Micro-CT studies of amber inclusions reveal internal genitalic features of big-headed flies, enabling a systematic placement of Metanephrocerus Aczél, 1948 (Insecta: Diptera: Pipunculidae)

The study is based on two Baltic amber inclusions from the middle Eocene, studied by means of micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). Inner male genitalic features are partly visualised and the specimens described as Metanephrocerus groehni Kehlmaier & Skevington sp.n. and Metanephrocerus hoffeinsorum Kehlmaier & Skevington sp.n. Based on a phenetic comparison of the basic morphological composition of male terminalia on a subfamily level, Metanephrocerus Aczél, 1948 and Protonephrocerus Collin, 1931 are excluded from Nephrocerinae and placed into the new subfamily Protonephrocerinae Aczél, 1948 stat.n. An identification key to the named morphospecies of Metanephrocerus is provided.

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