The genus Ocyptamus Macquart (Diptera: Syrphidae): A molecular phylogenetic analysis

Abstract

With nearly 300 described species, Ocyptamus Macquart, 1834 is the second most speciose genus of Syrphidae in the New World, and the most diverse genus of Syrphinae. Ocyptamus as a whole was last revised in the late 1940's, with many new species described after that. The genus is here placed under phylogenetic scrutiny using molecular characters from regions of the mitochondrial 12S, COI and CytB genes, and the nuclear AATS, CAD and 28S genes. Ocyptamus is shown to be paraphyletic with regard to Eosalpingogaster Hull, 1949 and Toxomerus Macquart, 1855. Several infra-generic taxa are supported as monophyletic and new arrangements are proposed. The relationships established in this paper indicate that there is a need for changes to the generic classification of the group.