Multivariate Assessment of Phenetic Relationships Within the Tribe Luciliini (Diptera: Calliphoridae).

Abstract

A multivariate assessment of phenetic relationships within the Luciliini was carried out. The canonical group means were derived from analysis of wing morphometric characters and assessed by considering the minimum spanning network superimposed on the three-dimensional ordination diagrams and by cluster analysis. Small subsets of taxa were analysed to clarify relationships within and between genera. Although there was some overlapping between species of Lucilia and Hemipyrellia, 4 basic groups emerged corresponding to the genera Dyscritomyia, Hypopygiopsis, Hemipyrellia and Lucilia. There was no support for Phaenicia and Francilia being accorded generic status. There was some doubt as to the synonymy of L. calviceps Bez. and L. papuensis Macq.