Vermileonidae (wormlions) comprises 61 described species in 12 genera and is one of the oddest and most rarely collected dipteran families. Larvae of Vermileonidae are famous for their pitfall prey behaviour, whereas the adults are rarely seen. Here we report, for the first time, the complete mitochondrial genome from members of Vermileonidae. Phylogenetic reconstruction based on a representative sampling of the order reveals new insights into relationships between the Vermileonidae and other members of lower brachyceran flies. A sister-group relationship between Vermileonidae and Xylophagidae is supported, and the higher-level clade relationships are Tabanomorpha + (Muscomorpha + (Xylophagomorpha + Stratiomyomorpha)). Combining mitochondrial genome data with a morphological phylogeny, geographical distribution and geological history, we propose that the Vermileonidae originated in India during the Middle Jurassic, spreading to Africa via land bridges during the Late Jurassic, to the Palaearctic after the collision of India with Laurasia in the Late Oligocene, and to the Nearctic in the Early Miocene, via either North Atlantic or Beringian land bridges. Wet forested regions have proved to be barriers to their dispersal, explaining their absence from Central Africa, South America and eastern North America.

中文翻译：

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印度中侏罗纪起源：蚯蚓科进化的新视角和低端短角蝇的时间尺度关系

Vermileonidae (wormlions) 包括 12 属 61 种已描述的物种，是最奇怪和最稀有的双翅目科之一。Vermileonidae 的幼虫以其陷阱猎物行为而闻名，而成虫则很少见。在这里，我们首次报告了来自 Vermileonidae 成员的完整线粒体基因组。基于该目的代表性采样的系统发育重建揭示了对 Vermileonidae 与其他低端短角蝇类成员之间关系的新见解。支持 Vermileonidae 和 Xylophagidae 之间的姐妹群关系，更高级别的进化枝关系是 Tabanomorpha + (Muscomorpha + (Xylophagomorpha + Stratiomyomorpha))。将线粒体基因组数据与形态系统发育、地理分布和地质历史相结合，我们认为，蚯蚓科起源于中侏罗世时期的印度，在侏罗纪晚期通过陆桥传播到非洲，在渐新世晚期印度与劳亚大陆碰撞后传播到古北冰洋，在中新世早期传播到近北冰洋。北大西洋或白令海陆桥。事实证明，潮湿的森林地区是它们扩散的障碍，解释了它们在中非、南美和北美东部的缺失。