The Genus Rhopalosyrphus (Diptera: Syrphidae)

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

The Genus Rhopalosyrphus (Diptera: Syrphidae) 186 Florida Entomologist 86(2) June 2003 THE GENUS RHOPALOSYRPHUS (DIPTERA: SYRPHIDAE) HOWARD V. WEEMS, JR.1, F. CHRISTIAN THOMPSON2, GRAHAM ROTHERAY3 AND MARK A. DEYRUP4 '(retired) Florida State Collection of Arthropods, P.O. Box 2309, Hawthorne, FL 32640-2309 'SystematicEntomology Laboratory, USDA, NHB-168 Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. 20560 ^Department of Natural History, Royal Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF Scotland 'Archbold Biological Station, P.O. Box 2057, Lake Placid, FL 33862 ABSTRACT The flower fly genus Rhopalosyrphus Giglio-Tos (Diptera: Syrphidae) is revised. The genus is redescribed; a key to species is presented; the phylogenetic relationships of the genus and species are hypothesized; the included species are described; with new species, R. ramu- lorum Weems & Deyrup, described from Florida (type) and Mexico; R. australis Thompson from Brazil and Paraguay (type); and the critical characters are illustrated. Key Words: taxonomy, identification key, neotropics, nearctic RESUMEN El genero de la mosca de la flor del genero, Rhopalosyrphus, (DIPTERA: Syrphidae) es revi- sada y es redescrito; se presenta una clave para las especies; la relacion filogenetica del ge- nero y las especies es formulada; las especies incluidas son descritas; con las nuevas especies, R. ramulorum Weems & Deyrup, descrita de Florida (tipo) y Mexico; R. australis Thompson de Brasil y Paraguay (tipo); y los caracteres criticos son ilustrados. Translation provided by author. Rhopalosyrphus Giglio-Tos is a small group of Giglio-Tos 1892b: 34 [journal (1893:130] (descrip- microdontine flower flies restricted to the New tion); Aldrich 1905:347 (catalog citation); Kertesz World subtropics and tropics, ranging from south- 1910: 360 (catalog citation); Hull 1949: 312, figs, ern United States to northern Argentina. These (description, figures of habitus, head, abdomen, flies are rarely collected, only some two dozen hind leg); Capelle 1956 (review, key); Cole & specimens are known. The adults mimic eume- Schlinger 1969: 307 (descriptive notes); Thomp- nine vespids, such as Zethus, which nest in twigs son et al. 1976: 60 (catalog citation); Vockeroth & (Bohart & Stange 1965). The immature stages are Thompson 1987: 729 (key reference). known for only one species. These were found in Holmbergia Lynch Arribalzaga 1891: 195. ant nests (Pseudomyrmex) in twigs and grass Type species, guentherii Lynch Arribalzaga culms, where the larvae probably prey on ant (monotypy). Synonymy by Giglio-Tos (1892a). brood. The genus contains only three species. One Head: face convex, produced anteroventrally, wide ranging species, R. guentherii, is found from pilose; gena small, linear, pilose; frontal promi- southwestern United States to northern Argen- nence absent, antenna inserted above middle of tina. The others are more restricted in their head; frons short, about yA as long as face, as wide ranges; R. ramulorum, presently known from a as face (?) or slightly narrowed dorsally (8), pi- few specimens from Florida and Mexico, and R. lose; vertex broad, about 3 times as long as frons, australis from southeastern Brazil, Peru and Par- as wide as frons, not swollen, pilose and punctuate; aguay. The genus is here revised, with complete ocellar triangle small, equilateral, well separated synonymies, descriptions, and distributional and from eye margins; occiput broad on dorsal Vr, eye biological data given for all taxa. Adult terminol- bare, dichoptic in male. Antenna elongate, longer ogy follows Thompson (1999), larval terminology than face; scape and basoflagellomere elongate, at follows Hartley (1961) and Rotheray (1991). least 4 times as long as pedicel; scape about 6 times as long as