Phylogenetic reappraisal and taxonomic review of the Empis(Coptophlebia) hyalipennis-group (Diptera: Empididae: Empidinae)

The Empis (Coptophlebia) hyalipennis-group is redefined, keyed, cladistically analysed and three new species, Empis doi, sp. nov., Empis pseudohystrichopyga, sp. nov. and Empis pseudovillosipes, sp. nov., are described (from Thailand, China and Taiwan respectively). A cladistic analysis of 27 adult morphological characters was performed for Empis hyalipennis (the type-species of the subgenus Coptophlebia), and 13 Nearctic, Oriental and Palaearctic species hypothesised as being closely related, which resulted in a single tree of 31 steps (CI = 0.96; RI = 0.98). Monophyly of the group was established on the basis of two apomorphic characters of the male hypopygium. Based on these results and previous studies of the Empis-Coptophlebia complex of subgenera within the genus Empis, the E. (C.) hyalipennis-group appears to be much richer in species, exhibit greater morphological heterogeneity and be more widely distributed than expected. It is strongly recommended that any future revision of the subfamily Empidinae should apply the name Coptophlebia only to the monophyletic Empis (Coptophlebia) hyalipennis-group defined in this study.