Family groups of Diopsoidea and Nerioidea (Diptera: Schizophora)—Definition, history and relationships

Abstract

The Acalyptratae are a diverse, heterogenous assemblage of dozens of families of “higher flies” in the Schizophora (Diptera). There are ten acalyptrate superfamilies, two of which are reviewed and redefined here at the family-group level: Diopsoidea and Nerioidea. The superfamily Diopsoidea includes seven families: Diopsidae (two subfamilies and two tribes), Gobryidae, Megamerinidae, Nothybidae, Psilidae (three subfamilies), Somatiidae and Syringogastridae. The superfamily Nerioidea also includes seven families: Cypselosomatidae, Fergusoninidae, Micropezidae (five subfamilies), Neriidae, Pseudopomyzidae, Tanypezidae and Strongylophthalmyiidae. All 14 families are redescribed, figured and keyed, including notes on subordinate family-level groups. Homologies for external and genitalic characters are established, and the superfamilies and their family-level groups are discussed. A morphological phylogenetic analysis is provided, including representatives from all family-level groups in both ingroup superfamilies, as well as twelve outgroup taxa from five other acalyptrate superfamilies. Both superfamilies were supported as monophyletic, although both the Diopsoidea and its basal branches were supported by highly homoplasious characters and are here only tentatively accepted; a relationship between Diopsidae, Syringogastridae and Megamerinidae is strongly supported. Nerioidea is a well-defined group divided into three lineages, including one containing Pseudopomyzidae, Cypselosomatidae and Fergusoninidae, the latter of which was previously considered to be related to the family Agromyzidae (Opomyzoidea). Diopsoidea and Nerioidea were not found to be related.

Beyond Drosophila: resolving the rapid radiation of schizophoran flies with phylotranscriptomics

“…Our results do not corroborate this hypothesis. The family Fergusoninidae was recently placed close to Nerioidea due to chaetotaxy and the enlarged and modified female abdomen used to deposit nematodes and eggs in its myrtaceous hosts [45]. The results of all analyses in this study clearly place Fergusoninidae close to Agromyzidae, in concordance with Agromyzoinea sensu McAlpine [19].…”

Mitochondrial Genomes Provide New Phylogenetic and Evolutionary Insights into Psilidae (Diptera: Brachycera)

“…Psilidae, commonly known as rust flies, is a group of small to medium-sized, yellow or black acalyptrate flies with reduced body setation [ 26 ]. Psilids are of economic importance because their phytophagous larvae burrow in the roots, stems, and tubers of plants [ 26 , 27 , 28 ] and sometimes cause considerable damage on bamboos [ 29 , 30 ], carrots, [ 31 , 32 ] and other root crops [ 33 , 34 ]. Some species have also been reported to induce galls [ 35 , 36 ].…”

“…Some species have also been reported to induce galls [ 35 , 36 ]. With about 340 species being described so far, Psilidae is distributed in all zoogeographic realms with the highest diversity in the Old World and the Nearctic region, and a few species also occur in the Neotropical region [ 28 , 37 ]. Members of Psilidae are currently assigned into 3 subfamilies (Belobackenbardiinae, Chylizinae, and Psilinae), whereas the genus-level classification within Psilidae has been debated for a long time, especially the status of some generic taxa of Psilinae needs to be reconsidered [ 27 , 28 , 38 , 39 ].…”

“…With about 340 species being described so far, Psilidae is distributed in all zoogeographic realms with the highest diversity in the Old World and the Nearctic region, and a few species also occur in the Neotropical region [ 28 , 37 ]. Members of Psilidae are currently assigned into 3 subfamilies (Belobackenbardiinae, Chylizinae, and Psilinae), whereas the genus-level classification within Psilidae has been debated for a long time, especially the status of some generic taxa of Psilinae needs to be reconsidered [ 27 , 28 , 38 , 39 ]. In addition, the taxonomic, phylogenetic, and evolutionary studies of Psilidae have largely relied on morphological characters from adults, larvae, and eggs [ 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 ], and the comparative and phylogenetic analyses of this family based on molecular data remain unconducted.…”

The mitochondrial genome of Nothybus sumatranus (Diptera: Nothybidae)

“…The family Nothybidae belongs to the superfamily Diopsoidea of Acalyptratae (Diptera). It is a small group currently contains only twelve species in the single genus Nothybus Rondani, 1875 (Lonsdale 2020). Nothybids are slender, elongate, long-legged flies ranging from 5.5 to 15.0 mm in size, usually yellowish orange to brown with abdomen partially dark brown to blackish brown (Zhou et al 2021).…”