Cladistic analysis of Ligyra sensu lato (Diptera: Bombyliidae), with description of a new genus

Abstract

Abstract Exoprosopini is one of the largest tribes of bee flies (Diptera: Bombyliidae). It is divided into 21 genera of which only Ligyra has a cosmopolitan distribution. The genus Ligyra s.l. has 111 species, 20 of which have been recorded in the New World. A cladistic analysis was implemented with aims to establish the phylogenetic relationships of Ligyra species and to test the monophyly of the genus. A matrix of morphological characters available in the literature was used. The cladistic analysis had 97 terminal taxa and 207 morphological characters resulting in 12 maximum parsimonious trees (MPTs). Our investigation shows variations in the phylogenetic status of Exoprosopini genera when compared to the previous hypothesis, especially for Euligyra and Ligyra s.s., and the relationships between Euligyra, Hyperalonia, Ligyra s.s. and Litorhina. Cladistic analysis clarified the phylogenetic relationships within Ligyra s.l. The New World fauna previously included in Ligyra are placed in a new genus, herein erected. A novel monophyletic clade is composed of the genera: Euligyra, Hyperalonia, Ligyra s.s. and Nyia gen. nov. Our results also support the resurrection of Anthrax trifigurata from synonymy with Ligyra cerberus and its new combination with the new erected genus as Nyia trifiguratacomb. nov. & stat. rev.