About

Brian Wiegmann is the William Neal Reynolds Professor of Entomology at North Carolina State University. His research focuses on molecular biosystematics, inferring phylogenetic relationships, and testing hypotheses about the evolution and diversification of insects, with a major emphasis on the insect order Diptera (true flies). His work involves reconstructing the family-level phylogeny of Diptera, uncovering patterns and processes of DNA sequence evolution, and interpreting morphological and developmental evolutionary pathways. Wiegmann's research aims to understand the origin and evolutionary effects of specific adaptations in morphology, behavior, and physiology of flies, utilizing large comparative genome datasets funded by agencies such as the NSF and USDA. His studies include investigating the evolution of blood feeding, disease transmission, habitat use in mosquitoes, and the evolution of parasitism in blow flies, among others. As part of the NCSU Entomology Graduate Program, he provides training in biosystematic research, preparing students for careers in research, education, or administration in entomology. His work employs comparative genomics and genetic data analysis to reconstruct the evolutionary history of flies, including the use of transcriptomes and exon capture methods to understand major events in fly evolution.

Research topics

• Genetics
• Biology
• Evolutionary biology
• Zoology
• Ecology

Selected publications

• Phylogenomics of Anthomyiidae and a revised classification of Scathophagidae (Diptera: Calyptratae)

  Systematic Entomology · 2026-01-01

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Abstract Anthomyiidae have been recovered as paraphyletic with regard to Scathophagidae in several recent molecular analyses and need resolution. We address this issue by producing a robust phylogeny of the family Anthomyiidae, based on a broad sampling of anthomyiid genera and over 300 single‐copy orthologous loci captured using anchored hybrid enrichment (AHE). Most notably, the phylogenomic analyses provide strong support that family rank for Scathophagidae renders Anthomyiidae paraphyletic. We propose a revised classification with a basal Coenosopsiinae Bailey & Michelsen ( subfam. nov .), including the Neotropical Phaonantho Albuquerque and the Neotropical and southern Nearctic Coenosopsia Malloch, which emerge as sister taxa and together comprise one of the two earliest diverging clades; a Hyporitinae ( stat. rev .), including Hyporites Pokorny and the predatory genus Alliopsis Schnabl & Dziedzicki; and a Scathophaginae ( stat. rev .) relegated to subfamily rank within Anthomyiidae, which includes the former subfamilies Scathophaginae and Delininae as tribes Scathophagini ( stat. rev .) and Delinini ( stat. rev .).

  PublisherDOI

• Haplotype-resolved genome assemblies for the New World screwworm, <i>Cochliomyia hominivorax</i> (Diptera: Calliphoridae), using the trio binning approach

  G3 Genes Genomes Genetics · 2026-02-28

  articleOpen access

  The New World screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax, is an obligate parasite of warm-blooded animals and a major pest of livestock and wildlife in the Americas. The first genome assembly for C. hominivorax enabled substantial progress in key areas including gene expression related to fly behavior and physiology and gene editing technologies. However, the first genome was sequenced prior to several technological advances that result in fewer errors and better genome annotations. Here, we used the trio-binning approach to produce haplotype-resolved genome assemblies of C. hominivorax. A single male progeny from the cross of a Panama line male with a production strain female was sequenced using PacBio HiFi and scaffolded using Hi-C chromatin conformation, while Illumina NextSeq 2000 was used for short-read sequencing of both parents to facilitate trio-binning. We produced a linear haploid reference assembly by transferring a copy of the X chromosome and mitochondrial genome to the paternal haplotype. This assembly is comprised of 5 autosomes, 2 sex chromosomes, the mitogenome, and 75 unplaced scaffolds spanning 455.6 Mb, which is closer to the predicted size based on flow cytometry (443.8 Mb) than the previous assembly of 534.4 Mb. NCBI's external Eukaryotic Genome Annotation Pipeline (EGAPx) was used to annotate the protein-coding and non-coding genes in the linear haploid reference and the maternal haplotype assemblies. Due to the better resolution of the sex chromosomes and updated genome annotations, these improved assemblies will advance future experiments aimed at understanding sex determination, gene expression, and the evolution of parasitism in the Calliphoridae.

