Life on an island: the phylogenetic placement ofLoveridgeanaand AfrotropicalSphaerophoria(Diptera: Syrphidae) inferred from molecular characters

Abstract

Phylogenetic relationships of the Sphaerophoria lineage (Sphaerophoria Le Peletier & Audinet-Serville and related genera) were inferred based on molecular characters, with the specific aim to infer the phylogenetic placement of the Afrotropical Sphaerophoria species and Loveridgeana beattiei van Doesburg & van Doesburg. Three molecular markers were used, i.e., the mitochondrial protein-coding gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and the nuclear 28S and 18S ribosomal RNA genes. The Sphaerophoria lineage genera Exallandra Vockeroth and Loveridgeana were resolved within the genus Sphaerophoria, and the Indomalayan Eosphaerophoria Frey was placed sister to Citrogramma Vockeroth, both related to a large species radiation from the New World. Fazia Shannon and Allograpta Osten Sacken were recovered as non-monophyletic. Our results recovered two different Fazia clades with dissimilar natural history resulted from our analyses, and Allograpta species were resolved into two clades, one with Nearctic and Neotropical species and a second clade with species from Oceanian, Indomalayan and Afrotropical Regions. Exallandra is considered a subgenus of Sphaerophoria, S. (Exallandra) stat. rev., and Sphaerophoria cinctifacies (Speiser) n. comb. a member of this subgenus together with S. loewii Zetterstedt. A new Sphaerophoria subgenus is designated S. (Loveridgeana) stat. rev. to include S. beattiei n. comb. and the South African species, i.e., S. quadrituberculata Bezzi, S. retrocurva Hull, and S. aff.retrocurva. Based on their phylogenetic distinctiveness, functional traits, and ecological relevance we do recommend further ecological study and protection efforts for this Afrotropical group of pollinators.

Systematics and evolution of predatory flower flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) based on exon‐capture sequencing

“…This subfamily is further divided into four well‐supported clades: Melanostomini, Bacchini and two large clades within Syrphini (including the monotypic Toxomerini and Paragini). Our inferred phylogeny for these predatory flower flies (Figures 2 and S1–S14) agrees with recent phylogenetic studies recognizing the tribes Melanostomini and Bacchini (Mengual, 2015, 2020; Mengual et al, 2021; Mengual, Ståhls, et al, 2018; Moran et al, 2022; Pauli et al, 2018; Ståhls et al, 2003; Young, Lemmon, et al, 2016). Our findings parallel those of Mengual (2020) resolving Leucopodella Hull as sister to the remaining melanostomines, placing Pelloloma Vockeroth within Melanostomini, and indicating a close relationship between Argentinomyia Lynch Arribálzaga, Talahua Fluke and Melanostoma Schiner.…”

“…Two major clades within Syrphini receive high support in most analyses, mirroring previous studies based on molecular and morphological data (Mengual, 2015, 2020; Mengual et al, 2008b, 2015, 2021; Moran et al, 2022; Young, Lemmon, et al, 2016). In Figure 2, these two clusters are indicated with numbers 1 and 2 within a blue circle, and the word Syrphini is located between the two clusters to facilitate their visualization.…”

“…Our findings parallel those of Mengual (2020) Syrphini in the recent literature (Mengual, 2015(Mengual, , 2020Mengual et al, 2008aMengual et al, , 2008bMengual et al, , 2012Mengual et al, , 2015Mengual et al, , 2021Mengual, Ståhls, et al, 2018;Mengual & Thompson, 2011;Moran et al, 2022;Young, Lemmon, et al, 2016). Toxomerus is resolved within a large radiation of American genera (mostly Neotropical species but some Nearctic), whereas Paragus is placed as sister to the Eupeodes-Scaeva radiation (sensu Mengual, Ståhls, et al, 2018).…”

“…to include the species of Toxomerus and Paragus , and consider Toxomerini and Paragini no longer valid tribes. These two monotypic taxa have been resolved within the large radiation of Syrphini in the recent literature (Mengual, 2015, 2020; Mengual et al, 2008a, 2008b, 2012, 2015, 2021; Mengual, Ståhls, et al, 2018; Mengual & Thompson, 2011; Moran et al, 2022; Young, Lemmon, et al, 2016). Toxomerus is resolved within a large radiation of American genera (mostly Neotropical species but some Nearctic), whereas Paragus is placed as sister to the Eupeodes‐Scaeva radiation (sensu Mengual, Ståhls, et al, 2018).…”

“…Moreover, all the known phytophagous and pollen-feeding larvae within Syrphinae are found in this clade (Mengual et al, 2008a(Mengual et al, , 2012(Mengual et al, , 2021. It seems that among the two large American radiations within the Sphaerophoria and Ocyptamus lineages, some species had a secondary transition to phytophagy in their larval feeding mode, and this happened at least three times independently in different genera (Dumbardon-Martial, 2016;Nishida et al, 2002;Reemer & Rotheray, 2009;Weng & Rotheray, 2009;Zuijen & Nishida, 2011).…”