Systematic relations among Philornis Meinert, Passeromyia Rodhain & Villeneuve and allied genera (Diptera, Muscidae)

Abstract

Passeromyia Rodhain & Villeneuve and Philornis Meinert are the only known Muscidae whose larvae are parasites of birds. Passeromyia is known from the Old World and Philornis from the New World. Opinions on the relations between these two genera and their systematic positions among the Muscidae have varied. This survey aims to clear the discussion on the relations of Passeromyia, Philornis, and of some allied genera and give an overview of the classification of the Muscidae based on cladistic methodology. Thirty-two terminal taxa (2 of them outgroups) were analysed based on 54 characters. The cladistic analysis, carried out using Hennig86, resulted in 1 minimal tree (length 373), with a consistency index of 71 and a retention index of 85. Philornis and Passeromyia belong to a monophyletic group, supported by a synapomorphy, the presence of a cocoon, enclosing the pupa. The phylogenetic relationships found in this group are: (Muscina (Philornis (Phaonina ((Fraserella, Passeromyia) (Synthesiomyia (Calliphoroides, Reinwardtia)))))). Other probable monophyletic muscid groups, like Muscinae (with Stomoxyini and Muscini) and Coenosiinae (with Limnophorini and Coenosiini) are also discussed. Phylogenetic patterns within Reinwardtinae and Dichaetomyiinae could be explained by a Gondwana distribution.

Assembly rules in Muscid Fly assemblages in the grasslands Biome of Southern Brazil

“…Based on this effect, our models were built to take into account the historical relationship among subfamilies and the similarity in their niches due to their shared history (Skidmore 1985, Carvalho 1989, Couri & Carvalho 2003, Nihei & Carvalho 2007). …”

Revision and cladistics of the Neotropical genus Pseudoptilolepis Snyder (Diptera, Muscidae)

“…Phylogenetic works in its family are still scarce (CARVALHO 1989b). Currently, the phylogeny of Muscidae has been studied by CARVALHO (1989b) and more recently by COURI & CARVALHO (2003). The family certainly constitute a monophyletic group (HENNIG 1965, MCALPINE 1989, MICHELSEN 1991 but has included groups that are doubtfully monophyletic (CARVALHO 1989b).…”

Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial and nuclear data in haematophagous flies support the paraphyly of the genus Stomoxys (Diptera: Muscidae)

“…The genus Stomoxys belongs to the tribe Stomoxyini in the subfamily Muscinae (De Carvalho, 1989;Couri and De Carvalho, 2003). This subfamily is part of the large family Muscidae comprising about 4500 described species classified in 180 genera .…”