Hidden in the urban parks of New York City: Themira lohmanus, a new species of Sepsidae described based on morphology, DNA sequences, mating behavior, and reproductive isolation (Sepsidae, Diptera)

Abstract

New species from well-studied taxa such as Sepsidae (Diptera) are rarely described from localities that have been extensively explored and one may think that New York City belongs to this category. Yet, a new species of Themira (Diptera: Sepsidae) was recently discovered which is currently only known to reside in two of New York City’s largest urban parks. Finding a new species of Themira in these parks was all the more surprising because the genus was revised in 1998 and is not particularly species-rich (13 species). Its status is confirmed as a new species based on morphology, DNA sequences, and reproductive isolation tests with a closely related species, and is described as Themira lohmanus Ang, sp. n. The species breeds on waterfowl dung and it is hypothesized that this makes the species rare in natural environments. However, it thrives in urban parks where the public feeds ducks and geese. The mating behavior of Themira lohmanus was recorded and is similar to the behavior of its closest relative T. biloba.

A re‐analysis of the data in Sharkey et al.’s (2021) minimalist revision reveals that BINs do not deserve names, but BOLD Systems needs a stronger commitment to open science

“…For these, one can test whether the sequences of recently diverged species end up in one BIN and the sequences for old species are found in several BINs. Such data are available, for example, for many species of Sepsidae (Diptera) (Puniamoorthy et al, 2009;Puniamoorthy et al, 2010;Tan et al, 2010;Ang et al, 2013a;Ang et al, 2013b;Araujo et al, 2014;Rohner et al, 2014;Ang et al, 2017). Known pairs of closely related species that are distinct with regard to morphology and behaviour are routinely found lumped into the same BIN (e.g.…”

A re-analysis of the data in Sharkey et al.’s (2021) minimalist revision reveals that BINs do not deserve names, but BOLD Systems needs a stronger commitment to open science

“…For these, one can test whether the sequences of recently diverged species end up in one BIN and the sequences for old species are found in several BINs. Such data are available, for example, for many species of Sepsidae (Diptera) (Puniamoorthy, N., Ismail, M.R.B., et al 2009, Puniamoorthy, N., Kotrba, M., et al 2010, Tan, D.S., Ang, Y., et al 2010, Ang, Y., Puniamoorthy, J., et al 2013, Ang, Y.C., Wong, L.J., et al 2013, Araujo, D., Tuan, M., et al 2014, Rohner, P.T., Ang, Y., et al 2014, Ang, Y., Rajaratnam, G., et al 2017). Known pairs of closely related species that are distinct with regard to morphology and behavior are routinely found lumped into the same BIN (e.g., Sepsis neocynipsea and S. cynipsea : BOLD:AAC2855; Sepsis orthocnemis and S. fulgens : BOLD:AAJ7599; Themira lucida and T. flavicoxa : BOLD:AAD7140).…”