Empis (Coptophlebia) hyalea, Melander, 1946

Daugeron, Christophe & Grootaert, Patrick, 2005, Phylogenetic systematics of the Empis (Coptophlebia) hyalea-group (Insecta: Diptera: Empididae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 145 (3), pp. 339-391 : 346-347

EMPIS (COPTOPHLEBIA) HYALEA -GROUP

References: Daugeron (2002); Daugeron & Grootaert (2003a, b).

Monophyly: In previous papers (Daugeron, 2002; Daugeron & Grootaert, 2003a, b) the monophyly of the E. (C.) hyalea -group has been established on the basis of two characters: labella with an unsclerotized zone in the middle [character 2 (1)], and epandrial lamellae linked dorsally by a broad sclerite [26 (2)]. At present we can add a third autapomorphy: epandrium with pair of long dorsal projections [27 (2)], even if this character has reduced within the group into two small protuberances [27 (1)] or modified into a single median protuberance [27 (3)].

Description: MALE: HEAD Ocellar triangle prominent with pair of distinct bristles; holoptic, upper ommatidia enlarged; proboscis at least as long as head, strongly sclerotized, with distinct unsclerotized zone in middle of labella. THORAX. Scutum with at least the following strong, long bristles: 1 basal postpronotal, 1 pre- and 2 postsutural supraalars, 3 notopleurals, 1 postalar, 2 apical scutellars; acrostichals absent in prescutellar depression, laterotergite with fan of strong, long bristles. LEGS. Fore tibia often deformed, more or less S-shaped or narrowed at base [ E. (C.) hyalea and E. (C.) jacobsoni clades]; mid and hind legs with strong, long bristles. WING with Sc, M1 generally abbreviated, M2 complete, cell dm truncate, radial fork (R4 + 5) at right angle, anal lobe well developed. HYPOPYSIUM. Cercus with characteristic concave shape in dorsal view; epandrium with 2 long, dorsal projections or at least 2 small dorsal protuberances, unpaired with lateral lamellae linked dorsally by broad sclerite (epandrial lamellae remain feebly separated dorsally in E. (C.) nahaeoensis clade), always with strong, long bristles; hypandrium rather short, pointed apically, reduced more or less membranous in E. (C.) aspina and E. (C.) nahaeoensis clades; phallus generally quite long, slender, sometimes entirely thick.

FEMALE: Similar to male except for the following characters: entire chaetotaxy generally shorter. Dichoptic. Legs often with pennation, fore tibia unmodified. Abdomen pointed at tip with cercus longer than wide bearing some short bristly hairs.

According to the phylogenetic analysis, the E. (C.) hyalea -group can be divided in six welldefined clades, namely E. (C.) acris , E. (C.) aspina , E. (C.) atratata , E. (C.) hyalea , E. (C.) jacobsoni and E. (C.) nahaeoensis , keyed below.