák 2008), seashore wrack and woodland leaf litter and may thus have an indirect impact on soil fertility. McAlpine (1989McAlpine ( : 1479 postulated that the Sphaeroceridae belonged, together with the families Chyromyidae, Heleomyzidae (sensu McAlpine 1985, i.e., including Rhinotoridae and Trixoscelididae) and (?) Mormotomyiidae, in the superfamily Sphaeroceroidea (= Heleomyzoidea). Although this grouping was supported by only one synapomorphy (the enlarged and complex distiphallus), there are several other features shared by Chyromyidae, Sphaeroceridae and certain tribes of Heleomyzidae. ...
The chapter discusses the acalyptrate family Sphaeroceridae of the Afrotropical Region, with review of contemporary knowledge, an identification key and a synopsis of all genera recorded to date for this region.
... Although the Heleomyzidae was long treated as a family of uncertain relationship by Hennig (1958: 624), or a representative of the superfamily Anthomyzoidea (= Anthomyzoinea sensu Griffiths 1972: 190), it is now regarded as belonging to the Sphaeroceroidea (McAlpine 1989(McAlpine : 1479. The history of the various rankings and limits of the family have been outlined in Diptera monographs and in other regional Diptera manuals. ...
This chapter provides the basics for understanding the diversity of heleomyzid flies in the tropical and sub-tropical regions and is the first such synopsis of its knowledge occurring in the Afrotropics.
It includes a diagnosis of the family, sections dealing with biology and immature stages, classification, and a modern identification key to hitherto recorded genera in Afrotropical Region.
The checklist of German sap flies (Diptera, Aulacigastridae) includes three species. A bibliography comprises 18 publications containing original records of sap flies from Germany.
Chilean flies play an important role in many aspects of phylogeny and evolution of Diptera given their uniqueness and direct link with the Gondwanan insect fauna. Many dipterists have considered the order to be one of the most diverse in Chile, but there are still many gaps of information to fill. This study updates the families, genera, and species known from Chile and addresses the evolutionary origin of most dipteran families—indicating which biogeographical layers they belong to. The taxonomic literature was thoroughly reviewed from 1967 until May 2024. Our investigation revealed a total of 97 families, 930 genera and 4,108 valid species, placing Diptera as one of the most specious insect orders in Chile. The diversity of the Lower Diptera (suborders Tipulomorpha, Psychodomorpha, Culicomorpha, Perissommatomorpha
and Bibionomorpha) increased to 111 genera (93.27%) and 1,019 species (136.22%), whereas Brachycera increased to 229 genera (48.61%) and 703 species (50.72%). Specifically, the number of genera and species in the division Aschiza increased by 117.14% and 114.28% respectively, while Acalyptratae increased by 62.24% genera and 63.82% species to date. Finally, the number of genera and species in the Calyptratae increased by 31.05% and 50%, respectively. The family Neriidae is newly recorded for Chile and the species Telostylinus lineolatus (Wiedemann) is reported from Easter Island. We present age hypotheses of clades in Chile belonging to 60 families—of which 16 correspond to Cretaceous- and 46 to Cenozoic-, and a small number to Jurassic-elements. Finally, we address three major gaps for a more robust development of Diptera systematics in Chile: (1) lack of long-term systematic sampling, (2) taxonomic, spatial, and temporal biases for Diptera diversity and (3) poor understanding of biological and ecological processes related to Diptera facing advances in anthropogenic impacts across the country.
Treated herein are the 113 described species and two described subspecies in 25 genera of the family Sciomyzidae (snail-killing or marsh flies) known from the Americas south of the United States. Included are details on type specimens, references to generic transfers and synonymies, taxonomy, biology, gastropod hosts/prey, immature stages, chromosomes, biological and phenological groups, general distribution, and molecular data. Annotated keys are presented to adults of genera known from the Nearctic-Neotropical interface area and the Neotropics as well as the first key to all sciomyzid genera known from the Nearctic Region. Also presented is the first key to third-instar sciomyzid larvae in the Neotropical Region. Sepedonea isthmi (Steyskal) is placed as a junior synonym of S. annulata Macquart (new status), and Tetanocera plumifera Wulp is placed as a junior synonym of T. plumosa Loew (new status).
Constitué de deux parties, le présent guide propose une introduction aux insectes présents dans les bouses laissées par les bovins dans les pâturages du Canada. La partie I se concentre sur les aspects généraux de la diversité et de l’écologie des insectes. La partie II vise à aider les lecteurs à identifier les insectes. On y présente de l’information sur la biologie et la morphologie de différents groupes d’insectes, illustrée par des photographies en couleur. Bien que les espèces mentionnées dans ce guide soient présentes au Canada, la plupart se rencontrent également aux États Unis. Des renvois à des clés taxonomiques sont fournis à l’intention des lecteurs qui souhaiteraient procéder à une identification détaillée. Ce guide se termine par une liste exhaustive de références qui s’adresse aux lecteurs désireux d’approfondir certains sujets et de découvrir des sources d’information qui pourraient passer inaperçues.
