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CONVERGENT ADAPTATIONS IN PHORIDAE (DIPTERA) LIVING IN THE NESTS OF SOCIAL INSECTS: A REVIEW OF THE NEW WORLD AENIGMATIINAE

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Brian V. Brown
Brian V. Brown*
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E3
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Abstract

A review of the New World Aenigmatiinae shows that only one of the five Neotropical Region genera currently classified in this subfamily, Cyrtophorina, could belong in a monophyletic group with the type genus Aenigmatias. The first known male specimens of Borgmeieriphora, Colyeria, and Melittophora are described. Based on the structure of the males, these three genera, referred to as the Melittophora-group of genera, belong in the subfamily Metopininae, and are related to the Apocephalus-group of genera. Three new species of Borgmeieriphora are described: B. multisetosa from Costa Rica; B. greigae from Costa Rica; and B. leptotarsa from Panama. Based on observations of two species, adults of Borgmeieriphora are associated with, and may be parasitoids of, army ants of the genus Eciton. Cootiphora gen.nov., represented by the type species C. angustata sp.nov. from Ecuador, is described and is placed in the Melittophora-group. A reconstructed phylogeny of the Melittophora-group of genera is given, showing their hypothesized relationships: Colyeria is the adelphotaxon (= sister-group) of Borgmeieriphora, whereas the relationships among Melittophora, Cootiphora, and Colyeria + Borgmeieriphora are unresolved. Within Borgmeieriphora, B. multisetosa and B. greigae are adelphotaxa, whereas B. kempfi is the adelphotaxon of B. multisetosa + B. greigae, and B. leptotarsa is the adelphotaxon of all other species. The relationships of Platydipteron, another potential member of the Melittophora-group, are unknown. Examination of males of representative aenigmatiine genera from other zoogeographic regions shows that they may belong in a monophyletic group with Aenigmatias. Convergence between true aenigmatiine genera and Melittophora-group genera is based on the shared, limuloid body form, which is probably a defensive adaptation for living in social insect nests.

Résumé

Une révision des Aenigmatiinae du Nouveau Monde a démontré que seulement l'un des cinq genres néotropicaux qui font actuellement partie de cette sous-famille, le genre Cyrtophorina, peut appartenir à un groupe monophylétique qui comprend le genre type Aenigmatias. On trouvera ici la description des premiers spécimens mâles jamais rencontrés chez les genres Borgmeieriphora, Colyeria et Melittophora. D'après la structure des mâles, ces trois genres, appelés ici genres du groupe Melittophora, appartiennent à la sous-famille des Metopininae et sont apparentés au groupe de genres Apocephalus. Trois nouvelles espèces de Borgmeieriphora sont décrites : B. multisetosa, du Costa Rica, B. greigae, du Costa Rica, et B. leptotarsa du Panama. L'observation de deux espèces a révélé que les adultes de Borgmeieriphora sont associés aux fourmis légionnaires du genre Eciton dont elles sont peut-être des parasitoïdes. Cootiphora gen.nov., représenté par l'espèce type C. angustata sp.nov., de l'équateur, est décrit ici et placé dans le groupe Melittophora. Une phylogénie des genres du groupe Melittophora montre leurs relations possibles : Colyeria est l'adelphotaxon (groupe-soeur) de Borgmeieriphora, alors que les relations entre Melittophora, Cootiphora et Colyeria + Borgmeieriphora ne peuvent être clarifiées. Chez Borgmeieriphora, les espèces B. multisetosa et B. greigae sont des adelphotaxons, alors que B. kempfi est l'adelphotaxon de B. multisetosa + B. greigae, et B. leptotarsa est l'adelphotaxon de toutes les autres espèces. Les relations au sein du genre Platydipteron, un autre membre possible du groupe Melittophora, sont inconnues. L'examen de mâles de genres représentatifs d'Aenigmatiinae d'autres régions géographiques a démontré qu'ils appartiennent peut-être à un groupe monophylétique comprenant aussi Aenigmatias. La convergence entre les genres aenigmatiinés vrais et les genres du groupe Melittophora se manifeste dans la forme limuloïde du corps, caractéristique qui est peut-être une adaptation de défense reliée à la vie dans les nids d'insectes sociaux. [Traduit par la rédaction]

Type
Research Article
Information
The Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada , Volume 125 , Supplement S165 , 1993 , pp. 115 - 137
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1993

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Footnotes

1

Current address: Department of Entomology, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA.

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