broad; arista bare, inserted baso- GENUS RHOPALOSYRPHUS GIGLIO-TOS laterally on mesal surface, about as long as scape. Thorax: longer than broad; postpronotum pi- Rhopalosyrphus Gilgio-Tos 1891: 3. Type spe- lose; meso-anepisternum with anterior portion not cies, Holmbergia guentherii Lynch Arribalzaga differentiated, uniformly pilose; meso-katepister- (subsequent monotypy, Giglio-Tos 1892a: 2). Willis- num completely pilose; meso-anepimeron with ton 1892: 78 (catalog citation, descriptive note); posterior portion bare; meropleuron with barrette Weems et al.: Genus Rhopalosyrphus (Diptera: Syrphidae) 187 pilose; metasternum developed, pilose (although odon, sensu lato is unresolved: Rhopalosyrphus reduced in some species); scutum punctuate, with shares with the Microdon clade the bifid aedeagus appressed pile; metatibia expanded apically; and appears closely related to Ceriomicrodon. Ce- scutellum with or without small apical calcar, riomicrodon shares characters 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and without distinct ventral pile fringe. Wing: brown its abdominal shape could be considered derived on anterior 1/3, extensively microtrichious; mar- from that of Rhopalosyrphus. The two differ only ginal cell broadly open; stigmatic crossvein by the presence of pile on the meropleuron. present; vein Ml with apical portion straight, Microdon aurcinctus, described by Sack (1921: joining vein R4+5 perpendicularly; vein M2 138) in Rhopalosyrphus, belongs to the Pseudomi- present or absent; vein R4+5 with spur. crodon group of Microdon. The species of this Abdomen: petiolate; 1st segment short; 2nd group differ from Rhopalosyrphus in the charac- segment as broad as thorax basally, but con- ters listed above and in having the vertex swollen stricted, cylindrical apically; 3rd segment cylin- and shiny. drical; 4th and 5th segments forming a compact Based on puparial characters, the immature club; aedeagus bifid. stages of Rhopalosyrphus closely resemble Micro- Puparium: elongate with broader ventral than don. They both have the anterior end consisting of dorsal surface; marginal band of variously-sized the metathorax, with the prothorax and mesotho- setae; dorsal surface flat; ventral surface convex; rax hidden beneath it, a marginal band of setae marginal band notched anteriorly; prothorax and which surrounds the puparium except for a notch mesothorax hidden beneath metathorax; mandi- at the anterior end, sharply-pointed antennomax- ble with serrate ventral margin. illary organs and mandibles with a serrated ven- Rhopalosyrphus belongs to the subfamily Micro- tral margin. dontinae and is the sister group of Ceriomicrodon The very distinctive shape of the puparium of Hull, together these taxa are the sister group of Rhopalosyrphus separates it from that of Micro- Microdon Meigen, sensu lato. Rhopalosyrphus is don: it has a curved ventral surface that is defined (synapomorphy) by its 1) abdominal struc- broader than the narrow, fiat dorsal surface. Also, ture and 2) pilose meropleuron. Other diagnostic the whole structure is elongate rather than oval characters are 3) antenna elongate, longer than in outline. The reverse appears in Microdon, with face, usually about twice as long; 4) scape and ba- the dorsal surface being broader and curved and soflagellomere elongate; 5) face produced ven- the ventral surface narrower and flat. These dif- trally; 6) occiput greatly developed on dorsal 1/3; 7) ferences in shape suit the larva to life in hollow metasternum developed, not reduced; and 8) twigs and grass culms in which its prey, larvae metatibia flared apically. The relationship to Micr- and pupae of the ant, Pseudomyrmex, live. KEY TO SPECIES OF RHOPALOSYRPHUS 3rd tergum short, about 1/3 as long as 2nd; 2nd tergum elongate (Fig. 9); eye with an area of enlarged ran- matidia medially and posterior to antenna australis 3rd tergum elongate, as