Tachinidae are one of the most diverse clades of Diptera. All tachinids are parasitoids of insects and other arthropods, and thus are considered an important source of biological pest control. Antennae are the most important olfactory organs of Tachinidae playing key roles in their lives, especially in locating hosts, and details of antennal ultrastructure could provide useful features for phylogenetic studies and understanding their adaptive evolution. Despite the ecological and evolutionary importance of antennae, the current knowledge of antennal ultrastructure is scarce for Tachinidae. Our study examined antennal sensilla of thirteen species belonging to thirteen genera within eleven tribes of all the four subfamilies (Phasiinae, Dexiinae, Tachininae, and Exoristinae): Beskia aelops Walker, Trichodura sp., Voria ruralis (Fallén), Zelia sp., Cylindromyia carinata Townsend, Phasia xenos Townsend, Neomintho sp., Genea australis (Townsend), Copecrypta sp., Hystricia sp., Belvosia sp., Leschenaultia sp., and Winthemia pinguis (Fabricius). Types, length and distribution of antennal sensilla were investigated via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Our comparative analysis summarized 29 variable characters and we evaluated their phylogenetic signal for subfamilial, tribal and generic/specific levels, showing that antennal ultrastructure could be a reliable source of characters for phylogenetic analysis. Our findings demonstrate the remarkable diversity of the antennal ultrastructure of Tachinidae.
Rhamnus ilicifolia (Rhamnaceae) is a large shrub found in a range of habitats from southern Oregon south to Baja California and east into Arizona. During spring, the plant produces clusters of unisexual flowers, each with a 56-mm-diameter, open perianth of green or yellowish-green sepals. I investigated the pollination of R. ilicifolia in western Arizona during 27 April to 21 May 2020 by examining the distribution and phenology of male and female flowers on shrubs, collecting insects from female flowers, and determining the proportions of conspecific pollen on insects to estimate floral constancy. Shrubs were dioecious, and individual male and female plants flowered for 1115 d, with male flowers preceding female flowers by 2 d. Pollen grains from male flowers viewed in brightfield microscopy are tricolporate in structure and suboblate in shape, with a polar-axis length of 15 m and equatorial diameter of 18 m. Insects on female flowers comprised flies (Diptera) in 6 families and less abundant bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) in 3 families. The most abundant insects were the flies Allophorocera sp. (Tachinidae) and Phormia regina (Calliphoridae) and the bees Lasioglossum spp. (Halictidae) and Andrena cerasifolii (Andrenidae). Bees appeared more specific to R. ilicifolia flowers by transporting a higher mean proportion of conspecific pollen (0.57) compared with flies (0.36). The large bee A. cerasifolii carried the highest mean proportion of conspecific pollen (0.93). Proportions of conspecific pollen on the saprophytic P. regina were moderately high (0.48) and higher than on most other flies. Dioecious R. ilicifolia shrubs appear to be pollinated by a diversity of flies and bees that are generally not specific to the plant's flowers. Similar pollination of European Rhamnus by generalist insects suggests that plants in the genus and their pollinators have evolved independently.
The parasitoids from Tachinidae family have important role in biological control; nevertheless, the phylogenetic relationships of supra genera groups are poorly studied. Here, we present phylogenetic analyses of the family based on molecular data. 73 species of parasitoid flies belonging to 30 tachinid genera, including the four currently recognized subfamilies (Dexiinae, Exoristinae, Phasiinae, Tachininae) and 20 tribes were analyzed in the molecular study. The Tachinidae are reconstructed as a monophyletic assemblage based on morphological data and with four nonhomoplasious apomorphies (synapomorphies). Monophyly is well supported by a bootstrap value. Our morphological analysis generally supports the subfamily grouping Dexiinae + Phasiinae, while Tachininae + Exoristinae is not supported as one group, and with only the Exoristinae and the Phasiinae reconstructed as monophyletic assemblages. The Dexiinae, which were previously considered a wellestablished monophyletic assemblage (except for few studies), are reconstructed as polyparaphyletic with respect to the Phasiinae. The Tachininae are reconstructed as a paraphyletic grade, while monophyly of Exoristinae was recovered except genus Admontia Brauer Bergenstamm, which arose within subfamily Tachininae. In contrast to molecular analysis, all subfamilies are polyparaphyletic groups in which they interact with each other, with the exception of Phasiinae, which includes most of its taxa in a monophyletic group.
The Eocene Baltic amber fossil flies of the genus Acartophthalmites Hennig, 1965 (Diptera: Acalyptratae) are revised. Seven species are recognized and described or redescribed. Five species, A. crassipes sp. nov., A. luridus sp. nov., A. rugosus sp. nov., A. tertiaria Hennig, 1965 (type species) and A. willii Pérez-de la Fuente, Hoffeins et Roháček, 2018 are retained in Acartophthalmites while Clusiomites gen. nov. is described for two other species, C. clusioides (Roháček, 2016) comb. nov. (type species) and C. ornatus sp. nov. Relationships of these fossil taxa are discussed and, because they cannot be confidently placed in any known family of Diptera, a new family, Clusiomitidae, is established for them. Clusiomitidae is recognized as a family of Opomyzoidea, probably most closely allied to Clusiidae. These results again confirmed that the diversity of acalyptrate flies was very high in the Mid-late Eocene amber forest.
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