F. Christian Thompson

Episodic radiations in the fly tree of life

Flies are one of four superradiations of insects (along with beetles, wasps, and moths) that account for the majority of animal life on Earth. Diptera includes species known for their ubiquity (Musca domestica house fly), their role as pests (Anopheles gambiae malaria mosquito), and their value as model organisms across the biological sciences (Drosophila melanogaster). A resolved phylogeny for flies provides a framework for genomic, developmental, and evolutionary studies by facilitating comparisons across model organisms, yet recent research has suggested that fly relationships have been obscured by multiple episodes of rapid diversification. We provide a phylogenomic estimate of fly relationships based on molecules and morphology from 149 of 157 families, including 30 kb from 14 nuclear loci and complete mitochondrial genomes combined with 371 morphological characters. Multiple analyses show support for traditional groups (Brachycera, Cyclorrhapha, and Schizophora) and corroborate contentious findings, such as the anomalous Deuterophlebiidae as the sister group to all remaining Diptera. Our findings reveal that the closest relatives of the Drosophilidae are highly modified parasites (including the wingless Braulidae) of bees and other insects. Furthermore, we use micro-RNAs to resolve a node with implications for the evolution of embryonic development in Diptera. We demonstrate that flies experienced three episodes of rapid radiation—lower Diptera (220 Ma), lower Brachycera (180 Ma), and Schizophora (65 Ma)—and a number of life history transitions to hematophagy, phytophagy, and parasitism in the history of fly evolution over 260 million y.

Pollinating Flies (Diptera): A Major Contribution to Plant Diversity and Agricultural Production

Abstract Diptera are one of the three largest and most diverse animal groups in the world. As an often neglected but important group of pollinators, they play a significant role in agrobiodiversity and the biodiversity of plants everywhere. Flies are present in almost all habitats and biomes and for many medicinal, food and ornamental plants, pollinating flies guarantee or enhance seed and fruit production. They are important in the natural landscape, in agriculture and in greenhouses, and have recently come into use in the production of seeds for seed banks. The São Paulo Pollinator Initiative, the CBD, and Pollinator secretariats were important starting points in the international recognition of pollinator importance. However, large gaps in our knowledge of the role of Diptera in pollination networks need to be addressed in order to sustain agriculture and to enable appropriate responses to climate change. At this 9th Conference of the Parties we would like to draw attention to the role of often-neglected Dipteran pollinators, to stress their current importance and potential future use as pollinators in agriculture. A case study on flower flies that act as important pollinators, as adults, and major biocontrol agents, as larvae, illustrates their double importance for agriculture.

Palaeontology: A fly in the biogeographic ointment.

We have discovered a fossil of a higher fly (Diptera: Cyclorrhapha) from Antarctica, a finding that goes against the long-held belief that the continent was never inhabited by these insects. The fly must either have colonized Antarctica during a warm interval in the Neogene epoch, between 3 million and 17 million years ago, or it was an original member of the Gondwana fauna that survived in Antarctica for tens of millions of years before becoming extinct.

Abundância e riqueza de espécies de Syrphidae (Diptera) em áreas de borda e interior de floresta no Parque Estadual de Vila Velha, Ponta Grossa, Paraná, Brasil

To characterize the local insect fauna, samples were obtained weekly from September/1999 to August/2000 through Malaise traps installed at the edge and inside the forest. A temporal analysis of Syrphidae species collected approximately 17 years ago at the same local, inside the forest, was made. Also, the abundance and species richness between the areas were analyzed. The syrphids were more abundant at the edge of the forest than in the interior, and the number of species as well. Comparing the current data with the data obtained in 1986/1987, a decrease in the local abundance and species richness was registered. The most abundant species at the edge was Allograpta neotropica Curran, 1936, and inside the forest (1999/2000) was Ocyptamus sativus (Curran, 1941). The specimens of Toxomerus Macquart, 1855 were the most abundant in the trap located at the forest edge, and those of Ocyptamus Macquart, 1834 in the forest interior. Ninety-five species were identified in 22 genera. Ocyptamus was the genus with the highest species richness (23). In the sequence were Copestylum Macquart, 1846 (15), Toxomerus (15) and Microdon Meigen, 1803 (10). Seven species were common among the three samples: Allograpta neotropica, Copestylum selectum (Curran, 1939); Leucopodella gracilis (Williston, 1891); Mixogaster polistes Hull, 1954; Ocyptamus funebris Macquart, 1834; Toxomerus procrastinatus Metz, 2001 and Toxomerus tibicen (Wiedemann, 1830). Three new species of Microdon, one of Toxomerus, one of Aristosyrphus Curran, 1941, and one of Myolepta Newman, 1838 were identified.

