Molecular phylogeny of the subfamily Exoristinae (Diptera, Tachinidae), with discussions on the evolutionary history of female oviposition strategy

Abstract

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.

Molecular Systematics of the Calliphoridae (Diptera: Oestroidea): Evidence From One Mitochondrial and Three Nuclear Genes

“…We conÞrmed the earlier conclusion of oestroid monophyly (Pape 1992, Rognes 1997, Kutty et al 2008, Kutty et al 2010. Our well-supported Calliphoridae (excluding Mesembrinellinae) ϩ Rhinophoridae ϩ Tachinidae is in agreement with Wiegmann et al (2011) but at odds with the hypotheses that Sarcophagidae is the sister group of Tachinidae (Pape 1992, Rognes 1997, Tachi and Shima 2010 or Calliphoridae (Marinho et al 2012) and also suggests to us that Rhinophoridae is either closely related to Calliphoridae (Tschorsnig 1985;Rognes 1986Rognes , 1991Kutty et al 2008) or Tachinidae (Wood 1987, McAlpine 1989 and not to Sarcophagidae (Rohdendorf 1967). Morphologically, Rhinophoridae looks intermediate between typical calliphorids and typical tachinids (Pape 1986).…”

Parasitism rate, parasitoid community composition and host specificity on exposed and semi-concealed caterpillars from a tropical rainforest

“…In Diptera: Tachinidae, there is a clear split in ecology within our dataset, with Exoristinae: Goniini possessing specialized ''microtype'' eggs which are placed on vegetation and later ingested by the host (hereafter ''indirectly ovipositing Tachinidae'') and Dexiinae: Voriini, Tachininae: Siphonini (Ceromya and Peribaea) and the rest of Exoristinae which oviposit directly on the host (''directly ovipositing Tachinidae''). As defined here, indirectly ovipositing Tachinidae are probably monophyletic and directly ovipositing Tachinidae paraphyletic (Tachi and Shima 2010). Rare groups which could not have been analysed separately were also included in Hymenoptera vs. Diptera comparisons {Chalcidoidea, Bethylidae, Tachinidae: Blondeliini which inject eggs into hosts with a piercing structure, and some Tachinidae: Siphonini [Actia and Siphona (Aphantorhaphopsis)] which lay well-developed eggs in the host vicinity}.…”

Attack Biology and Egg Maturation Strategy of Two Tachinid Parasitoids of Leafroller (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) Pests in Tree Fruit

“…Attachment of unembryonated eggs to host cuticle in the manner of the Winthemiini has long been considered to be an ancestral trait in the Tachinidae (Herting 1960(Herting ,1984Wood 1987). More recently, this hypothesis has gained the support of rDNA analysis, which proves that the Winthemiini are a monophyletic basal clade of subfamily Exoristinae (Stireman 2002, Tachi andShima 2009).…”

“…The tribe represents both oviparous and ovolarviparous species (Herting 1960, Crosskey 1967, Herting 1984. Although ovolarvipary is a derived character, it has evolved multiple times in the Tachinidae (Stireman 2002, Tachi andShima 2009). Eryciine species that are important parasitoids oí Choristoneura spp.…”