Phylogenetic Analyses Support the Monophyly of the Genus Lispe Latreille (Diptera: Muscidae) with Insights into Intrageneric Relationships

Abstract

Lispe Latreille (Diptera: Muscidae) are a widespread group of predatory flies that inhabit semi-aquatic environments. Previous studies on this genus have mainly focused on morphological classification, so molecular data are entirely lacking, and there has been no attempt at a phylogenetic placement of the genus or the resolution of intragenic relationships. To address the phylogenetic placement of Lispe and to fill its gap in the Tree of Life Web Project, 58 Lispe spp. (covering 11 out of 13 acknowledged Lispe species groups) were selected to reconstruct a phylogeny using Maximum likelihood (ML) estimates, Maximum Parsimony (MP) analyses, and Bayesian inference (BI) based on two mitochondrial protein-coding genes (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COXI) and cytochrome b gene (CYTB)) and one nuclear gene (a fragment of the carbamoyl phosphate synthetase region of the CAD gene). The phylogenetic analyses indicated that the monophyletic Lispe is the sister group of the monophyletic Limnophora, together forming the tribe Limnophorini under the subfamily Coenosiinae. Three generic categories are proven obsolete: Chaetolispa Malloch, Lispacoenosia Snyder, and Xenolispa Malloch. Within the genus, the validity of 11 species groups is clarified by both molecular and morphological data. This study provides a sound basis for continuing intergeneric and intrageneric research into this fascinating and widespread genus.