PHORINAE (Brown, 1994)

Brown, Brian V., Amorim, Dalton De Souza & Kung, Giar-Ann, 2015, New morphological characters for classifying Phoridae (Diptera) from the structure of the thorax, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 173 (2), pp. 424-485 : 462-467

SUBFAMILY PHORINAE

Previously, this group was considered to be paraphyletic relative to the Aenigmatiinae ( Brown, 1992) . It had been further reorganized into subfamilies Hypocerinae , Aenigmatiinae (in a more inclusive sense), Phorinae (in a more restricted sense) and Conicerinae . In this new analysis, we find support for some of the groupings recognized by Brown (1992), although at different levels. For the first time, we propose a subfamily Phorinae that includes all previous groups except Sciadocerinae , Chonocephalus , Termitoxeniinae and Metopininae . This analysis clarifies the relationships between Phora and strictly related genera, Aenigmatias , hypocerines and diplonevrines, but the number of characters is insufficient for a complete resolution of the phylogeny of the subfamily.

32. Anepisternum posterior furrow: (0) absent, (1) short, (2) long ( Fig. 35A–F ).

The anepisternum in platypezids ( Fig. 2) and lonchopterids ( Fig. 3) has no subdivision along its posterior margin. The sciadocerine genera ( Fig. 4 ) have a small section of the anepisternum posterodorsally separated by a shallow furrow. This separated area is slender and longer in Chonocephalus ( Fig. 35A ), but absent in Cyphocephalus , bringing some instability to the analysis. The termitoxeniines do not show such a division ( Fig. 35B ), which could be explained as a secondary loss or a parallel development in Chonocephalus . In metopinines and phorines, besides the posterodorsal bump of the anepisternum (basalare; see character 11), this anepisternal crest is much more distinct, with a deeper, longer furrow. In metopinines, it is relatively short, reaching less than half of the extension of the contact between the anepisternum and the anepimeron; an apparent exception is Brownphora sinefurca , which has a secondarily elongated anepisternum and was thus still coded as ‘short’. In some phorines, however, the crest is long, reaching beyond the ventral half of the contact of the anepisternum and the anepimeron. An additional character, related to the width of the crest, concerns some hypocerines (character 45).

33. Midcoxa: (0) with short, transverse ridge on posterodorsal corner, (1) with anteroventrally directed fold-like ridge, (2) with anteroventrally directed suture ( Fig. 36A–I ).

The structure of the midcoxa is well conserved in most groups and a useful character for placing some taxa. In outgroups ( Fig. 36A ), Sciadocerinae ( Fig. 36B ), Chonocephalus ( Fig. 36C ), Termitoxeniinae ( Fig. 36D ) and Metopininae ( Fig. 36E ), there is a short transverse notch-like ridge on the posterior dorsal margin of the coxa. In the phorine genera there is instead a rounded ridge that extends anteroventrally ( Fig. 36G ), with the single exception of Dohrniphora ( Fig. 36F ), optimization of which indicates to be a secondary loss. Particularly in the hypocerines, the ridge has become a suture that extends at least part way to the apex of the coxa and, in some genera, completely to the apex ( Fig. 36H, I ).

34. Posterior scutellar setae: (0) close together, (1) broadly separated.

This character is likely to be a measure of the breadth of the body, and in general phorines are broader flies.

There is some homoplasy, however, as broader metopinines share this state.

Figures

Figure 4 SEM of thorax of Sciadocera (Phoridae, Sciadocerinae), lateral view.

Figures 35 Character 32. Posterior furrow of anepisternum absent (0); short (1); long (2). A, Chonocephalus. B, Javanoxenia. C, Beckerina. D, Coniceromyia. E, Rhynochomicropteron. F, Psyllomyia.

Figure 36 Character 33. Midcoxa with short, transverse ridge on posterodorsal corner (0); with anteroventrally direct- ed fold-like ridge (1); with ridge complete, anteroventrally directed suture (2). A, Protoclythia. B, Sciadocera. C, Chonocephalus. D, Javanoxenia. E, Beckerina. F, Dohrniphora. G, Chaetopleurophora. H, Hypocera. I, Stichillus. Abbreviation: tn, transverse notch.