THE GENUS RHOPALOSYRPHUS (DIPTERA: SYRPHIDAE)

Abstract The flower fly genus Rhopalosyrphus Giglio-Tos (Diptera: Syrphidae) is revised. The genus is redescribed; a key to species is presented; the phylogenetic relationships of the genus and species are hypothesized; the included species are described; with new species, R. ramulorum Weems & Deyrup, described from Florida (type) and Mexico; R. australis Thompson from Brazil and Paraguay (type); and the critical characters are illustrated.

Afrotropical flower flies (Diptera: Syrphidae). A new genus and species from Kenya, with a review of the melanostomine group of genera

A new genus and species of flower flies (Diptera: Syrphidae: Syrphinae: Syrphini) are described from central Africa (Kenya & Uganda), Afrostoma quadripunctatum. A key to the Afrotropical genera of the subfamily Syrphinae is given. A review of the melanostomine [Bacchini] genera and subgenera is provided along with a key to them. Phylogenetic placement of Afrostoma is included based on mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) data.

Microdon falcatus williston (Diptera: Syrphidae) : A redescription, with lectotype designation and new synonyms

ABSTRACT Microdon falcatus Williston 1887 (Diptera: Syrphidae) is redescribed. A lectotype is designated for the name and three new synonyms are proposed (Microdon aquilinus Giglio-Tos 1892, Microdon hondanaria Hull 1940, and Microdon mellogutta Hull 1943).

Nomenclature of the European species of Neoascia Williston (Diptera: Syrphidae)

The nomenclature of the European Neoascia species is reviewed. Previously unrecognized senior synonyms are brought forward for the nomenclaturally confused species: annexa Muller for floralis of authors, not Meigen; meticulosa Scopoli for dispar and aenea Meigen; and tenur Harris for dispar of authors, not Meigen. Sphegina clavata (Scopoli) is recognized as the senior synonym for nigra Meigen and verecunda Collin.

The problem of old names as illustrated by Brachyopa "conica Panzer", with a synopsis of Palaearctic Brachyopa Meigen (Diptera: Syrphidae)

Brachyopn conica Panzer is a name that appears commonly in works on European Syrphidae. The name is invalid and has been incorrectly applied to at least three different species. The valid name for this species is panzeri Goffe and applies to an as yet unrecognized species. The occurrence and solution of similar taxonomic and nomenclatural problems are discussed. A key to the Palaearctic species of Brachyopa is given. Brachyopa maculipennis Thompson, nov. nomen, is proposed for arcuata Panzer.

Comprehensive inventory of true flies (Diptera) at a tropical site

Estimations of tropical insect diversity generally suffer from lack of known groups or faunas against which extrapolations can be made, and have seriously underestimated the diversity of some taxa. Here we report the intensive inventory of a four-hectare tropical cloud forest in Costa Rica for one year, which yielded 4332 species of Diptera, providing the first verifiable basis for diversity of a major group of insects at a single site in the tropics. In total 73 families were present, all of which were studied to the species level, providing potentially complete coverage of all families of the order likely to be present at the site. Even so, extrapolations based on our data indicate that with further sampling, the actual total for the site could be closer to 8000 species. Efforts to completely sample a site, although resource-intensive and time-consuming, are needed to better ground estimations of world biodiversity based on limited sampling.Brian Brown et al. report the results of the Zurquí All Diptera Biodiversity Inventory project, one of the largest efforts to date to directly assess species richness of a megadiverse order of insects. The authors identified 41,001 flies to 4332 species, including 73 of the worlds 160 Diptera families.