long as 2nd; 2nd tergum not greatly elongate posteriorly (Fig. 10); eye without en- larged ommatidia 2 2. Alula completely microtrichose; cell R extensively microtrichose, bare only on basoposterior 1/4 or less; metasternum appearing bare, with pile greatly reduced; face and anepisternum partially black pilose ramulorum Alula bare basomedially; cell R completely bare behind spurious vein; metasternum with long, distinct pile, not reduced; face and anepisternum entirely white pilose guentherii Rhopalosyrphus guentherii Lynch Arribalzaga Rhopalosyrphus carolae Capelle 1956: 174 A* Figs. 10-13 6 2 Arizona, Huachuca Mts., Sunnyside Canyon (HT 2 UKaL). Byers et al. 1962: 168 (HT UKaL); Holmbergia giintherii Lynch Arribalzaga Wirth et al. 1965: 599 (catalog citation); Cole & 1891: 198, Fig. 3 (habitus) Argentina, Buenos Schlinger 1969: 307 (descr. note, distr. western Aires (T 2 MACN lost?). Giglio-Tos 1892a: 2 N.A.); Thompson et al. 1976:60. NEW SYNONYM (notes), 1893: 131 [sep. 35], pi. 1, Figs. 10, lOa-b Wing length: 8.8 mm (<J)-10.5 mm (9). Head: (description, figures of abdomen, wing); Aldrich brownish black, yellowish white pilose; occiput 1905: 347 (catalog citation); Kertesz 1910: 360 grayish white pollinose on ventral 2/3, shiny dor- (catalog citation); Fluke 1957: 36 (catalog cita- sally; eye with ommatidia of more or less equal tion); Capelle 1956: 172, Fig. 2 (description, syn- size; antenna brownish black except orange basal onymy, key reference, figure of head); Thompson 1/3 of scape, about twice as long as face; antennal et al. 1976: 60 (catalog citation). ratio 5: 1: 8. 188 Florida Entomologist 86(2) June 2003 Thorax: brownish black; pleuron silvery-white Counties], Huachuca Mts, Sunnyside Canyon, 9- pilose; scutum brown pilose medially, silvery VII-1940, DE Hardy (allotype 6, UKaL). TEXAS: white pilose anteriorly, along transverse suture, Hidalgo Co: Pharr, 23-VI-1947 (1 2 USNM); La laterally and posteriorly; scutellum silvery white
Recommended publications
  • Diptera: Syrphidae) with Notes on the Placement of the Subfamily by F
    A NEW GENUS OF MICRODONTINE FLIES (DIPTERA: SYRPHIDAE) WITH NOTES ON THE PLACEMENT OF THE SUBFAMILY BY F. CHRISTIAN THOMPSON I discovered the following new genus of Syrphidae while reviewing the Neotropical Microdontinae. I had planned to put aside its de- scription until my study of the subfamily was finished. However, publication of a second species, assignable to it by van Doesburg (1966) has necessitated publishing a name now for this genus so that it can be included in the Catalog of South American Diptera. Paragodon, new genus Very small (4-5 mm.) microdontine flies. Face simple (slightly produced in paragoides); cheeks absent, eyes bordering on the oral opening; eyes dichoptic in both sexes; occiput evenly developed. An- tennae short, about one-half as long as face; aristae short and thick- ened. Thorax about as long as broad; pleura bare except mesopleura pilose and meta.pleura with microscopic, pile; scutellum without apical spines and fringe; metasterna undeveloped and bare; metathoracic spiracles without hair fringes. Legs simple, with no basal setal patches on the femora and with cicatrices only on the hind femora. Vings without the spurious vein, with all apical crossveins straight. Abdomen oval, lateral margins slightly emarginate and rolled under ventrally, with ISt sternite bare and st spiracles without hair fringes. Genitalia simple; ejaculatory apodeme simple, apical por- tion not triangularly flared; ejaculato.ry sac not sclerotized; ejacula- tory process single, short, not posteriorly fused to ejaculatory hood; ejaculatory hood with anterior ventral portion elongate; sustentacu- lar apodeme present, double, fused anteriorly to base of ejaculatory Contribution no. 1392 from the Systematics and Morphology Research Laboratory, Department of Entomology, University of Massachusetts.
