Phylogeny of Syrphidae (Diptera) inferred from combined analysis of molecular and morphological characters

Abstract

Abstract. Syrphidae (Diptera) commonly called hoverflies, includes more than 5000 species world‐wide. The aim of this study was to address the systematic position of the disputed elements in the intrafamilial classification of Syrphidae, namely the monophyly of Eristalinae and the placement of Microdontini and Pipizini, as well as the position of particular genera (Nausigaster, Alipumilio, Spheginobaccha). Sequence data from nuclear 28S rRNA and mitochondrial COI genes in conjunction with larval and adult morphological characters of fifty‐one syrphid taxa were analysed using optimization alignment to explore phylogenetic relationships among included taxa. A species of Platypezidae, Agathomyia unicolor, was used as outgroup, and also including one representative (Jassidophaga villosa) of the sister‐group of Syrphidae, Pipunculidae. Sensitivity of the data was assessed under six different parameter values. A stability tree summarized the results. Microdontini, including Spheginobaccha, was placed basally, and Pipizini appeared as the sister‐group to subfamily Syrphinae. The monophyly of subfamily Eristalinae was supported. The results support at least two independent origins of entomophagy in syrphids, and frequent shifts between larval feeding habitats within the saprophagous eristalines.

The Relationship between Morphological and Behavioral Mimicry in Hover Flies (Diptera: Syrphidae)

“…The resultant phylogeny included most major syrphid clades (Figure 1). Reassuringly, all species fell within their prospective genera and our tree was largely congruent with other published results that used nuclear loci (Skevington and Yeates 2000;Ståhls et al 2003;Mengual et al 2008). We then tested for a phylogenetic signal in behavioral mimicry and mimetic fidelity (the highest rating given to each species) by comparing the phylogeny based on COI with a null model in which all branches were equal in a likelihood ratio test (see Hossie et al 2013 for more details).…”

“…Note that while the tree has been oriented to show behavioral mimics within one box, the genera Temnostoma and Spilomyia are not sister taxa (e.g. see Ståhls et al 2003).…”

Diversidade de Syrphidae (Diptera) em cinco áreas com situações florísticas distintas no Parque Estadual Vila Velha em Ponta Grossa, Paraná

“…Na Fase 2, observou-se uma diminuição do número de predadores e um aumento das outras guildas. Nessa área, a subfamília mais abundante foi Eristalinae, na qual são encontrados representantes com hábitos alimentares variados na fase de imaturos, podendo ser saprófagos e fitófagos (STAHLS et al, 2003). Desta forma, as condições vegetais da área (vegetação mais alta, dossel mais fechado, menor entrada de luz e maior umidade), poderiam disponibilizar maior oferta alimentar para o estágio imaturo desses sirfídeos.…”

Global diversity of dipteran families (Insecta Diptera) in freshwater (excluding Simulidae, Culicidae, Chironomidae, Tipulidae and Tabanidae)

“…Most aquatic syrphids belong to the Eristalinae. However not all members of this subfamily are aquatic (Rotheray & Gilbert, 1999;Stahls et al, 2003). More than 1.000 species in more than 90 genera are aquatic or water-dependant.…”

“…Family Syrphidae (G. E. Rotheray) Phylogenetic relationships between Syrphidae are under assessment and although some clades are well supported, a consensus has yet to be reached (Rotheray & Gilbert, 1999;Stahls et al, 2003). The earliest fossil syrphids are aged at about 120-130 million years, the time when the supercontinent was breaking apart (Grimaldi & Cumming, 1999).…”