The first fossil hilarimorphid fly (Diptera: Brachycera)

Myskowiak, Justine; Azar, Dany; Nel, André

doi:10.1016/j.gr.2015.05.003

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…The mid-Mesozoic record of insect pollinators provides evidence for a distinctive family-level diversity pattern based on their plant-host associations and evolutionary histories (Figure 3; Tables 1 and S1). During the angiosperm radiation and the Aptian-Albian gap in particular, there were extinctions, reductions, and host shifts of insect lineages on gymnosperm hosts [6,12,14] and the origination of new associations on angiosperms [2,40]. Compression-impression deposits, such as the Yixian Formation (ca.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

False Blister Beetles and the Expansion of Gymnosperm-Insect Pollination Modes before Angiosperm Dominance

et al. 2017

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During the mid-Cretaceous, angiosperms diversified from several nondiverse lineages to their current global domination [1], replacing earlier gymnosperm lineages [2]. Several hypotheses explain this extensive radiation [3], one of which involves proliferation of insect pollinator associations in the transition from gymnosperm to angiosperm dominance. However, most evidence supports gymnosperm-insect pollinator associations, buttressed by direct evidence of pollen on insect bodies, currently established for four groups: Thysanoptera (thrips), Neuroptera (lacewings), Diptera (flies), and now Coleoptera (beetles). Each group represents a distinctive pollination mode linked to a unique mouthpart type and feeding guild [4-9]. Extensive indirect evidence, based on specialized head and mouthpart morphology, is present for one of these pollinator types, the long-proboscid pollination mode [10], representing minimally ten family-level lineages of Neuroptera, Mecoptera (scorpionflies), and Diptera [8, 10, 11]. A recurring feature uniting these pollinator modes is host associations with ginkgoalean, cycad, conifer, and bennettitalean gymnosperms. Pollinator lineages bearing these pollination modes were categorized into four evolutionary cohorts during the 35-million-year-long angiosperm radiation, each defined by its host-plant associations (gymnosperm or angiosperm) and evolutionary pattern (extinction, continuation, or origination) during this interval [12]. Here, we provide the first direct evidence for one cohort, exemplified by the beetle Darwinylus marcosi, family Oedemeridae (false blister beetles), that had an earlier gymnosperm (most likely cycad) host association, later transitioning onto angiosperms [13]. This association constitutes one of four patterns explaining the plateau of family-level plant lineages generally and pollinating insects specifically during the mid-Cretaceous angiosperm radiation [12].

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

False Blister Beetles and the Expansion of Gymnosperm-Insect Pollination Modes before Angiosperm Dominance

et al. 2017

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“…A small, long-proboscid fly in Early Cretaceous Lebanese amber, Cretahilarimorpha Myskowiak et al has been assigned to Hilarimorphidae (Myskowiak et al, 2016). This is a very unusual fly.…”

Section: Superfamily Asiloideamentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Hilarimorphid antennae are short, with three flagellomeres (the apical two forming a small, thin, styluslike portion). The empodium of Cretahilarimorpha is apparently reduced (Myskowiak et al, 2016), but it is uncertain whether it is setiform. The long, projecting proboscis is autapomorphic and not revealing of relationships.…”

Section: Superfamily Asiloideamentioning

confidence: 99%

Diverse Orthorrhaphan Flies (Insecta: Diptera: Brachycera) in Amber From the Cretaceous of Myanmar: Brachycera in Cretaceous Amber, Part VII