  PublisherDOI

• Phylogenomics of Anthomyiidae and a revised classification of Scathophagidae (Diptera: Calyptratae)

  Open MIND · 2026-01-30

  datasetSenior author

  The Anthomyiidae have been recovered as paraphyletic with regard to the Scathophagidae in several recent molecular analyses and need resolution. We address this issue by producing a robust phylogeny of the family Anthomyiidae, based on a broad sampling of anthomyiid genera and over 300 single-copy orthologous loci captured using anchored hybrid enrichment (AHE). Most notably, the phylogenomic analyses provide strong support that family rank for Scathophagidae renders Anthomyiidae paraphyletic. We propose a revised classification with a basal Coenosopsiinae Bailey &amp; Michelsen (subfam. nov.), including the Neotropical Phaonantho Albuquerque and the Neotropical and southern Nearctic Coenosopsia Malloch, which emerge as sister taxa and together comprise one of the two earliest diverging clades; a Hyporitinae (stat. rev.) including Hyporites Pokorny and the predatory genus Alliopsis Schnabl &amp; Dziedzicki; and a Scathophaginae (stat. rev.) relegated to subfamily rank within Anthomyiidae which includes the former subfamilies Scathophaginae and Delininae as tribes Scathophagini (stat. rev.) and Delinini (stat. rev.).

  DOI

• Phylogenomics illuminates the complex evolutionary history of Bibionomorpha (Diptera)

  Systematic Entomology · 2026-04-01

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Bibionomorpha is a large and diverse dipteran infraorder, of which its composition and family‐level relationships have long been debated. In this study, we constructed a phylogenomic tree of Bibionomorpha using an extensive dataset of transcriptomic, genomic and anchored hybrid enrichment data. To further investigate the evolutionary timeline of the group, we also generated a fossil‐calibrated time tree using data‐driven calibration priors. Bibionomorpha, comprising Anisopodoidea, Bibionoidea, Scatopsoidea and Sciaroidea, is recovered as the sister group to Brachycera. Axymyiidae and Perissommatidae, which have been considered part of Bibionomorpha by some authorities, are instead recovered as sister to the Bibionomorpha + Brachycera. We discuss recalcitrant nodes within the infraorder, particularly regarding the placements of Bolitophilidae and Cecidomyiidae. Although tentative, phylogenetic network analysis suggests a possible reticulation event leading to Bolitophilidae, while mitochondrial data support a sex‐specific hybridization event between ancestral Cecidomyiidae and Sciaridae + Diadocidiidae group. Time tree analyses suggest a Lower Triassic or deeper origin of Bibionomorpha, consistent with fossil evidence.

  PublisherDOI

• Data from: Haplotype-resolved genome assemblies for the New World screwworm, <i>Cochliomyia hominivorax</i> (Diptera: Calliphoridae), using the trio binning approach

  Ag Data Commons · 2026-02-27

  datasetOpen access

  These are supplemental data for producing haplotype-resolved genome assemblies of <i>C. hominivorax </i>using the trio-binning approach. Briefly, a single male progeny from the cross of a Panama line male with a production strain female was sequenced using PacBio HiFi and scaffolded using Hi-C chromatin conformation, while Illumina NextSeq 2000 was used for short read sequencing of both parents to facilitate trio-binning. We produced a linear haploid reference assembly by transferring a copy of the X chromosome and mitochondrial genome to the paternal haplotype. This assembly is comprised of five autosomes, two sex chromosomes, the mitogenome, and 75 unplaced scaffolds spanning 455.6 Mb, which is closer to the predicted size based on flow cytometry (443.8 Mb) than the previous assembly of 534.4 Mb. NCBI’s external Eukaryotic Genome Annotation Pipeline (EGAPx) was used to annotate the protein coding and non-coding genes in the linear haploid reference and the maternal haplotype assembly.This research used resources provided by the SCINet project and/or the AI Center of Excellence of the USDA Agricultural Research Service, ARS project numbers 0201-88888-003-000D and 0201-88888-002-000D.

