Minicosta mollyae, Brown, Brian V. & Oliver, Hugh, 2008

Brown, Brian V. & Oliver, Hugh, 2008, Two new genera of Phoridae (Diptera) from New Zealand, Zootaxa 1933, pp. 1-11 : 8-10

Minicosta mollyae n. sp.

Description. Critical characters of the definition of this species are given in the Diagnosis for the genus. Other characters observed in specimens belonging to the species are as follows:

Body length 0.9–1.2 mm; color brown to dark brown.

Male: Frons blackish-brown; mean frontal width 0.58 head width, range 0.57–0.59. Palpus with large sensilla dorsally ( Fig. 20 ). Scutum and pleuron dark brown. Anepisternum without setae. Legs, including coxae, lighter brown than rest of body. Wing venation as in Fig. 25 ; mean costal length 0.31 wing length, range 0.30– 0.32; halter brown. Abdominal tergites brown. Male terminalia brown, without large protruding lobes,structure as in Figs. 27–28 .

Female: Similar to male, but flagellomere 1 smaller, rounder, only slightly pointed. Costa shorter, approximately 0.29 wing length. Abdominal tergite 1 relatively large, one-half length of tergite 2; tergites 2–6 gradually reduced posteriorly, without visible gland openings between tergites; tergite 6 equilateral triangle in shape. Segments 1–6 lacking sternites. Abdomen posterior to segment 6 largely membranous, non-parasitic type. Tergites and sternites not seen. Cerci present, unmodified.

Derivation of specific epithet. Named for Molly Oliver, the second author’s wife.

Natural history. Unknown.

Holotype. ɗ, NEW ZEALAND: North Island: near Turangi, Tree Trunk Gorge, 39.17°S, 175.81°E, 12– 14.ii.2006, B. Brown, H. Oliver, Malaise trap, 850 m [barcode: LACM ENT 221509] (NZAC).

Paratypes. NEW ZEALAND: North Island: Raglan, 37.83°S, 174.82°E, 1ɗ, 3Ψ, 8–21.ii.2006, B. Brown, H. Oliver, Malaise trap; Tongariro National Park, Lake Rotopounamu, 39.02°S, 175.73°E, 2ɗ, 13.ii.2006, B. V. Brown, sweeping (note: only some body parts preserved for one specimen, rest of body used for molecular analysis); near Turangi, Desert Road at Oturere River, 39.18°S, 175.76°E, 6ɗ, 10–14.ii.2006, B. Brown, H. Oliver, Malaise trap, 850 m; near Turangi, Tree Trunk Gorge, 39.17°S, 175.81°E, 2ɗ, 2Ψ, 12–14.ii.2006, B. Brown, H. Oliver, Malaise trap, 850 m; Waihi, Woodland Road, 37.47°S, 175.85°E, 1Ψ, 9–14.ii.2006, B. Brown, H. Oliver, Malaise trap, 100 m. South Island: Brunner, Punakaiki, 1ɗ, 1Ψ, 29.xii–3.i.1984, L. Masner, Malaise trap, Nothophagus forest (LACM, NZAC).

Figures

FIGURES 18 – 23. Minicosta mollyae new species, specimen from Desert Road [LACM ENT 221482]. 18, habitus, left lateral. 19, head and thorax, left lateral. 20, mouthparts, anterior. 21, thorax, dorsal. 22, hind femur, posterior. 23, hind femur, posterior, basal area.

FIGURES 24 – 28. Minicosta mollyae new species. 24, male head, specimen from Desert Road [LACM ENT 221482]. 25, female head, specimen from Raglan [LACM ENT 221394]. 26, wing, specimen from Desert Road at Oturere River [LACM ENT 221484]. 27 – 28. Male terminalia, right lateral and left lateral, specimen (molecular voucher) from Rotopounamu [LACM ENT 235657].