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Funded by National
Science Foundation |
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photo by S. A. Marshall |
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Most species of Phoridae are undescribed. The current total of 3,700 species is a small fraction of the 20-50,000 species estimated to be in existence. Without names, or the ability to identify species, we will never learn about the diverse lifestyles and ecological roles of these ever-present flies. |
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To try to remedy this situation, we are working to revise some of the largest genera of phorid flies. In particular, we are revising the New World species (most of which are Neotropical) of the largest genus of primitive phorids, Dohrniphora Dahl. This genus is found worldwide, but is by far most diverse in the New World tropics, where 85 of the 152 known species occur. The few species of Dohrniphora with described life histories are scavengers, predators, and parasitoids, but some might be specialized within specific habitats (e.g. army ant colonies, termite nests). One species, D. cornuta (Loew), is found in most warm parts of the world as a scavenger that probably has been distributed by human activity. |
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photo by S. A. Marshall |
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The existing literature about Dohrniphora is devoid of any phylogenetic hypotheses, largely because the external morphology of the species is extremely consistent, with only small differences in color and a few structural characters to differentiate them. Possibly, some forms that strongly diverged from this groundplan are now being recognized as separate genera (e.g., Myopiomyia, Synaptophora, Dicranopteron), but the phylogeny of Dohrniphora needs to be studied in detail to determine whether they arose from within Dohrniphora or are sister-taxa to it. |
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The genus Dohrniphora is appealing to study because they are found in nearly every Malaise trap sample from lowland tropical sites that we have examined. The males are distinctive, and easily separated by the characters of body color, postcoxal lobe structure, male terminalia, and especially by the sensory complex at the base of the hind femur. All species can be recognized by a combination of a color photo of the body and a scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the hind femur. Because specimens are easily captured by Malaise traps, which have become the insect bioinventory trap of choice, and because species are easily identifiable by images that can be posted to the web, Dohrniphora has an excellent potential as a biodiversity indicator (or "focal taxa"). All that is lacking is a taxonomic revision to provide order to the numbers of undescribed species and to better characterize the previously described forms. |
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We are re-describing the named New World species, describing the new species, and, using the web, illustrating them with photographs, SEMs, and range maps. We will sample densely within this genus for a molecular phylogeny project, including specimens from other regions, and produce a first phylogenic hypothesis. Although we will not be able to collect fresh specimens of all species for this analysis, we will be able to sample enough to provide a first framework for the understanding of Dohrniphora relationships and to determine their relationship to (and possible paraphyly relative to) other similar genera. |
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