Graphogastrini
Genus Guides
2Graphogastrini is a tribe of tachinid flies within the Tachininae. The tribe comprises 16 recognized distributed across multiple continents. Members are flies, though specific associations remain poorly documented for most genera. The genus Phytomyptera, established in 1845, is among the oldest described within the tribe.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Graphogastrini: //ˌɡræfoʊˈɡæstrɪnaɪ//
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Identification
Distinguishing Graphogastrini from other Tachininae tribes requires examination of male terminalia and chaetotaxy (bristle arrangement). The tribe is characterized by specific combinations of abdominal sternite and tergite structures, though precise diagnostic features vary by . Identification to genus level often requires taxonomic keys.
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Distribution
The tribe has a broad distribution with constituent recorded from the Palearctic, Nearctic, Neotropical, and Australasian regions. Individual genus distributions vary: Phytomyptera occurs primarily in the Palearctic, while Neocraspedothrix and Mayoschizocera are Neotropical. Several genera including Austrophytomyptera and Haywardimyia are to southern South America.
Ecological Role
As members of Tachinidae, Graphogastrini function as , though specific records are sparse. The tribe likely contributes to of herbivorous insects, consistent with the ecological role of tachinid flies generally.
Similar Taxa
- TachininiAnother tribe in Tachininae; distinguished by differences in male genitalia structure and abdominal bristle patterns
- ErnestiiniOverlaps in distribution and general ; separated by specific chaetotaxy and wing venation characters
More Details
Taxonomic history
The tribe was established to accommodate with shared morphological characteristics in male terminalia structure. Several genera were transferred into Graphogastrini from other tachinid tribes following phylogenetic revisions of the Tachininae.
Genus diversity
The 16 range from or -poor (Clastoneuriopsis, Sarrorhina) to more diverse genera such as Phytomyptera. Many genera were described by Charles Howard Tyler Townsend between 1927 and 1935 during his extensive work on Neotropical tachinids.