Corresponding author: Christopher J. Borkent (
Academic editor: T. Dikow
The spider fly genus
Borkent CJ, Gillung JP, Winterton SL (2016) Jewelled spider flies of North America: a revision and phylogeny of
Species of
Several studies also demonstrate the importance of species of
We revise the jewelled spider flies of North America (
Terminology for general morphology follows
Descriptions were constructed with Lucid Builder 3.5, using a matrix database of character states, which were then exported using the natural language function into a text document (for further editing) and accompanying XML. Specimen images were taken using a digital camera at different focal points and combined into a montage image using Helicon Focus software. Distribution maps were generated using ArcGIS 10.1 software (
The specimens examined during the course of this study (Table
Annotations of collection label data are included where appropriate in brackets. The following collection codes are cited in the Material Examined: – – – – – – Insect Collection of the Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer, Tulare, California, USA – Texas A&M – Bohart – –
Five species of cytochrome oxidase I carbamoyl phosphate synthetase carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase-aspartate transcarbamoylase-dihydroorotase
Specimens used for sequencing in this study, with associated Genbank accession numbers. = E.I. Schlinger Collection specimen numbers =
Collection # | Genbank Accession No. | Collection Data | |||
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16S |
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New Zealand: Otira Valley; January, 1999; LJ Boutin | |
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Chile: Nuble Prov.: Las Trancas; January, 2000; DK Yeates | |
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— | USA: California: Mendocino County: Angelo Coast Range Reserve; May, 2005; CJ Borkent | |
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USA: North Carolina: Great Smoky Mountains N.P.; June, 1999; D Dafoe |
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USA: Washington: South Fork: Wenatachee N.F; July, 2000; KC Holston | |
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— | USA: California: Calaveras County: Calaveras Big Trees State Park; June, 2010; AR Cline | |
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USA: California: San Diego County: San Diego; June 2000; SL Winterton | |
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— | USA: California: Alameda County: Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park: June, 2012; JM Ayala | |
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— | — | USA: Oregon: Lane County: Trail Creek; July 2000; JK Moulton |
North American jewelled spider flies.
Body length: 7.2–12.8 mm; wing length: 5.2–12.6 mm. Body colouration metallic green, blue or purple, rarely non-metallic (likely due to poor preservation or collection methods).
Gonocoxite and aedeagus, lateral view.
Epandrium, lateral view.
Gonocoxite, ventral view.
(Fig.
Distribution of
Distribution of species of
Most species of
Adult
Specimen label and literature records of plants visited by
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Species of
(Fig.
Phylogeny of
1 | Femora and tibiae completely bright yellow |
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– | Femora completely dark brown, or light to dark brown with dark yellow or cream portion distally; tibiae completely dark brown, or brown with dark yellow to cream basally |
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2 | Flagellum laterally compressed, thicker than scape and pedicel, pendulous, and ~twice length of head; proboscis length rarely extending beyond midpoint of abdomen, typically extending to end of thorax (eastern North America) |
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– | Flagellum not laterally compressed, basal portion ~equal to thickness of scape and pedicel, erect, and equal to length of head; proboscis extending beyond midpoint of abdomen, often longer than body (western North America) |
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3 | Proboscis approximately equal to body length, straight; ocellar tubercle typically taller than wide and apex irregularly trifid; median ocellus often weakly developed |
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– | Proboscis distinctly longer than body length, curved at tip; ocellar tubercle wider than tall and apex weakly bifid; median ocellus clearly defined |
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4 | Ocellar tubercle bifid in anterior view; flagellum as long as the head |
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– | Ocellar tubercle trifid; flagellum half as long as the head |
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5 | Margin of calypter light yellow to light brown; femur and tibia light to dark brown with variable amounts of yellow or ivory patterning; pile on the abdomen yellow to light yellow (highly variable species); aedeagus in lateral view with a single rounded point dorsally just before opening of the aedeagus (Fig. |
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– | Margin of calypter dark brown with brown bleeding into calypter membrane; femur completely dark brown, tibia usually dark brown, occasionally with cream yellow on dorsal surface basally (joint between femur and tibia always yellow); pile on abdomen white; aedeagus in lateral view with two rounded points prior to the opening of the aedeagus (Fig. |
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Hall’s Sapphire.
Proboscis curved and extending beyond abdomen apex (but shorter than wing length), ocellar tubercle bifurcate; calypter margin pale; legs dark brown-black; abdomen dark brown with reddish metallic hue; extensive white pile on thorax and as bands on abdomen.
Body length: 9.8–12.0 mm, Wing length 8.0–10.6 mm.
Listed in Table
(Fig.
The larval host for this species is unknown.
Sombre Sapphire or Emerald.
Proboscis straight, approximately reaching apex of abdomen; ocellar tubercle trifurcate; legs dark brown (pale ‘knee’ joint); calypter margin black or brown.
Body length: 7.2–11.4 mm, wing length: 5.2–9.5 mm.
Listed in Table
(Fig.
Host unknown.
Mary-Alice’s Emerald.
Antennal flagellum elongate, basally broad and flattened laterally; proboscis straight, relatively short (~half body length); ocellar tubercle trifurcate; legs yellow; calypter margin brown; body colour metallic green.
Body length: 9.9–12.0 mm, Wing length: 9.1–10.2 mm.
Listed in Table
(Fig.
Flowers visited:
Host:
Northern Sapphire or Emerald.
Antennal flagellum relatively short, cylindrical or tapered; proboscis straight, shorter than length of body; ocellar tubercle trifurcate; legs yellow; calypter margin pale; body colour metallic green, blue or purple.
Body length: 8.3–11.9 mm, Wing length: 7.1–12.0 mm.
Listed in Table
(Fig.
Host unknown.
Southern Emerald or Sapphire.
Proboscis curved and longer than abdomen apex (as long or longer than wing length); ocellar tubercle nearly flat, weakly bifurcated; legs bright yellow; body colour metallic green, blue or purple; thorax covered in yellowish pile.
Body length: 8.3–12.9 mm, Wing length: 6.9–12.6 mm.
Listed in Table
(Fig.
Host:
Dusky Sapphire.
Proboscis reaching apex of abdomen; ocellar tubercle trifurcate with three ocelli present (median smaller than laterals); legs mostly dark brown (‘knee’ pale), calypter margin dark and membrane white or light yellow.
Body length: 7.9–12.8 mm, Wing length: 6.0–11.2 mm.
Listed in Table
(Fig.
Pollen loads and diversity from individual
Host:
Thank you to Philip Perkins ( National Science Foundation
Evert I. Schlinger (1928–2014) was a world renowned expert on spider fly taxonomy and biology. This paper is dedicated to him and his legacy.
Table 3
material examined
Non-type material examined (