Morfologia comparada das terminálias masculina e feminina dos rhagionidae (Diptera, Tabanomorpha) neotropicais

we present a comparative investigation of both male and female terminalia of the neotropical genera of rhagionidae (diptera, brachycera, tabanomorpha). based on brachyceran bauplan, homology hypotheses between the terminalia parts were analyzed in a comparative context. the results suggest that the conditions observed in rhagionidae are in general very modified when compared to the common ancestor of brachycera. herein we show a heuristic phylogenetic hypothesis which may serve as a basis for the understanding of the great morphological diversification of the male and female genitalia of rhagionids, pointing to a solution to some controversies about the morphology of the reproductive structures in the group.