The morphology, higher-level phylogeny and classification of the Empidoidea (Diptera)

Abstract

A cladistic analysis of the Empidoidea and basal lineages of the Cyclorrhapha, based on morphological characters, confirms the monophyly of both groups as well as that of the Eremoneura. The resulting final trees are used to revise the classification of the Empidoidea to include the following five families: Empididae, Hybotidae, Atelestidae (including Nemedininae n. subfam.), Brachystomatidae rev. stat. (comprising the subfamilies Brachystomatinae, Ceratomerinae and Trichopezinae), and Dolichopodidae s.lat. The family Microphoridae is not recognized, and the Microphorinae and Parathalassiinae are assigned to the Dolichopodidae s.lat. The Dolichopodidae s.str. includes 15 subfamilies that were previously recognized within the family. Within the Empidoidea we found support for Atelestidae as the sister group to the Hybotidae and for the monophyly of Parathalassiinae + Dolichopodidae s.str. The Empididae remains poorly defined and the genera Homalocnemis Philippi, Iteaphila Zetterstedt, Anthepiscopus Becker, and Oreogeton Schiner are classified as incertae sedis within the Empidoidea. In addition, the following higher taxa are proposed: Symballophthalmini n. tribe, Bicellariini n. tribe, Oedaleinae rev. stat., and Trichininae rev. stat., which are all assigned to the Hybotidae. The genus Sematopoda Collin is tentatively assigned to Trichopezinae, and Xanthodromia Saigusa is transferred from Hemerodromiinae to Brachystomatinae. All morphological characters are extensively discussed and illustrated, including details of the antennae, mouthparts, internal thoracic structures, wings, and male and female terminalia. In addition, a key to families and unplaced genus groups of the Empidoidea is provided. Feeding habits are also discussed in terms of the empidoid ground plan condition.

An independently evolved Dipteran silk with features common to Lepidopteran silks

“…2). The swollen basitarsus is a strong synapomorphy of the Hilarini (Sinclair and Cumming, 2006) and is found in the earliest hilarine fossils from ca. 145 million years ago (Cumming, personal communication, 2006).…”

A burning desire for smoke? Sampling insects favoured by forest fire in the absence of fire

“…This is not surprising, given that Microsania spp. are known to have smoke- The total sampling effort was 10 9 45 min N = 2 detecting glands (Sinclair and Cumming 2006) and a preference to swarm within the smoke itself (Snoddy and Tippins 1968;Klocke et al 2011), presumably for mating, although mating has rarely been observed (Chandler 1978;personal observation HN). As neither the food resources needed nor the oviposition requirements are known, it remains an open question whether Microsania spp.…”

“…Nevertheless, considering the high conservation value of this group of insects (many are red-listed) and that conventional methods of sampling are destructive and require a large effort, a more efficient sampling method would be beneficial, and especially one that does not kill the insects sampled. As smoke seems to contain important chemical cues that several species use to detect and navigate towards fire (Brues 1950;Evans 1966;Schütz et al 1999;Sinclair and Cumming 2006), we decided to try to sample insects by generating smoke. The method would, of course, only work for smokeattracted insect species hence ignoring species that navigate by other means or arrive at a burnt site with a considerable time delay.…”

Revision of the New Zealand genusAdipsomyia(Diptera: Empidoidea: Brachystomatidae: Trichopezinae), with key to local Empidoid family and selected genus groups

“…In the system outlined by Saigusa (2006), the dipteran A 1 (as used in McAlpine 1981) is homologized with the mecopteran CuP, and consequently CuA 1 (of McAlpine) is termed M 4 , CuA 2 is CuA, the anal cell is cell cua and the anal vein (A 1 +CuA 2 ) is CuP+CuA. Homologies of the male terminalia follow those of Sinclair & Cumming (2006). The term 'bristle' is used for differentiated large setae on the head, mesonotum and legs bearing a particular name or one of a series with a particular name, e.g., notopleural bristle, dorsocentral bristle, anterodorsal bristle.…”

“…Adipsomyia is herein removed from the subfamily Clinocerinae and assigned to the subfamily Trichopezinae of the Brachystomatidae (see Sinclair & Cumming 2006). This transfer is supported by the modified female terminalia (upright and stout cercus, female sternum 8 closely associated to anteroventral corner of tergum 8), although tergum 8 lacks an internal apodeme.…”