  PublisherDOI

• Data from: Haplotype-resolved genome assemblies for the New World screwworm, <i>Cochliomyia hominivorax</i> (Diptera: Calliphoridae), using the trio binning approach

  Open MIND · 2026-02-27

  dataset

  These are supplemental data for producing haplotype-resolved genome assemblies of <i>C. hominivorax </i>using the trio-binning approach. Briefly, a single male progeny from the cross of a Panama line male with a production strain female was sequenced using PacBio HiFi and scaffolded using Hi-C chromatin conformation, while Illumina NextSeq 2000 was used for short read sequencing of both parents to facilitate trio-binning. We produced a linear haploid reference assembly by transferring a copy of the X chromosome and mitochondrial genome to the paternal haplotype. This assembly is comprised of five autosomes, two sex chromosomes, the mitogenome, and 75 unplaced scaffolds spanning 455.6 Mb, which is closer to the predicted size based on flow cytometry (443.8 Mb) than the previous assembly of 534.4 Mb. NCBI’s external Eukaryotic Genome Annotation Pipeline (EGAPx) was used to annotate the protein coding and non-coding genes in the linear haploid reference and the maternal haplotype assembly.This research used resources provided by the SCINet project and/or the AI Center of Excellence of the USDA Agricultural Research Service, ARS project numbers 0201-88888-003-000D and 0201-88888-002-000D.

  DOI

• Data from: Phylogenomics illuminates the complex evolutionary history of Bibionomorpha (Diptera)

  Open MIND · 2026-02-19

  dataset

  Bibionomorpha is a large and diverse dipteran infraorder, of which its composition and family-level relationships have long been debated. In this study, we constructed a phylogenomic tree of Bibionomorpha using an extensive dataset of transcriptomic, genomic, and anchored hybrid enrichment data. To further investigate the evolutionary timeline of the group, we also generated a fossil-calibrated timetree using data-driven calibration priors. Different data types and models were utilized to produce a robust backbone phylogeny. Bibionomorpha, comprising Bibionoidea, Sciaroidea, Anisopodoidea, and Scatopsoidea, is recovered as the sister group to Brachycera. Axymyiidae and Perissommatidae, which have been considered part of Bibionomorpha by some authorities, are instead recovered as sister to the Bibionomorpha + Brachycera. We discuss recalcitrant nodes within the infraorder, particularly regarding the placements of Bolitophilidae and Cecidomyiidae. Phylogenetic network analysis suggests a possible reticulation event for Bolitophilidae, while mitochondrial data support a highly sex-specific hybridization event between ancestral Cecidomyiidae and Sciaridae + Diadocidiidae group. Timetree analyses suggest a Lower Triassic or deeper origin of Bibionomorpha, with implications of ancient explosive radiations.

  DOI

• A Way Through the Trees: Molecular Phylogenies Consistently Recover Two Clades of <i>Aedes</i> Mosquitoes

  bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · 2025-07-18

  preprintOpen access

  Abstract Phylogenetic analyses of molecular data have been critical in resolving deep and shallow relationships across the tree of life. Such analyses have provided clarity where traditional morphological analyses may not have, and have been instrumental in a range of evolutionary, systematic, and taxonomic studies for providing clarity to evolutionary relationships. One such case where evolutionary relationships are poorly understood is in the mosquito genus Aedes . Although this medically important genus of insects has received significant study, the majority of research has focused on those relatively few species that are invasive and transmit pathogens which cause disease. As a result, evolutionary relationships between Aedes mosquitoes are poorly understood, and the classification of the genus has been contentious, with numerous taxonomic changes over the last two decades being undertaken and reversed based entirely on analyses of somewhat limited morphological data. As a result, we conducted a literature review of molecular phylogenies and evaluated classificatory hypotheses under a framework based on observations of frequently occurring relationships among mosquito genera and subgenera. We found that molecular phylogenies consistently reflect two distinct clades of Aedes mosquitoes, each with other Aedini genera within them. We discuss these results in the context of ongoing debates over Aedes nomenclature. Our review demonstrates the ability for molecular phylogenies to aid in resolving long-standing debates on nomenclature. Highlights The genus Aedes, in the tribe Aedini, contains many of the world’s most important disease vector mosquitoes, such as the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti. The phylogeny of the genus Aedes remains contentious, leading to repeated and often confusing changes in taxonomy and nomenclature. No comprehensive molecular phylogenies of the genus Aedes have been published the, but Aedes species have been included in many phylogenetic analyses. Molecular phylogenies demonstrate consistent results: There are two major clades of Aedes mosquitoes, neither of which are monophyletic. Graphical Abstract

  PublisherDOI

• Phylogenomics and the evolution of larval feeding habits in the blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

