Redefining generic concepts in the subfamily Sarginae (Diptera: Stratiomyidae): the odd Afrotropical fauna

Abstract

The Diptera family Stratiomyidae is a morphologically and ecologically diverse group of brachyceran flies, which despite having large and colorful species, can still be considered poorly studied. One of the more problematic aspects of the Sarginae taxonomy is the poorly known Afrotropical fauna. A robust phylogeny and a solid taxonomy of the Sarginae - under study in the PhD project "Cladistic analysis of the subfamily Sarginae"- in large degree depends on the investigation of the Old World taxa, especially the Afrotropical fauna. The BEPE project proposed here addresses the particular problem of the taxonomy of the Afrotropical genera of sargine stratiomyids, with a study of the collection of the subfamily at the California State Collection of Arthropods, Sacramento, California, United States (CSCA) of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). This will solve large portions of the phylogenetic and taxonomy problems of the subfamily in progress, since most of the Afrotropical sargine genera are not well delimitated and understood and their position and status in the subfamily are unclear. The main goal of this study is the redelimitation of the Afrotropical genera of Sarginae with a proper, detailed redescription and illustration of species from the region. As a side product, it will furnish informative characters that will help the phylogenetic analysis of the subfamily in the PhD project in progress. The development of an interactive Lucid key to the World Sarginae genera is part of the goals of this project. It will not only be particularly useful to specialists over the world, but it will also help inserting these genera in more global understanding of the evolution of this subfamily. (AU)