    [Show full text]
  • University of São Paulo "Luiz De Queiroz” College of Agriculture Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture
    University of São Paulo "Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture The effects of landscape structure and crop management on insect community and associated ecosystem services and disservices within coffee plantation Hugo Reis Medeiros Thesis presented to obtain the degree of Doctor in Science. Area: Applied Ecology Piracicaba 2019 Hugo Reis Medeiros Geographer The effects of landscape structure and crop management on insect community and associated ecosystem services and disservices within coffee plantations versão revisada de acordo com a resolução CoPGr 6018 de 2011 Advisor: Prof. Dr. CIRO ABBUD RIGHI Thesis presented to obtain the degree of Doctor in Science. Area: Applied Ecology Piracicaba 2019 2 Dados Internacionais de Catalogação na Publicação DIVISÃO DE BIBLIOTECA – DIBD/ESALQ/USP Medeiros, Hugo Reis The effects of landscape structure and crop management on insect community and associated ecosystem services and disservices within coffee plantations / Hugo Reis Medeiros. - - versão revisada de acordo com a resolução CoPGr 6018 de 2011. - - Piracicaba, 2019. 82 p. Tese (Doutorado) - - USP / Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz”. Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura. 1. Agroecologia 2. Insetos benéficos 3. Estrutura da paisagem 4. Serviços ecossistêmicos I. Título 3 Dedico este trabalho à minha esposa e família, pelo amor, apoio e compreensão durante esta etapa da vida. 4 AGRADECIMENTOS Primeiramente, agradeço minha esposa Mariana, por estar ao meu lado nessa fase da vida e me dar forças principalmente nos momentos difíceis. Muito obrigado pelo amor, carinho, confiança, parceria e compreensão! Aos meus pais, Sonia e José Inácio, e irmão Lucas pelo incentivo, apoio irrestrito e amor incondicional.
    [Show full text]
  • Dad De Panama Vicerrectoria De Investigacion Y Postgrado Programa Centroamericano De Maestria En Entomologla
    IBIUP blioteca mt Simon Bolivar 11111111 1111 1111111111 00313025 UNIVERS [DAD DE PANAMA VICERRECTORIA DE INVESTIGACION Y POSTGRADO PROGRAMA CENTROAMERICANO DE MAESTRIA EN ENTOMOLOGLA DIVERSIDAD Y ESTRUCTURA DE LA COMUNIDAD DEL ORDEN DIPTERA EN EL DOSEL DEL BOSQUE TROPICAL ROSA MARIA ESTRADA HERNANDEZ PANAMA, REPUBLICA DE PANAMA 2017 K DIVERSIDA]) V ESTRUCTURA 1W LA COMITNIDAt) DEL ORDEN DIPTERA EN EL DOSEL DEL BOSQUE TROPICAL. TESIS Sometida para optar al thiilo de MagIster en Ciencias con énfasis en entomologia VICERRECTORIA DE LNVESTLGACION V POSTGRAJ)O Permiso para su publicación o reproducción total o parcial, ttebe ser obteiiido en Ia VicerrectorIa de f'vestigaciôu y Postgrado APROI3A[)O: ASESOR J1JRAJ)O 6LL4~~ JURADO I! DEDICATORIA A mi madre y padre, gracias por estar siempre para mi AGRADECIMIENTOS Al Dr Hector Barnes per orientarme durante el proyecto y ayudarme a culminarlo de manera satisfactoria Al Servicio Aleman de lntercambio Academico (DAAD) por ci financiamiento de mis studios y la investigaclon, sin su apoyo este sueño no seria posible A mi amigo y compañero Oswaldo Rodriguez M Sc por su apoyo moral y academico durante Ia ejecucion del presente trabajo A mi amiga y tutora Yolanda Aguila Ph D, gracias por sus consejos y apoyo a to largo de todo este proceso por sus observaciones para enriquecer este trabajo Al M Sc Percis Garces, gracias per sus coñtribuciones y comentarios para mejorar este trabajo INDICE GENERAL RESUMEN SUMMARY 2 INTRODUCCION 3 OBJETIVOS 5 REVISION DE LITERATURA 6 2 1 Oçneralidades de Diptera 6 22
    [Show full text]
