Abstract. Phylogenetic relationships among tribes in the tachinid subfamily Exoristinae (Diptera, Tachinidae) are inferred from four genes, namely white, 18S, 28S and 16S rDNA. For phylogenetic inferences, maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo analyses were performed. The resultant, very similar, trees are nearly concordant with the traditional classification based on morphological characters. Our results suggest that the Tachinidae are monophyletic and sister to the Sarcophagidae. The tribal relationships within Exoristinae are supported in part with high reliabilities and are similar to those inferred by Stireman. Based on the resultant trees, the phylogenetic relationships and possible morphological synapomorphies were investigated. In addition, we evaluated the transformation of female reproductive habits in the Exoristinae, finding support for the hypothesis that ovolarviparity evolved independently from oviparity in several clades, and obtaining different results concerning the evolutionary history of micro‐ovolarviparity depending on character optimization.

Large‐scale clinal variation in body size and other life‐history traits is common enough to have stimulated the postulation of several eco‐geographical rules. Whereas some clinal patterns are clearly adaptive, the causes of others remain unclear. We present a comprehensive intraspecific population comparison for the cosmopolitan yellow dung fly Scathophaga stercoraria (Diptera: Scathophagidae) to check for consistent world‐wide patterns. Common garden assessment of various life history traits permitted continental comparison of (clinal) quantitative genetic differentiation (Qst) with putatively neutral genetic differentiation (Fst) derived from field‐caught flies. Latitudinal clines in fly development time, growth rate, and overwintering propensity were consistent among North American, European and Japanese populations. Increased winter dormancy incidence and duration at higher latitude, combined with a faster growth rate and shorter development time, suggest that flies are adaptated to season length more than to temperature. The resulting body size clines, in contrast, were not very consistent; importantly, they were not negative, as expected under seasonal constraints, but flat or even positive clines. Quantitative genetic differentiation QST exceeded neutral molecular variation FST for most traits, suggesting that natural selection plays a consistent role in mediating global dung fly life histories. We conclude that faster growth and development in response to shorter growing seasons at higher latitudes may indirectly counteract expected direct effects of temperature on body‐size, potentially resulting in flat or inconsistent body size clines in nature.

Flexistyly is a unique floral mechanism involving extreme curving of the style. It was first described in Chinese ginger (Amomum, Zingiberaceae). This is a pioneer report on flexistylous gingers of Malesia, where most species of this family grow. We observed the floral behaviour and flower visitors in Alpinia nieuwenhuizii Val., a Bornean endemic.Although the floral behaviour and effective pollinators (carpenter bees, Xylocopa) were similar between the Bornean species and the previously reported flexistylous Alpinia, the pollinator behaviour between them strikingly differed with regard to the visit frequency of the pollinators showing a bimodal pattern during the day. This was a better match for the floral behaviour of the flexistylous Alpinia. Some gender differentiation observed between the two types of morphs is also discussed in the present study.

The exoristine genus Phorinia Robineau-Desvoidy of the Palearctic, Oriental and Oceanian regions is revised. Sixteen species are recognised, fifteen of them described as new. Phylogenetic relationships of Phorinia are analysed using morphological characters. The analysis reveals that Phorinia is clearly monophyletic and closely related to Ctenophorinia Mesnil within the tribe Exoristini. The following three species-groups are defined in this genus: the aurifrons-group: Phorinia aurifrons Robineau-Desvoidy; P. breviata, sp. nov.; P. minuta, sp. nov.; P. aduncata, sp. nov. and P. convexa, sp. nov.; the bifurcata-group: P. bifurcata, sp. nov.; P. quadrata, sp. nov.; P. longiseta, sp. nov. and P. spinulosa, sp. nov.; and the flava-group: P. flava, sp. nov.; P. gracilis, sp. nov.; P. australiana, sp. nov.; P. denticulata, sp. nov.; P. insignita, sp. nov.; P. occidentalis, sp. nov. and P. orientalis, sp. nov.