Relationships of the Megamerinidae (Diptera: Nerioidea).

Abstract

The recent Megamerinidae are here restricted to the genera Megamerina Rondani and Texara Walker. A more inclusive concept of the Megamerinidae (sensu Hendel) is characterised by a set of 7 apomorphic character states. This set is shown to have been separately derived almost in its entirety as a convergent cluster in 10 different schizophoran taxa, other than those included by Hendel. The set therefore has little phylogenetic significance. Though the Megamerinidae are often placed in the superfamily Diopsoidea (subjective syn. Nothyboidea), morphological evidence is presented to indicate a closer relationship to the Nerioidea. The relationships of the fossil and Recent genera are considered.