Megaselia steptoeae, Hartop, Emily A., Brown, Brian V. & Disney, R. Henry L., 2015

Hartop, Emily A., Brown, Brian V. & Disney, R. Henry L., 2015, Opportunity in our Ignorance: Urban Biodiversity Study Reveals 30 New Species and One New Nearctic Record for Megaselia (Diptera: Phoridae) in Los Angeles (California, USA), Zootaxa 3941 (4), pp. 451-484 : 480

Megaselia steptoeae new species ( Figs. 29 , 61 , 91 , 123 )

Diagnosis. Male. In the group III key of Borgmeier (1964), M. steptoeae keys to couplet 13 where it can readily be distinguished from both M. scopalis Brues and M. renata Borgmeier. M. steptoeae lacks the forceps-like epandrial process and strong anipisternal bristle of M. scopalis . M. steptoeae is differentiated easily from M. renata by the structure of the genitalia. In M. renata , the epandrium has a triangular notch near the rear margin and numerous stout bristles near the lower margin of the epandrium; M. steptoeae lacks such a notch and has few bristles arranged in a more-or-less vertical row on the epandrium ( Fig. 91 ).

Description. See Table 7.

Distribution. Los Angeles, California ( USA).

Etymology. Named in honor of LaChristian Steptoe, host of BioSCAN site 10.

Biology. Unknown.

Holotype. ♂, USA: CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles, Los Feliz, 4–11.IV.2014, Louie, Malaise trap ( LACM 329834).

Paratypes. 4 ♂, USA: CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles, Koreatown, 5–12.IV.2014, Ralph, Malaise trap ( LACM 329835, LACM 329836, 2 CUMZ)

Additional Material Examined. USA: CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles: Exposition Park, Los Feliz, Silverlake, Leimert Park, Koreatown, Mid-City, Elysian Park, Gardena, Hollywood, Glendale, Larchmont, Carthay, Echo Park, Eagle Rock, Pico-Union, Highland Park, 45 ♂, I–V.2014, Malaise traps ( LACM, MCZC, USNM).

Figures

FIGURES 28 – 30. Habitus images (lateral). 28. Megaselia sidneyae. 29. Megaselia steptoeae. 30. Megaselia wiegmanae. FIGURE 31. Midfemur. Megaselia pisanoi.

FIGURES 53 – 62. Right wing, dorsal. 53. Megaselia mikejohnsoni. 54. Megaselia oxboroughae. 55. Megaselia pisanoi. 56. Megaselia renwickorum. 57. Megaselia rodriguezorum. 58. Megaselia sacatelensis. 59. Megaselia seaverorum. 60. Megaselia sidneyae. 61. Megaselia steptoeae. 62. Megaselia wiegmanae.

FIGURES 87 – 92. Male genitalia, left lateral. 87. Megaselia rodriguezorum. 88. Megaselia sacatelensis. 89. Megaselia seaverorum. 90. Megaselia sidneyae. 91. Megaselia steptoeae. 92. Megaselia wiegmanae.

FIGURES 109 – 124. Hypandria (ventral unless noted otherwise) 109. Megaselia isaacmajorum. 110. Megaselia kelleri. 111. Megaselia lombardorum. 112. Megaselia marquezi. 113. Megaselia mikejohnsoni. 114. Megaselia oxboroughae. 115. Megaselia pisanoi. 116. Megaselia renwickorum. 117. Megaselia rodriguezorum. 118. Megaselia sacatelensis. 119. Megaselia seaverorum. 120. Megaselia sidneyae. 121. Megaselia sidneyae (detail left process). 122. Megaselia steptoeae. 123. Megaselia wiegmanae.