Hilarini (Diptera: Empididae) from the Auckland Islands New Zealand, the Homoplastic Loss of the Male Silk-Producing Basitarsus in Two Insular Species, and Notes on the Empidoidea of the Subantarctic Islands

Two new species of empidoid flies, Hilara ranui and Hilarempis motumaka, from the Auckland Islands exhibit a homoplastic loss or reversal of the male silk-producing basitarsus, a trait otherwise characteristic of their genera. This discovery highlights evolutionary convergence in insular environments, where selective pressures may favor trait simplification. The study synthesizes knowledge on New Zealand Empidoidea (excluding Dolichopodidae) and discusses how Subantarctic island conditions shape empidoid diversity. By describing these species and analyzing their unique morphology, the research provides insight into adaptive evolution in extreme insular ecosystems.

Bickel, D. J. (2023). Hilarini (Diptera: Empididae) from the Auckland Islands New Zealand, the Homoplastic Loss of the Male Silk-Producing Basitarsus in Two Insular Species, and Notes on the Empidoidea of the Subantarctic Islands. Diversity, 15(2), 267. https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020267