A cladistic analysis of Sciomyzidae Fallen (Diptera)

A preliminary cladistic analysis of adult characters is presented that illu strates the phylogenetic relationships among the genera of the family Sciom yzidae. The monophyly of Sciomyzidae is based primarily on larval character s: the habit of malacophagy and the presence of a serrate ventral arch that articulates with the lower margin of the mouth hooks. A reduction in the n umber of spermathecae, from three to two, is also likely to be a synapomorp hy for Sciomyzidae. The analysis was done using Hennig86, and 37 morphologi cal characters were arranged among 50 genera. After using successive weight ing, six cladograms were produced, and from these a consensus cladogram was obtained. The subfamilies Salticellinae and Sciomyzinae are confirmed to b e monophyletic, as are the tribes Sciomyzini and Tetanocerini. Eutrichomeli na Steyskal, which has been placed in the tribe Sciomyzini, is transferred to the tribe Tetanocerini. The genus Antichaeta Haliday is confirmed to be in the tribe Tetanocerini. Illustrations of antenna and male terminalia are presented.