Mark A. Metz

The phylogeny of stiletto flies (Diptera: Therevidae)

The therevoid clade represents a group of four families (Apsilocephalidae, Evocoidae, Scenopinidae and Therevidae) of lower brachyceran Diptera in the superfamily Asiloidea. The largest of these families is that of the stiletto flies (Therevidae). A large‐scale (i.e. supermatrix) phylogeny of Therevidae is presented based on DNA sequence data from seven genetic loci (16S, 18S and 28S ribosomal DNA and four protein‐encoding genes: elongation factor 1‐alpha, triose phosphate isomerase, short‐wavelength rhodopsin and the CPSase region of carbamoyl‐phosphate synthase‐aspartate transcarbamoylase‐dihydroorotase). Results are presented from Bayesian phylogenetic analyses of approximately 8.7 kb of sequence data for 204 taxa representing all subfamilies and genus groups of Therevidae. Our results strongly support the sister‐group relationship between Therevidae and Scenopinidae, with Apsilocephalidae as sister to Evocoidae. Previous estimates of stiletto fly phylogeny based on morphology or DNA sequence data, or supertree analysis, have failed to find significant support for relationships among subfamilies. We report for the first time strong support for the placement of the subfamily Phycinae as sister to the remaining Therevidae, originating during the Mid Cretaceous. As in previous studies, the sister‐group relationship between the species‐rich subfamilies Agapophytinae and Therevinae is strongly supported. Agapophytinae are recovered as monophyletic, inclusive of the Taenogera group. Therevinae comprise the bulk of the species richness in the family and appear to be a relatively recent and rapid radiation originating in the southern hemisphere (Australia + Antarctica + South America) during the Late Cretaceous. Genus groups are defined for all subfamilies based on these results.

Identity and Generic Placement of Phestinia costella Hampson (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae: Phycitinae) Reared on the Invasive Plant Chromolaena odorata (L.) R. M. King & H. Rob. (Asteraceae)

Abstract We provide descriptions and illustrations for identification of Phestinia costella Hampson, a stem gall producer on the invasive plant Chromolaena odorata (L.) R. M. King & H. Rob. (Asteraceae) that has been investigated for biological control measures. Specimens collected from C. odorata on Trinidad and Tobago and reported in the literature as Mescinia sp. nr. parvula Zeller were reexamined and identified as P. costella, except for two females identified as an undetermined species of Mescinia Ragonot. We subjected P. costella to comparative examination with species in related genera and concluded that its current generic placement should remain until a broader phylogenetic treatment of these genera can be undertaken. We diagnose the species, describe the previously unknown male, larva, and pupa, and expand the distribution. Biology and rearing procedures are discussed.

Phylogenetic Analysis of Cosmopterosis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae: Glaphyriinae) with Discussions on Male Secondary Sexual Characters and Larval Feeding on Capparis (Capparaceae) in the Pyraloidea and Lepidoptera (Insecta)

ABSTRACT New species of Cosmopterosis Amsel were discovered feeding on Capparis L. (Capparaceae) during exploration for caterpillars in the Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG), Costa Rica. Cosmopterosis is revised and now includes four species. Three new species, C. hispida, C. jasonhalli, and C. spatha, and the immatures of C. spatha and biology for two species, C. jasonhalli and C. spatha, are described; the type species, C. thetysalls (Walker), is redescribed. A key and illustrations for the identification of the species is provided. We propose a hypothesis for the relationship between species in Cosmopterosis and the placement of Cosmopterosis in the subfamily. The cladistic analysis, the first such analysis in the Glaphyriinae, included 21 morphological characters one of which, the radiodiscal process, a male secondary sexual character and presumably an androconial scent pouch is described and considered a autapomorphy for the genus. Male secondary sexual characters and larval feeding on Capparis in Pyraloidea and Lepidoptera is discussed.

A new species of Atheroides Haliday (Hemiptera, Aphididae) native to North America.