  • Diptera: Syrphidae) with the Description of Two New Genera from Africa and China
    Zootaxa 1879: 21^8 (2008) ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) www.mapress.com/zootaxa/ *7 f\f\'\^ \ \T A Copyright © 2008 • Magnolia Press ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) A generic conspectus of the Microdontinae (Diptera: Syrphidae) with the description of two new genera from Africa and China XIN-YUE CHENG1 & E CHRISTIAN THOMPSON2 ' College of Life Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China. E-mail: [email protected] 2Systematic Entomology Laboratory, PSI, Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, NHB-0169, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C. 20013-7012 USA E-mail: [email protected] Abstract A new genus and species of flower flies is described from China (Furcantenna Cheng, type F. yangi Cheng). Another new genus is proposed for the Afrotropical species incorrectly placed in Ceratophya, Afromicrodon Thompson, type Microdon johannae Doesburg. A key is provided to the groups of the Subfamily Microdontinae, along with a checklist of genus-group names proposed within the subfamily and nomenclatural and taxonomic notes on them. Key words: Taxonomy, Syrphidae, Microdontinae, key, China, Afrotropics Introduction Microdontine flies are an unusual group among the flower flies. The adults are rarely encountered as they do not go to flowers and remain close to their breeding sites. The known larvae are predators of ant brood, and, hence, found in ant nests (Andries 1912, Duffield 1981). Adults are found commonly around those nests and do not range far from them. Normally microdontine flies are rare in Malaise and other kind of traps, but if the trap is close to ant nests, then adults can be abundant in the trap samples.
    [Show full text]
  • Diptera: Syrphidae) of Surinam, with a Key to the Neotropical Genera Menno Reemer
    Tijdschrift voor Entomologie 157 (2014) 27–57 brill.com/tve A review of Microdontinae (Diptera: Syrphidae) of Surinam, with a key to the Neotropical genera Menno Reemer The fauna of Microdontinae (Diptera: Syrphidae) of Surinam is reviewed, based on a recent field survey by the author and a re-evaluation of previously collected material, mostly deposited in the RMNH collection (Leiden). A key to all 28 Neotropical genera of the subfamily is given. A total number of 42 species belonging to 13 genera are recorded from Surinam. Habitus photographs of all species are given. Compared with the checklist of Van Doesburg (1966), 24 species are added and five are removed. The following new species are described: Domodon peperpotensis sp. n., Microdon (Microdon) colakriki sp. n., Peradon satyricus sp. n. and Peradon sciarus sp. n. Five possibly new species are left unnamed, pending revisionary work of the species groups they belong to. A neotype is designated for Aphritis angustus Macquart, 1846. The following new synonymies are proposed: Microdon instabilis Wiedemann, 1830 = Microdon aurifex Wiedemann, 1830 jun. syn. n., Microdon batesi Shannon, 1927 = Microdon beebei Curran, 1936 syn. n. Keywords: Diptera, Syrphidae, Microdontinae, Surinam, Neotropical region, key, new species. Menno Reemer, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, the Netherlands. [email protected] Introduction Worldwide, 476 species of Microdontinae are Microdontinae (Diptera: Syrphidae) are unlike other known. With 202 described species of Microdonti- hoverflies in several respects. The adults are rarely nae, the Neotropical region is the richest of the major seen on flowers, and in some species they do not feed biogeographical regions for this subfamily (Reemer at all.