Grimaldi

2016

Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History

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A remarkable diversity of new nonempidoid orthorrhaphan flies from the mid-Cretaceous of Myanmar (Late Albian-Early Cenomanian, ca. 99 Ma) is presented, including 28 species (all but one new) in 22 genera (13 new), and at least 12 families. Two families are new; three genera are unplaced in Tabanomorpha and one unplaced within Brachycera. Comparisons are presented between the amber taxa and extensive lithified taxa from the Jurassic and Cretaceous of eastern Laurasia.In Stratiomyomorpha: A new species of Zhangsolvidae has color patterns and body shape that apparently mimic Vespidae or other stinging aculeate wasps. Diverse new Xylomyidae and Stratiomyidae are described, the latter with male terminalia preserved in detail. In Tabanomorpha: The genus Athericites Mostovski et al. is synonymized with Palaepangonius Ren, and a new species of Galloatherix Nel is described in which the female proboscis is much longer than that of the male. All three genera were attributed to Athericidae, but the amber species reveal they are more basal tabanomorphs. Described are a new genus of stem-group Tabanoidea and a new species of Cratotabanus Martins-Neto and Kucero-Santos (Tabanidae), previously known from the Cretaceous of Brazil and New Jersey. In Nemestrinoidea: Three species of Hirmoneura Meigen are the first Nemestrinidae known from amber; one species has long cerci typical of Recent species of the genus. A new species of the Mesozoic family Rhagionemestriidae reveals this family is closely related to Acroceridae, not Xylophagidae as previously proposed. In Archisargoidea: A new species of Tethepomyiidae is described, the family known only in Cretaceous amber from New Jersey, Spain, and Myanmar. In Asiloidea: Three new species and genera of Bombyliidae are described, two of them with abdominal setal "baskets" distinctive to females of higher bombyliids. A fourth new asiloid genus is a probable stem-group bombyliid. The recently described Pseudorhagio Zhang et al., is transferred from Tabanomorpha to Bombyliidae. The male of a new species of Burmapsilocephala Gaimari and Mostovski (Apsilocephalidae) has terminalia very similar to that of Evocoa (Evocoidae: Recent, Chile), corroborating close relationship of the two families. In Families incertae sedis: A new species of Hilarimorphites Grimaldi and Cumming (Apystomyiidae) is described, the family known only in New Jersey and Burmese amber and the Recent fauna of California, and a sister group to either Cyclorrhapha or Eremoneura. Mysteromyiidae and Eucaudomyiidae, new families, are described, based on highly modified species with vestigial mouthparts, reduced venation, and unique specializations.Discussion is presented on some morphological features in fossil and Recent Brachycera that have apparent phylogenetic significance but are rarely discussed. This study adds further data to the phenotypic diversity, geological history, and biogeography of a major radiation.

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“…The most important indirect evidence for co-evolution of flies and angiosperms may be the mouthparts ( Labandeira, 2010 ). Long mouthparts flies were quite diverse during the Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous, such as Nemestrinidae, Zhangsolvidae, and newly reported the first record of Hilarimorphidae from Lower Cretaceous Lebanese amber ( Myskowiak et al, 2016 ). Mouthparts of fly in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber also show a high morphological disparity, from thin long to short expanded ones ( Figure 1 ).…”

Section: Probable Flies-angiosperm Associationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of Lower Brachyceran Flies (Diptera) and Their Adaptive Radiation with Angiosperms

Zhang

Wang

2017

Front. Plant Sci.

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The Diptera (true flies) is one of the most species-abundant orders of Insecta, and it is also among the most important flower-visiting insects. Dipteran fossils are abundant in the Mesozoic, especially in the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous. Here, we review the fossil record and early evolution of some Mesozoic lower brachyceran flies together with new records in Burmese amber, including Tabanidae, Nemestrinidae, Bombyliidae, Eremochaetidae, and Zhangsolvidae. The fossil records reveal that some flower-visiting groups had diversified during the mid-Cretaceous, consistent with the rise of angiosperms to widespread floristic dominance. These brachyceran groups played an important role in the origin of co-evolutionary relationships with basal angiosperms. Moreover, the rise of angiosperms not only improved the diversity of flower-visiting flies, but also advanced the turnover and evolution of other specialized flies.

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The first fossil hilarimorphid fly (Diptera: Brachycera)

Cited by 7 publications

References 24 publications

False Blister Beetles and the Expansion of Gymnosperm-Insect Pollination Modes before Angiosperm Dominance

False Blister Beetles and the Expansion of Gymnosperm-Insect Pollination Modes before Angiosperm Dominance

Diverse Orthorrhaphan Flies (Insecta: Diptera: Brachycera) in Amber From the Cretaceous of Myanmar: Brachycera in Cretaceous Amber, Part VII

Evolution of Lower Brachyceran Flies (Diptera) and Their Adaptive Radiation with Angiosperms

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