Morphology and DNA sequences confirm the first Neotropical record for the Holarctic sepsid species Themira leachi (Meigen) (Diptera: Sepsidae)

Abstract

Even for the most cosmopolitan of species, climate frequently presents effective barriers for dispersal. For example, many eurytopic and synanthropic species go extinct when introduced into a new climatic zone, and translocated ants remain in sheltered environments reminiscent of their home climate (McGlynn, 1999). Here we report the occurrence of a primarily Holarctic dipteran species, Themira leachi (Meigen), in Neotropical Cuba. This discovery suggests that the species may have a large disjunct distribution, as the next closest record lies almost 3,500 km to the north in Nearctic Newfoundland, Canada (Ozerov, 1998).