Journal of Undergraduate Research
Keywords
phylogeny, robber flies, Diptera asilidae, subfamilial, molecular evidence
College
Life Sciences
Department
Biology
Abstract
Robber flies (Diptera: Asilidae) comprise one of the largest groups of extant flies (Hull, 1962). Asilids constitute more than 500 genera (Woodley, 1989) and more than 5500 species (Lehr, 1988) with a worldwide distribution except Antarctica. Species range in size from less than one centimeter to nearly eight centimeters in length, and their prey consist of both small and large insects caught largely in flight. Asilid color patterns are simple: usually black, gray, or bronze, although some more colorful species appear to mimic bees and wasps. All members of the group, including the problematic group Leptogastrinae (thread-waisted robber flies), form a wellsupported group by many distinct shared characters. The most prominent feature being the row or group of stout bristles along the lower edge of the face (mystax); and adult predatory behavior (Woodley, 1989). Phylogenetic relationships of Asilidae with other families in Asiloidea have been recently investigated by molecular and morphological phylogenetic analyses (Weigmann et al., 1993; Yeates, 2002). These analyses focused primarily on the monophyly of Asiloidea, a group including the families Asilidae, Apioceridae, Therevidae, Scenopinidae, Mydidae, Bombyliidae, and Apsilocephalidae (Yeates, 2002).
Recommended Citation
Bybee, Seth Mikaya and Whiting, Dr. Michael
(2013)
"A Phylogeny of Robber Flies (Diptera: Asilidae) at the Subfamilial Level: Molecular Evidence,"
Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013:
Iss.
1, Article 1006.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/1006