Abstract We report and describe the first species of Atheroides Haliday presumed to be native to North America, collected at the Valles Caldera National Preserve, New Mexico, USA. We hypothesize its placement among the Siphini based on morphological, phylogenetic analysis and extend the distribution of the genus to the Holoarctic. We expand the key of the known Atheroides to include the new species and discuss the current hypotheses of the geographic distribution of the type species, Atheroides serrulatus Haliday.

An annotated catalogue of the New World Therevidae (Insecta: Diptera: Asiloidea)

The genera and species of New World stiletto flies (Diptera: Therevidae) are listed, with annotated references to nomenclature, synonymies and generic combinations, type localities, the primary type depositories, distribution, and citations for the most recent revisions. The genus Cyclotelus Walker, 1850 (along with its synonyms Furcifera Kröber, 1911, and Epomyia Cole, 1923a) is synonymized under Cerocatus Rondani, 1848. Ectinorhynchus fascipennis Kröber, 1911 is given the new name Cerocatus rondanii Gaimari, and Phycus rufiventris Kröber, 1911 is given the new name Cerocatus raspii Hauser. Phycus analis Kröber, 1911 and Phycus bicolor Kröber, 1911, are placed as new combinations in Cerocatus Rondani, as are the following species that were previously in combination with Cyclotelus: Furcifera achaeta Malloch, 1932, Cyclotelus badicrusus Irwin and Webb, 1992, Phycus beckeri Kröber, 1911, Epomyia bella Cole, 1923a, Furcifera braziliana Cole, 1960a, Cyclotelus colei Irwin and Lyneborg, 1981a, Thereva diversipes Kröber, 1911, Thereva fascipennis Macquart, 1846a, Psilocephala femorata Kröber, 1911, Furcifera flavipes Kröber, 1928b, Furcifera hardyi Cole, 1960a, Furcifera kroeberi Cole, 1960a, Cyclotelus laetus Walker, 1850, Furcifera longicornis Kröber, 1911, Cyclotelus nigroflammus Walker, 1850, Psilocephala nigrifrons Kröber, 1914a, Thereva pictipennis Wiedemann, 1821, Furcifera polita Kröber, 1911, Cyclotelus pruinosus Walker, 1850, Thereva ruficornis Macquart, 1841a, Psilocephala rufiventris Loew, 1869, Thereva scutellaris Walker, 1857, Cyclotelus silacrusus Irwin and Webb, 1992, Cyclotelus socius Walker, 1850 and Psilocephala sumichrasti Bellardi, 1861. Dialineura pallidiventris Malloch, 1932, Melanothereva blackmani Oldroyd, 1968, Thereva maculicornis Jaennicke, 1867 and Thereva notabilis Macquart, 1841a are placed as new combinations in Entesia Oldroyd. Henicomyia amazonica Irwin and Webb, 1992 is a new synonym of Henicomyia flava Lyneborg, 1972. Henicomyia varipes Kröber, 1912a is given revised species status from former synonymy withHenicomyia hubbardii Coquillett, 1898.

Three New Species of Rectiostoma Becker, 1982 (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Depressariidae) from Area De Conservación Guanacaste, Northwestern Costa Rica

Abstract. We describe three new species of Rectiostoma Becker, 1982 from northwestern Costa Rica: R. annemayae Heikkilä and Metz, n. sp., R. eowilsoni Heikkilä and Metz, n. sp., and R. philipmayi Heikkilä and Metz, n. sp. We used a data set of DNA barcodes (cytochrome oxidase I) accumulated for Lepidoptera collected at Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG) to initially delimit the species, then we confirmed identities with morphology of the male and female genitalia. We provide a neighbor-joining tree with supporting statistics, illustrations of adult specimens and their genitalia, and the first host plant records for Neotropical Rectiostoma species. We also include photographs of the larvae of R. annemayae and R. eowilsoni.