    [Show full text]
  • Part 1. Entomologists and Their Works Before the Biologia Centrali-Americana Acta Zoológica Mexicana (Nueva Serie), Núm
    Acta Zoológica Mexicana (nueva serie) ISSN: 0065-1737 [email protected] Instituto de Ecología, A.C. México Papavero, Nelson; Ibáñez Bernal, Sergio Contributions to a History of Mexican Dipterology,- Part 1. Entomologists and their works before the Biologia Centrali-Americana Acta Zoológica Mexicana (nueva serie), núm. 84, 2001, pp. 115-173 Instituto de Ecología, A.C. Xalapa, México Available in: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=57508406 How to cite Complete issue Scientific Information System More information about this article Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal Journal's homepage in redalyc.org Non-profit academic project, developed under the open access initiative Acta Zool. Mex. (n.s.) 84 (2001) 10. THE SPECIES DESCRIBED BY CARL EDUARD ADOLPH GERSTAECKER Carl Eduard Adolph Gerstaecker died on July 20, 1895 at Greifswald, at the age of 67. He was educated for the medical profession and took his degree, but devoted himself to zoology, especially to entomology. For many years he was keeper of the entomological department of the Berlin Natural History Museum and also a professor of zoology at the University of Berlin. About the year 1876, differences with the then director of the Berlin Museum induced him to resign his appointment in Berlin, and he subsequently accepted the professorship of Zoology at Greifswald, which he held until his death. Gerstaecker was an industrious and thorough worker in all departments of entomology. Among his principal works may be noted the “Arthropoda” in the “Handbuch der Zoologie” (1863) and the same phylum in Bronn´s “Klassen und Ordnungen der Tierreichs”.
    [Show full text]
  • Phylogenetic Relationships of Microdontinae (Diptera: Syrphidae) Based on Molecular and Morphological Characters
    Systematic Entomology (2013), 38, 661–688 DOI: 10.1111/syen.12020 Phylogenetic relationships of Microdontinae (Diptera: Syrphidae) based on molecular and morphological characters MENNO REEMER1 and GUNILLA STAHLS˚ 2 1Naturalis Biodiversity Center, European Invertebrate Survey, Leiden, The Netherlands and 2Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland Abstract. The intrasubfamilial classification of Microdontinae Rondani (Diptera: Syrphidae) has been a challenge: until recently more than 300 out of more than 400 valid species names were classified in Microdon Meigen. We present phylogenetic analyses of molecular and morphological characters (both separate and combined) of Microdontinae. The morphological dataset contains 174 characters, scored for 189 taxa (9 outgroup), representing all 43 presently recognized genera and several subgenera and species groups. The molecular dataset, representing 90 ingroup species of 28 genera, comprises sequences of five partitions in total from the mitochondrial gene COI and the nuclear ribosomal genes 18S and 28S . We test the sister-group relationship of Spheginobaccha with the other Microdontinae, attempt to elucidate phylogenetic relationships within the Microdontinae and discuss uncertainties in the classification of Microdontinae. Trees based on molecular characters alone are poorly resolved, but combined data are better resolved. Support for many deeper nodes is low, and placement of such nodes differs between parsimony and Bayesian analyses. However, Spheginobaccha is recovered as highly supported sister group in both. Both analyses agree on the early branching of Mixogaster, Schizoceratomyia, Afromicrodon and Paramicrodon. The taxonomical rank in relation to the other Syrphidae is discussed briefly. An additional analysis based on morphological characters only, including all 189 taxa, used implied weighting.
