Phylogenetic relationships and classification of the Chloropinae of the world (Diptera: Chloropidae)

Abstract

The Chloropidae is a species-rich family of flies with about 3000 species in four subfamilies. The Chloropinae is the second most species-rich subfamily with almost 1000 described species in 75 accepted genera. There is agreement about the monophyly of the subfamily; however, the relationships among the genera are still poorly understood and some genera are clearly paraphyletic. Thus, the interpretation of the evolution of morphological traits, such as male terminalia sclerites, remains challenging. This is the first phylogenetic study of the Chloropinae using a formal analytical approach, including representatives of 73 genera of the subfamily and 124 morphological characters. The monophyly of the Chloropinae is corroborated. Chloropella is sister to the remainder of the subfamily. Slightly different analytical procedures show stable clades and rogue taxa. We propose a system for the subfamily with ten tribes, three of which are newly proposed here—Chloropellini trib. nov., Chloropini, Chloropsinini trib. nov., Diplotoxini, Eurinini stat. nov., Lasiosinini, Mepachymerini, Meromyzini, Mindini and Pseudothaumatomyini. Eight genera are kept incertae sedis and two new genera are erected. There is compelling evidence that Chlorops and Ectecephalina are paraphyletic.

Checklist of the dipterofauna (Insecta) from Roraima, Brazil, with special reference to the Brazilian Ecological Station of Maracá

“…Grass flies are considered one of the most diverse families of flies. With about 3,000 described species worldwide, Chloropidae comprises 204 genera classified into four subfamilies (Marshall, 2012;Nartshuk, 2012;Riccardi et al, 2018;Riccardi & Amorim, 2020). Several chloropids are associated with grasses, including some agricultural pests; but their feeding habits are varied, since they can be found in nearly all terrestrial biomes.…”

Comparative Analysis of the Mitochondrial Genomes of Chloropidae and Their Implications for the Phylogeny of the Family

“…This division was accepted by Kanmiya [ 3 ], Sabrosky [ 18 ], Wheeler [ 19 ], Ismay and Nartshuk [ 20 ], Mlynarek and Wheeler [ 21 ], and Ismay et al [ 4 ]. Nartshuk [ 22 , 23 ] treated Rhodesiellinae as a subfamily, which was followed by Cherian [ 24 ], Nartshuk [ 1 ], Nartshuk and Andersson [ 15 ], and Riccardi and Amorim [ 2 ], resulting in the recognition of Chloropidae comprising four subfamilies. Andersson [ 12 , 25 ] initially intended to reconstruct the phylogeny of the family.…”

“…Chloropidae, commonly known as grass flies, is the most taxonomically diverse family of Carnoidea. It currently comprises 203 described genera and over 3000 known extant species worldwide [1,2]. Their bodies are usually mostly black or primarily yellow with black to brown stripes, and they have diverse body shapes, from short and broad to greatly elongated, with their total lengths ranging from 1.0 to 9.5 mm in size [3,4].…”

“…The monophyly of Chloropidae is widely accepted [2,4,14,15], as it is strongly supported by several synapomorphic characters: reduced chaetotaxy, developed ocellar triangle, vertical propleural carina, the absence of basal medial crossvein (bm-m) and anterior 2 of 13 cubital cell (cell cua), and the presence of flexure in the fourth medial vein (M 4 ) [14,15]. The Milichiidae is recovered as the sister group of Chloropidae based on molecular and morphological data [5,14,16].…”

“…In his study, Andersso lyzed general phylogenetic relationships within the family based on morpho and concluded that Siphonellopsinae is the 'basal subfamily' (Figure 1). This is by most studies based on morphological data [2,3,23,26]. The relationships bet ropinae, Oscinellinae, and Rhodesiellinae are, however, confusing.…”