Evolution of assassin flies and the discovery of a Cretaceous fossil in Burmese amber Andrenosoma sp. © M. Thomas † Burmapogon bruckschi by D. Grimaldi Pegesimallus sp. © R. Felix Torsten Dikow Smithsonian @TDikow #asiloidflies National Museum of Natural History What is an assassin fly? ◊ adult flies predatory ◊ catch prey insects in flight › some species also prey on sitting insects or spiders ◊ 5 – 60 mm (0.16 – 2.36 inch) long ◊ more than 7,500 species known to science from around the world Scleropogon duncani ◊ live primarily in: › desert environments › tropical environments › but also in temperate regions such as eastern U.S. ◊ several species mimic bees or wasps to avoid being eaten by birds Ceraturgus fasciatus © M. Thomas What is an assassin fly? Alcimus sp. © R. Felix Trichardis picta Echthodopa formosa © M. Thomas Prytanomyia albida What is Burmese amber? ◊ amber originates from northern Myanmar (formerly Burma) ◊ 100 million years old ◊ many insect species known ◊ specimens incredibly well-preserved ◊ very early view into evolution of assassin flies collaboration on the assassin flies in Burmese amber with David Grimaldi (American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY) First-ever specimen of an assassin fly in Burmese amber ◊ † Burmapogon bruckschi › one out of tens of thousands amber specimens known › well-preserved male fly images by D. Grimaldi Second specimen of an assassin fly in Burmese amber ◊ † Burmapogon bruckschi › partly damaged female fly images by D. Grimaldi Egg-laying behavior of assassin flies ◊ female assassin fly lays eggs into different substrates › placing egg in self-made hole in sand › dropping egg on ground (usually sand) › attaching egg to plants › laying egg into decaying tree trunks female egg-laying features from above, Lasiopogon cinctus female egg-laying features from above, Tillobroma punctipennis scale lines = 100 µm (SEM micrograph), 1 mm (drawing) Unique features of † Burmapogon bruckschi ◊ shape of antenna ◊ spine on hind leg images and illustrations by D. Grimaldi Evolutionary relationships of † Burmapogon bruckschi ancestral assassin y Key: = present (in all species) = present in majority of species = present in minority of species Asilinae = absent Laphriinae Phellinae Coleomyia Dioctriinae Ommatiinae Oligopogon †Cretagaster Tillobromatinae Dasypogoninae Willistonininae Leptogastrinae †Burmapogon Features: Bathypogoninae Stenopogoninae Trigonomiminae Stichopogoninae Brachyrhopalinae ? wing cell r1 open ? wing cell m3 open wing cell cup open ? alula reduced (to varying degree) acanthophorite spurs ? hypopharynx spicules spaced far apart maxillary palpus two-segmented frons markedly diverging antennal seta-like element apically on stylus lateral eye margin strongly sinuate lateral eye margin slightly sinuate elevation of antennal insertion protuberances on prothoracic tibia ? protuberances on metathoracic coxa ? epandrium comprised of 2 sclerites ? Evolutionary relationships of † Burmapogon bruckschi ancestral assassin y Key: = present (in all species) = present in majority of species = present in minority of species Asilinae = absent Laphriinae Phellinae Coleomyia Dioctriinae Ommatiinae Oligopogon †Cretagaster Tillobromatinae Dasypogoninae Willistonininae Leptogastrinae †Burmapogon Features: Bathypogoninae Stenopogoninae Trigonomiminae Stichopogoninae Brachyrhopalinae ? wing cell r1 open ? wing cell m3 open wing cell cup open ? alula reduced (to varying degree) acanthophorite spurs ? hypopharynx spicules spaced far apart maxillary palpus two-segmented frons markedly diverging antennal seta-like element apically on stylus lateral eye margin strongly sinuate lateral eye margin slightly sinuate elevation of antennal insertion protuberances on prothoracic tibia ? protuberances on metathoracic coxa ? epandrium comprised of 2 sclerites ? Andrenosoma sp. © M. Thomas † Burmapogon bruckschi by D. Grimaldi Pegesimallus sp. © R. Felix › read the scientific article about † Burmapogon http://hdl.handle.net/2246/6522 ‹ › see † Burmapogon images in high-resolution http://www.morphbank.net/myCollection/index.php?collectionId=832153 ‹ › read Smithsonian press release http://newsdesk.si.edu/releases/smithsonian-scientist-discovers-ancient-species-assassin-fly‹ › learn more about assassin fliesasiloidflies.si.edu ‹ › view this presentation on figshare.com or slideshare.net ‹.