Leptomorphus grjebinei

Borkent, Christopher J. & Wheeler, Terry A., 2012, Systematics and Phylogeny of Leptomorphus Curtis (Diptera: Mycetophilidae) 3549, Zootaxa 3549, pp. 1-117 : 76-77

Leptomorphus grjebinei species group

The L. grjebinei s pecies group is supported by one uniquely-derived synapomorphy (Br =1): apex of longest paramere at same level as apex of aedeagus (when anterior margin of apodemes are at the same level, 72:1), and 3 homoplasious character states: apical wing spot absent or faintly present in apical 1/4 of r (33:1), macrotrichia absent from cell a (35:1), and tergite 9 with ventrobasal margin of posterior lobes thickened and sclerotized, often bearing one or more ventrally extending points laterally (53:1) ( Figs. 150, 151, 153). This species group is restricted to the Afrotropical region. The Malagasy species Leptomorphus grjebinei is the sister species to the nine continental African species. These nine species are a monophyletic group supported by one uniquely-derived synapomorphy (Br = 2): ventral gonostylar lobe <2X length of dorsal (smaller) lobe (60:1), and three homoplasious character states: mediotergite with medial or anteromedial patch of small bristles/setae (26:0), lateral margins of sternite 9 reaching or overlapping medial margin of gonocoxite (48:0), and gonostylus with two lobes (59:1).

Leptomorphus carnevalei , L. couturieri , L. medleri , and L. aliciae form a monophyletic clade supported by one uniquely-derived synapomorphy (Br = 1): apex of gonostylar dorsal (smaller) lobe flange-like (63:1), and one homoplasious character state: tergite 9 with posterolateral lobes (evaginations) tapering for entire length (51:2). The latter three species form a clade supported by one homoplasious character state (Br = 1): apices of M veins thinning apically and not reaching wing margin (43:1). Leptomorphus medleri and L. aliciae are sister species supported by one homoplasious character state (Br = 1): sternite 9 with anterior margin concave (47:2).

The remaining five species form a weakly supported clade based on a single homoplasious character state: apex of gonostylar dorsal (smaller) lobe tapered to point (63:2). Within this group L. obscurus , L. crosskeyi , and L. gracilis form a clade based on three homoplasious character states (Br = 2, bootstrap = 67): head yellow with some brown (1:1), scutellum brown (23:0), and ventral gonostylar lobe>2X length of dorsal (smaller) lobe (60:2). The sister-group relationships between the three species within this clade is not clear, though the apices of the M veins reach the wing margin in L. crosskeyi and L. gracilis but not in L. obscurus . Leptomorphus stigmatus and L. mandelai are sister species based on one weak homoplasious character state (Br =1): macrotrichia present in cell a (35:0).