Taxonomic review and phylogenetic analysis of Pholeomyia Bilimek, 1867 (Diptera: Milichiidae: Milichiinae)

Abstract

Milichiidae (Diptera: Schizophora) is a family of acalyptratae flies with 347 described species to the world in 18 genera. The family is present in all biogeographical regions and it is estimated that there are still a large number of species to be described. There are several aspects of the systematics of the group to be properly understood, including questions about the biology of the species, problems of homology between sclerites of male terminalia, and phylogenetic relationships between species and genera. Among the genera of the family, Pholeomyia Bilimek presents 39 described species, of which 27 in the Neotropical Region. There is no review of this genus in literature. There are also no studies that establish the phylogenetic relations between the species of the genus or even hypotheses of monophyly of the genus from robust synapomorphies. The study of diversity in the family should allow, in addition to advances in the taxonomic knowledge, an understanding of the bauplan of the genus for various structures of the body, contributing for a better understanding of the evolution of higher clades in the phylogeny of Milichiidae. This study corresponds to an effort to organize the knowledge of the taxonomy of Pholeomyia, the geographic distribution of its species and the systematics of the group. For the development of this project, specimens collected in different locations and deposited in distinct institutions will be studied, in addition to the type material of the species of the genus. A cladistic analysis will be performed with a broad sampling of species of the genus and a considerable number of external groups within the family and other Carnoidea families.