    [Show full text]
  • Descriptions Many Specimens by the Collecting of Syrphid Especially
    STUDIES ON THE FAUNA OF SURINAME AND OTHER GUYANAS: No. 35. Syrphidae from Suriname Additional records and descriptions by P.H. van Doesburg Sr. (Baarn, Nederland) This intended study is as a continuation of the “Preliminary List of Syrphidae” published in volume V of this journal. As no further flies of the other Guianas has information on the Syrphid come to these countries can be left out of consideration here. my knowledge Since the dispatch of the manuscript of the “Preliminary List” to the editors several species not yet known from Suriname have been received. Once of these flies collected again a large part were by my D. son Drs. P. H. van Doesburg junior. Dr. C. Geijskes, Director of the Suriname Museum, Paramaribo, has also sent me big lots of To Syrphids in which many interesting species were represented. I to heartfelt Moreover both gentlemen wish express appreciation. for his my son deserves special thanks interrupting own demanding work to produce the beautiful, exact illustrations. Many specimens sent by Dr. GEIJSKES have been collected by the useful use of a “Malaise trap”. It is evident that these traps are very for the collecting of Syrphid flies too, especially the small species be in which could otherwise easily overlooked a dense, tropical We are also indebted to forest, e.g. Mesograpta, Ubristes, Neplas spp. this for the small of and trap very specimens Ubristes puerilis n. sp. Ceratophya minutula n. sp. In contrast to the "Preliminary List" each species recordedbelow At the end the is followed by a reference to its original description.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 8 – Speculations on Historical Biogeography of Microdontinae
    Cover Page The handle http://hdl.handle.net/1887/18582 holds various files of this Leiden University dissertation. Author: Reemer, Menno Title: Unravelling a hotchpotch : phylogeny and classification of the Microdontinae (Diptera: Syrphidae) Issue Date: 2012-03-13 8 Speculations on the historical biogeography of Microdontinae (Diptera: Syrphidae) Abstract. The distribution of the subfamily Microdontinae over the major biogeographical regions is described. A survey is made of disjunct distributions of widespread genera and sister groups, based on the phylogenetic hypothesis of Chapter 4 and the classification in Chapter 5. The Microdontinae are most strongly represented in the tropical regions. Of the 472 va- lid species, 408 occur in tropical regions. The richest fauna is found in the Neotropical region, with 203 species, follwed by (respectively) the Oriental, Afrotropical and Australasian regions. This order reflects the diversity of ants in these regions, as could be expected for a group of flies so closely associated with ants. Several genera and sister groups of Microdontinae occur in two or more major biogeographical regions. Examples are: the genus Paramixogaster in the Afrotropical, Oriental and Australasian regions; the genus Spheginobaccha in southern Africa, Madagascar and the Oriental region; the genus Paramicrodon and Microdon subgenus Chymophila in the Neotropical and Oriental regions. Under the assumption that the evolution of Microdontiane depended on the evolution of ants, the group is probably maximally 144 million years old (late Jura). In case the Microdontinae evolved after the origin of the ‘formicoid’ ants (a hypothesis discussed in Chapter 7), the group would be maximally 100 million years old (mid Cretaceous).
