DNA barcoding of Nothybidae (Diptera)

Abstract

We have for the first time performed DNA barcoding of the Nothybidae family (Diptera). DNA barcoding may be successfully used to distinguish Nothybidae species. At present time, the intraspecies allopatric differentiation processes go on in the family and may potentially lead to the new species formation. This can be confirmed by the differences in the nucleotide sequences received for the Nothybus kuznetsovorum obtained at the two sites quite distant from each other and separated by the mountain ranges. The study of the Nothybidae male genitalia morphology revealed two plesiomorphic characters, which are the presence of caudal processes on hypandrium and the absence of sclerites connecting hypandrium with postgonites. By its morphology, the Nothybidae family is close to the Diopsidae and Psilidae. On the molecular dendrograms Nothybidae do not group together with any representatives of Diptera, which may be accounted for by the family’s extremely primitive state caused by its high divergence from the main Acalyptratae stem.