Progress towards an understanding of flesh fly evolution. New phylogenetic information from mitochondrial DNA (Diptera: Sarcophagidae)

Generic relationships within the Sarcophaginae are poorly understood. In an effort to provide greater understanding of the phylogenetic relationships between recognized genera of Sarcophaginae and to confirm the monophyly of these genera, we analyzed and compared four mitochondrial gene sequences. Cytochrome oxidase I (COI), cytochrome oxidase II (COII) dehydrogenase subunit four (ND4) and dehydrogenase subunit six (ND6) mtDNA genes were amplified from a variety of species of Sarcophaginae representing many of the New World genera. We compare and contrast the phylogenies derived from this mtDNA work with classical and cladistic phylogenies based on morphology proposed by sarcophagid experts of the past and present.