    [Show full text]
  • Identification Key for the Genera of Syrphidae (Diptera) from the Brazilian Amazon and New Taxon Records
    ACTA AMAZONICA http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1809-4392201601022 Identification key for the genera of Syrphidae (Diptera) from the Brazilian Amazon and new taxon records Gil Felipe Gonçalves MIRANDA1* 1 Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Coordenação de Biodiversidade. Avenida André Araujo, 2936, Bairro Petrópolis - Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil - CEP: 69060-060. * Corresponding author: [email protected]. ABSTRACT Identification keys are essential to properly recognize taxa, and a photographic key not only addresses that issue but can also attract the interest of the general public if designed correctly. Syrphidae is one of the largest families of Diptera, and the Brazilian Amazon holds more taxon records from this family than currently reported. The aim of the current study was to provide an updated photographic identification key, of easy use and access, to the genera of Syrphidae (Diptera) from the Brazilian Amazon region, and identify previously unrecorded taxa. Through a literature review and study of collection material from several institutions, I found 36 new taxon records for the Brazilian Amazon (15 are first records for Brazil) and provided a list of references with identification keys to species from each genus. The online version of this manuscript has a photographic identification key, with diagnostic pages for each genus, as supplementary material. KEYWORDS: Flower fly; live pictures; Neotropical; online; taxonomy Chave de identificação para os gêneros de Syrphidae (Diptera) da Amazônia brasileira e novos registros RESUMO Chaves de identificação são essenciais para reconhecer táxons, e uma chave pictórica atende a essa demanda e também desperta o interesse do público em geral, se for desenhada apropriadamente.
    [Show full text]
  • Hoverfly Number 43 Newsletter Autumn 2007
    HOVERFLY NUMBER 43 NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2007 Dipterists Forum ISSN 1358-5029 Readers may have wondered why they did not receive the Autumn 2006 newsletter (Hoverfly Newsletter No. 42) until the spring of this year, and why there was no Spring 2007 issue. The reason is that the newsletter is nowadays mailed to forum members with the Bulletin. The Autumn 2006 newsletter was prepared at the normal time for dispatch with the autumn bulletin, but no autumn bulletin was produced until the spring of this year, by which time the newsletter was some six months old. Consequently, by the time readers received it, the deadlines for submitting copy for the intended spring newsletter had long passed, and so it was not possible to produce a spring issue. To avoid delays in the catching up process two of Roger Morris‘s Recent Literature compilations are included in this issue. My thanks to everyone who has supplied copy for this newsletter, not least for the excellent response to calls for ―Interesting Recent Records‖. Copy for Hoverfly Newsletter No. 44 (which is expected to be issued with the Spring 2008 Dipterists Forum Bulletin) should be sent to me: David Iliff, Green Willows, Station Road, Woodmancote, Cheltenham, Glos, GL52 9HN, (telephone 01242 674398), email: [email protected], to reach me by 20 December 2007. CONTENTS Roger Morris & Stuart Ball Recording Scheme Update 2 Roger Morris & Stuart Ball 4th International Symposium on Syrphidae 6 Nigel Jones A note on patrolling behaviour of male Parhelophilus versicolor 8 1 Roger D Hawkins & Graham A Collins The separation of female Eumerus funeralis from E.
    [Show full text]
  • Fly Times Issue 48, April 2012
    FLY TIMES ISSUE 48, April, 2012 Stephen D. Gaimari, editor Plant Pest Diagnostics Branch California Department of Food & Agriculture 3294 Meadowview Road Sacramento, California 95832, USA Tel: (916) 262-1131 FAX: (916) 262-1190 Email: [email protected] Welcome to the latest issue of Fly Times! Sorry it's late of course - but May is better than June for an April newletter! Being in Vietnam for most of March didn't help! I thank everyone for sending in such interesting articles – I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed putting it together! Please let me encourage all of you to consider contributing articles that may be of interest to the Diptera community. We all greatly appreciate your contributions! Fly Times offers a great forum to report on your research activities and to make requests for taxa being studied, as well as to report interesting observations about flies, to discuss new and improved methods, to advertise opportunities for dipterists, and to report on or announce meetings relevant to the community. This is also a great place to report on your interesting (and hopefully fruitful) collecting activities! The electronic version of the Fly Times continues to be hosted on the North American Dipterists Society website at http://www.nadsdiptera.org/News/FlyTimes/Flyhome.htm. The Diptera community would greatly appreciate your independent contributions to this newsletter. For this issue, I want to again thank all the contributors for sending me so many great articles! That said, we need even more reports on trips, collections, methods, updates, etc., with all the associated digital images you wish to provide.
    [Show full text]