Molecular phylogeny, species delimitation and biogeographic history of theStegana(Steganina)shirozuispecies group (Diptera: Drosophilidae) from East Asia

Abstract

The Stegana (Steganina) shirozui species group is mainly distributed in East Asia. In the present study, the molecular phylogeny of the S. shirozui group was investigated based on mitochondrial (COI and ND2) and nuclear (28S rRNA) markers. The resulting trees support the S. shirozui group as monophyletic and indicate that in this group, species associated with closer affinities show higher structural homogeneity in male genitalia. Molecular species delimitation assess most species limits and recognize four new species in the S. shirozui group from south-west China: S. alianya sp. nov., S. diodonta sp. nov., S. zebromyia sp. nov. and S. zopheria sp. nov. One new synonym was also recognized. Additionally, three typical male genital characters of the S. shirozui group were placed on the molecular phylogenetic framework. The outcome of both divergence-time estimation and ancestral area reconstruction suggests that the S. shirozui group likely originated in south-west China in the Middle Miocene.

Cryptic diversity in the subgenus Oxyphortica (Diptera, Drosophilidae, Stegana)

“…Within the subfamily Steganinae, the genus Stegana Meigen, 1830 is one of the most species-rich genera, comprising 247 species ( Bächli, 2021 ; Wang et al, 2021 ). These species are classified into five subgenera: Ceratostylus Enderlein (1922), Orthostegana Hendel (1913), Oxyphortica Duda (1923), Stegana Meigen (1830) and Steganina Wheeler (1960).…”

Molecular phylogeny and systematics of the subgenus Oxyphortica Duda from the Oriental region (Diptera: Drosophilidae: Stegana)

“…The genus Stegana Meigen, with 264 species (Bächli, 2020;Wang et al, 2020Wang et al, , 2021, is among the most species-rich genera within the subfamily Steganinae (Diptera: Drosophilidae) and is subdivided into five subgenera: Ceratostylus Enderlein, Orthostegana Hendel, Oxyphortica Duda, Stegana Meigen and Steganina Wheeler. About 67% of Stegana species inhabit tropical to subtropical broad-leaved forests of the Northern Hemisphere.…”