The Megaloptera are an interesting, but relatively poorly studied group of insects. Among the new world Megaloptera, it is not known the effect of the neartic-neotropical transition zone on their biogeographic distribution. Here we present potential geographic distributions based on ecological niche models of the species of Megaloptera from North America that occurred in the transition zone. Results suggested that the geographic range of Corydalinae (dobsonflies) in the transition zone is associated to mountainous formations and that most species favour for warm climates with higher precipitation rates. Climate types tend to be important for species that show narrow geographic ranges, but precipitation tends to be the most important variable to explain species dispersion. In addition, Chauliodinae (fishflies) and Sialidae (alderflies) may have no relation with the transition zone. Overall, our models support the dispersion of dobsonflies from the neotropics to North America and explain the two endemisms in Mexico as the result of the formation of the transition zone.
The dobsonflies (Megaloptera, Corydalidae) are an interesting group of insects, but among the New World dobsonflies, it is not known the effect of the Neartic-Neotropical transition zone on their biogeographic distribution. Here we studied at the species level, the records on the geographic range of the dobsonflies that occurred in and near the transition zone. We presented potential geographic distributions based on ecological niche models for several species of dobsonflies. Results suggested that the geographic range of dobsonflies in the transition zone is associated to mountainous formations and that most species favor warm climates with higher precipitation rates. Climate types tend to be important for species that show narrow geographic ranges, but precipitation tends to be the most important variable to explain species dispersion.Overall, our models support the dispersion of dobsonflies from the Neotropics to North America and explain the two endemic species in Mexico as the result of the formation of the transition zone.
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