Complex asymmetric male genitalia of Anevrina Lioy (Diptera: Phoridae)

Detailed structure of the male genitalia of Anevrina is described. Hitherto unknown morphological characters of the internal sclerites relating to the epandrium and hypandrium are illustrated and elucidated. The subepandrial sclerite + bacilliform sclerites are distinctly modified, and the typical subepandrial sclerite is not recognizable. The right base of the medially shifted right surstylus is not connected to the posterior margin of the epandrium, and is directly supported by a robust bacilliform sclerite. The robust bacilliform sclerites are greatly developed inside the epandrium, and extended to three clasping components, the left surstylus, the medially shifted right surstylus and a pair of clasping lobes on the posteroventral margin of the right side of the epandrium. The upper lobe of a pair of clasping lobes on the right side of the epandrium is considered to originally have been situated on the left side and subsequently shifted to the right side. The plesiomorphic state of the clasping components relative to Anevrina is thought to be symmetrically four, comprising both the left and right surstyli and the posterior edge of both sides of the epandrium, indicating that the amazing phenomenon of cross-shifting of the clasping components has occurred in Anevrina. A cladogram generated based on the genitalic characters observed in this study shows sister groups within Anevrina, namely an Anevrina urbana-group comprised of A. urbana, A. setigera, A. olympiae, A. variabilis, A. thoracica, and an Anevrina unispinosa-group comprised of A. unispinosa, A. curvinervis, A. luggeri and A. macateei.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Cross-shifting of the clasping components has occurred in Anevrina. ► A four – articled clasping system has been asymmetrically reorganized. ► Three bacilliform sclerites extend asymmetrically to the clasping components. ► The left and right sides in the posterior margin of the epandrium are not homologous.