  Systematic Entomology · 2025-12-12 · 2 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Abstract Blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) occur worldwide and exhibit a wide range of larval feeding habits, including saprophagy, coprophagy, parasitism and predation. Understanding their biology is critical for medical and veterinary science and ecology. Calliphorids thrive across a range of habitats and exhibit complex life histories, with larvae developing immersed in their food substrate, while adults are free‐living and have diverse feeding strategies. Some species have evolved specialized parasitic associations with vertebrate or invertebrate hosts, which are behaviors with important implications for agriculture and for understanding evolutionary transitions between saprophagy and parasitism. This study presents a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of the Calliphoridae, utilizing 711 of 736 analysed nuclear genes, using anchored hybrid enrichment, from a global collection of blow flies and their relatives. Our results provide a robust and novel reconstruction of the evolutionary history of this group, pinpointing major transitions in larval feeding habits. We argue that saprophagy evolved independently multiple times from invertebrate parasitic ancestors, with vertebrate parasitism emerging from a number of different feeding strategies. These findings challenge prior hypotheses and offer new insights into the adaptive traits driving trophic specialization and diversification in this group.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Comparative genomic analysis of necrophagous and parasitic subspecies of Lucilia cuprina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) provides important insight into their divergent biologies

  International Journal for Parasitology · 2025-06-18 · 6 citations

  articleOpen access

  Lucilia cuprina, a species of blowfly, consists of two recognized subspecies: L. cuprina cuprina and L. cuprina dorsalis. Although they are morphologically and molecularly similar to each other, they have very different ecological roles. In Australia, L. c. dorsalis is predominantly found in rural areas and is the primary causative agent of sheep myiasis (flystrike), while L. c. cuprina is necrophagous and not a significant pest of livestock in the Americas or elsewhere. Here, we present a chromosome-scale genome assembly for L. c. cuprina and an improved assembly for L. c. dorsalis, enabling comparative genomic analysis between these subspecies. While both genomes share a similar gene content, subspecies-specific genes were identified, which may contribute to their divergent ecological roles -necrophagy in L. c. cuprina and parasitism in L. c. dorsalis. Phylogenetic analyses across target genomic regions reaffirm the close relationship between L. c. cuprina and L. c. dorsalis and position L. sericata as their sister species. Gene mutations linked to diazinon resistance were exclusively observed in L. c. dorsalis, whereas malathion resistance was detected in both subspecies. Additionally, we identified genes with accelerated evolutionary rates in each subspecies, which may underlie their distinct feeding behaviours. We also conducted a detailed analysis of chemosensory genes, revealing that L. c. dorsalis possesses slightly larger repertoires of all four chemosensory gene families studied. In comparison to Drosophila melanogaster, both subspecies exhibit an expanded gustatory receptor clade. Our findings provide valuable insights into the genetic factors underpinning parasitism and insecticide resistance and provide a valuable genetic resource for future research endeavours, including the development of engineered strains aimed at genetic biocontrol strategies. This work enhances our understanding of the evolutionary adaptations for this important blowfly species.

  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• Sexual Characters and Diversification in Empidine Dance Flies (Diptera: Empididae: Empidinae)

  NSF · $480k · 2009–2013

• AToL: Building the Dipteran Tree: Cooperative Research in Phylogenetics and Bioinformatics of True Flies (Insecta: Diptera)

  NSF · $2.4M · 2004–2009

• Taxonomic, Phylogenetic, and Evolutionary Studies of Horse flies (Diptera:Tabanidae): An Integrated Approach to Systematics Training

  NSF · $743k · 2007–2013

• Beyond Drosophila: Comparative transcriptomics of schizophoran flies to resolve a rapid radiation

  NSF · $600k · 2013–2017

• Dimensions US Sao Paulo: Evolutionary and genetic origins of diverse trophic specializations in blow flies

  NSF · $2.0M · 2021–2026

Frequent coauthors

• Lars S. Jermiin

  University College Dublin

  758 shared

• Thomas R. Buckley

  Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research

  757 shared

• John Trueman

  Australian National University

  755 shared

• Karen Cranston

  University Health Network

  755 shared

• Frédéric Delsuc

  Université de Montpellier

  754 shared

• Brian C. O’Meara

  754 shared

• Hélène Morlon

  Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

  754 shared

• Timothy G. Barraclough

  University of Oxford

  754 shared

Labs

• Structural Pest Management Training & Research FacilityPI

Awards & honors

• William Neal Reynolds Professor of Entomology