A taxonomic review of the genus Minettiella Malloch (Diptera: Lauxaniidae) in Palearctic Region
Abstract The genus Minettiella (Diptera: Lauxaniidae) in Palearctic Region is reviewed. This genus currently includes two Palearctic and three Oriental species. We here provide a key to the five known Minettiella species and detailed redescriptions of the two Palearctic species (M. coracina and M. dolabriformis) based on the specimens discovered for the first time in South Korea. We also clarified some taxonomic confusion involving these two species. Currently, Minettiella can only be distinguished from the closely resembling genera, Melinomyia and Minettia, by the combination of the yellow body coloration and single katepisternal seta. These characters, however, do not seem to justify their generic differentiation, because body coloration and chaetotaxy of thorax tend to vary within a single genus in Lauxaniidae. Therefore, we believe that the genera Minettiella (five species), Melinomyia (single species) and the large genus Minettia (over 100 known species) should be more carefully revised based on a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis involving them as well as related taxa.