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The Diversity of Flower Flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) in Colombia and Their Neotropical Distribution

  • Systematics, Morphology and Physiology
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Abstract

In Colombia, like most Neotropical countries, faunistic studies on flower flies have been occasional and most of them have been primarily focused on taxonomy. Colombia is the second-most species-rich country in flower fly diversity in the Neotropics after Brazil, and has one of the highest numbers of species per unit area (2.49 per 10,000 km2), based on a review of literature and national collections. Including new data presented here, a total of 47 genera and 300 species are recorded in Colombia. The genera Scaeva Fabricius and Lycastrirhyncha Bigot, as well as 101 species are recorded here for the first time. The altitudinal range and the distribution of the flower fly genera in Colombia are presented. A preliminary comparison of the fauna of Colombia with that of other Neotropical countries is given. A historical perspective is also provided in order to illustrate how Colombian Syrphidae knowledge has progressed over the last 168 years. Information presented here will be useful for ongoing and future biodiversity research as well as conservation projects on Syrphidae in the Neotropical region.

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Acknowledgments

ALM thanks the curators and directors of the visited collections: CEUA, M. Wolff; ICN, C. E. Sarmiento; MEPB, A. Vélez; MEFLG, S. Orduz, J. Quiroz and UNAB, F. Serna, E. Vergara for permission to study material in their care. We are grateful to F. Christian Thompson (Entomology Dept., Smithsonian Institution) for verification and identification of syrphid specimens and for his continued support during the development of this project. We also thank N. Carrejo, C. Ruiz, and C. Restrepo of the MEUV for their valuable help in the confirmation and identification of part of the material. I am also grateful to the Samuel Wendell Williston Diptera Research Foundation and the organizing Committee for financial assistance to attend the 6th International Symposium on the Syrphidae in Glasgow, UK. Thanks to the Project “Diversidad de insectos de Colombia”, led by the Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt (IAvH). We thank the CODI (Comite para el Desarrollo de Investigaciones Universidad de Antioquia) Act number 20067, and to SOCOLEN for the “Beca de incentivo a la investigación Entomología en la Universidades Colombianas” (TG 03-2009). We also thank everyone who helped with the collection of this invaluable material, especially to the members of the Entomology Group, University of Antioquia (GEUA). Thanks to J. Girón and A. Vélez for provided helpful comments on an earlier version of the manuscript. Many thanks to the editorial board and anonymous reviewers for useful comments that substantially enriched the final version of this manuscript.

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  1. Dep of Biology, Univ of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, PR, USA

    AL Montoya

  2. Entomology Group, Institute of Biology, Univ de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia

    AL Montoya, SP Pérez & M Wolff

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  1. AL Montoya
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Edited by Takumasa Kondo – CORPOICA

Edited by Takumasa Kondo–Corpoica

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Montoya, A., Pérez, S. & Wolff, M. The Diversity of Flower Flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) in Colombia and Their Neotropical Distribution. Neotrop Entomol 41, 46–56 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13744-012-0018-z

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