Taxonomic revision and cladistic analysis of Philopota Wiedemann (Diptera, Acroceridae)

Author(s)

Jessica Paula Gillung

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Biociências (IBIOC/SB)
• Defense date: 2011-11-03

Examining board members

Silvio Shigueo Nihei; Claudio José Barros de Carvalho; Carlos José Einicker Lamas

• Advisor: Silvio Shigueo Nihei

Abstract

Philopota Wiedemann, 1830 is a tropical Philopotinae genus restricted to the New World. The genus comprises very conspicuous species, with arched body shape, long and prominent antennal tubercle and proboscis length often equal to body length. Philopota was described by Wiedemann (1830) for P. cônica, but was subsequently interpreted as a synonymy of Oligoneura Bigot, 1878 by many authors. Thus, for decades it was assumed that Philopota was distributed both on Neotropical and Palaeartic regions. Schlinger (1971a) resurrected Oligoneura and the Palaeartic species traditionally allocated in Philopota were then transferred to Oligoneura. Here, all 16 initially valid species of Philopota are revised. Only nine species are recognized as valid and are redescribed. Seven new synonymies are proposed: P. dolorosa Williston, 1901 = P. lugubris Williston, 1901; P. maculicollis Westwood, 1835 = P. cônica Wiedemann, 1830; P. nítida Westwood, 1848 = P. cônica Wiedemann, 1830; P. vidua Erichson, 1840 = P. cônica Wiedemann, 1830; P. ovata Westwood, 1848 = P. liturata Westwood, 1848; P. sóbria Walker; 1852 = P. histrio Erichson, 1840; P. temperata Walker, 1852 = P. histrio Erichson, 1840. Females of P. flavolateralis, P. tuberculata,P. turbinata, 13 new Philopota species, as well as a new genus and species are described. A key to all 22 Philopota species, a catalographic list, maps of distribution, draws of external morphology, male and female genitalia, as well as photographs of the primary types are presented. Furthermore, a phylogenetic hypotesis including all 22 Philopota species and six taxa as outgroup is presented, based on external morphology of adults and male genitalia. The analysis was performed utilizing 64 characters and 28 terminal taxa and resulted in two topologies. The cladograms were obtained using equal and implicit weight for characters. As a result, the monophyly of Philopota is corroborated. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/03932-6 - A taxonomic revision and cladistic analysis of Philopota Wiedemann, 1830 (Diptera, Acroceridae)
• Grantee: Jéssica Paula Gillung
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master