The First Report of the Aphids (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Aphididae) of the Valles Caldera National Preserve, New Mexico, USA

Abstract. We report 39 species, belonging to 22 genera of aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae), collected within and near the boundary of the Valles Caldera National Preserve in the Jemez Mountains of northern New Mexico, USA. Of these, 26 (67%) represent new distribution records for New Mexico. Plant genera/species from which the specimens were collected also are listed when available.

Phylogenetic systematics of Schacontia Dyar with descriptions of eight new species (Lepidoptera, Crambidae)

Abstract The Neotropical genus Schacontia Dyar (1914) is reviewed and revised to include eleven species. Schacontia replica Dyar, 1914, syn. n. and Schacontia pfeifferi Amsel, 1956, syn. n. are synonymized with Schacontia chanesalis (Druce, 1899) and eight new species are described: Schacontia umbra,sp. n., Schacontia speciosa,sp. n., Schacontia themis, sp. n., Schacontia rasa, sp. n., Schacontia nyx,sp. n., Schacontia clotho, sp. n., Schacontia lachesis, sp. n., and Schacontia atropos, sp. n. Three species, Schacontia medalba, Schacontia chanesalis, and Schacontia ysticalis, are re-described. An analysis of 64 characters (56 binary, 8 multistate; 5 head, 13 thoracic, 13 abdominal, 25 male genitalic, and 8 female genitalic) scored for all Schacontia and three outgroup species (Eustixia pupula Hübner, 1823, Glaphyria sesquistrialis Hübner, 1823, and Hellula undalis (Fabricius, 1781)) retrieved 8 equally most parsimonious trees (L=102, CI=71, RI=84) of which the strict consensus is: [[[[medalba + umbra] + chanesalis] + speciosa] + [ysticalis + [rasa + themis + [atropos + lachesis + nyx + clotho]]]]. The relevance of male secondary sexual characters to the diagnosis of Schacontia species is discussed.

Microtrombidiid Mite Parasitization Frequencies and Attachment Site Preferences on Brachyceran Diptera with Specific Reference to Therevidae (Asiloidea) and Tachinidae (Oestroidea)

Abstract Malaise trapping efforts for Therevidae (Diptera: Asiloidea) have uncovered a relationship between brachyceran Diptera and mites of the family Microtrombidiidae (Acarina: Trombidioidea). Malaise trap samples from a Juniperus forest in McKinley County, New Mexico produced 39 brachyceran families, 14 of which were parasitized by microtrombidiid mites in the genera Platytrombidium Thor and Microtrombidium Haller. The frequency of parasitization was significantly higher in Tachinidae and Therevidae than the other 12 brachyceran families with parasitized individuals. Mite loads, i.e., the number of mites per individual, were also statistically different among families; some individuals were parasitized by as many as 21 mites. Mites preferred to attach at sites with soft, weakly sclerotized cuticle; the ventral cervical area and the membrane behind the hind coxae were most densely infested. Female Therevidae were attacked by mites at a significantly higher frequency than their male counterparts, but mite loads were similar. Insights into the host-parasite relationships between the flies are discussed, but the paucity of both mite and dipteran information limits their interpretation.

Rediscovering digitules in Aphidomorpha and the question of homology among Sternorrhyncha (Insecta, Hemiptera)

Abstract We explore and expand on the morphological term digitule. The term was originally proposed for toe-like setae on a species of Phylloxera Boyer de Fonscolombe, 1834 (Hemiptera, Sternorrhyncha, Aphidomorpha) by Henry Shimer, an American naturalist. While it is standard terminology in scale systematics (Hemiptera, Sternorrhyncha, Coccidomorpha), the term digitule was ignored by aphid specialists despite being the original taxon for which the term was described. Similar setae occur on many arthropod groups, so the homology is poorly understood even within any superfamily of Hemiptera. We provide the etymology of the term, a proposed explanation for why it was used among scale taxonomists and not aphid taxonomists, and discuss briefly options to progress beyond the confusion between terminology for morphology and homology in Sternorrhyncha.