Chalarinae
Jeff Skevington
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close boxCharacteristics
These flies are immediately recognizable from other pipunculids by having the backs of their heads flattened (rounded in all other pipunculids). They also have strong bristles on their occiput and thorax. The genus Chalarus includes the smallest pipunculids, some only 4 mm long. Taxonomy of the group is very poorly studied. Revision of all genera in all regions is needed. Chalarus is particularly poorly known, with no described species in North America or Australia, despite considerable diversity in these regions.
Discussion of Phylogenetic Relationships
Both molecular and morphological evidence strongly support the hypothesis that this is the basal lineage of pipunculids (Rafael and De Meyer, 1992; Skevington and Yeates, 2000). Chalarus is the most plesiomorphic genus. The monophyly of Jassidophaga has often been questioned and Jassidophaga has been treated as part of Verrallia by some authors.
References
Rafael, J. A., and M. De Meyer. 1992. Generic classification of the family Pipunculidae (Diptera): a cladistic analysis. Journal of Natural History 26:637-658.
Skevington, J. H., and D. K. Yeates. 2000. Phylogeny of the Syrphoidea (Diptera) inferred from mtDNA sequences and morphology with particular reference to classification of the Pipunculidae (Diptera). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 16:212-224.
Title Illustrations
| Scientific Name | Jassidophaga |
|---|---|
| Specimen Condition | Live Specimen |
| Identified By | Jeff Skevington |
| Sex | Male |
| Life Cycle Stage | adult |
| Copyright |
© Steve Marshall
|
About This Page
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Correspondence regarding this page should be directed to Jeff Skevington at
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Page: Tree of Life
Chalarinae.
Authored by
Jeff Skevington.
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- First online 02 November 2005
Citing this page:
Skevington, Jeff. 2005. Chalarinae. Version 02 November 2005 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Chalarinae/54640/2005.11.02 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/
