Taxonomy and molecular phylogeny of the Phortica hani species complex (Diptera: Drosophilidae)

The Phortica (Phortica) hani species complex is established, with descriptions of six new species discovered from the Hengduan to the Qinling mountains, China: Phortica floccipes Cao & Chen, Phortica hirtotibia Cao & Chen, Phortica longicauda Cao & Chen, Phortica longiseta Cao & Chen, Phortica panda Cao & Chen, and Phortica pinguiseta Cao & Chen spp. nov. A key to all the species of the hani complex is provided based on morphological data. In addition, a 'molecular' key to seven species of this complex was also elaborated based on DNA sequences of the mitochondrial ND2 and COI genes. The relationships amongst these seven species, and their relationships to the Phortica magna and Phortica variegata species complexes, are analysed based on the ND2 and COI sequence data. The results suggest that the P. hani complex is monophyletic; the P. magna and P. variegata complexes are closer to each other than either is to the P. hani complex, and both are closer to the P. hani complex than the Phortica foliiseta species complex or the Phortica varipes species group. (C) 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 157, 359-372.