Studies of Asilidae (Diptera) systematics and evolution: IV. tribe Megapodini Carrera (Dasypogoninae), with a review of the nectropical species

Abstract

The tribe Megapodini Carrera is considered as a monophyletic group of probable West Gondwanian origin. After the separation of Africa and South America in the Early Cretaceous, the African stock originated the subtribe Lagodiina (with Lagodias Loew and Pegesimallus Loew), while in South America three other subtribes have evolved: Cyrtophryina (with Cyrtophrys Loew and Deromyia Philippi), Senobasiina (with Senobasis Macquart), and Megapodina (with Megapoda Macquart, Pronomopsis Hermann, and Pseudorus Walker). The American species are reviewed, and considerations on the mechanisms of speciation are made. For the Old World genera only a list of species is furnished.