Another step towards understanding evolutionary changes in Bruggmanniella Tavares, 1909 group (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae, Asphondyliini)

An update of the delimitation of the genus Bruggmanniella based on phylogenetic analysis using morphological data is presented. We included the seven new species of Bruggmanniella described between 2019 and 2020, and discuss some aspects of the evolutionary changes among the closely related genera Bruggmanniella, Pseudasphondylia, and Illiciomyia. Bruggmanniella is confirmed here as a monophyletic Neotropical lineage, divergent from the Asian species. The phylogenetic reconstruction hypothesized here reinforces the pertinence of the genus Odontokeros to house all species occurring in the Oriental/Palearctic region under Bruggmanniella. The delimitation of Bruggmanniella, the geographical distribution, and niche occupation are discussed.