Megaselia maculafemoralis, Disney, 2008

Disney, R. H. L., 2008, Six new species of Megaselia Rondani (Diptera: Phoridae) from mainland Australia, Zootaxa 1899 (1), pp. 57-68 : 60-61

Megaselia maculafemoralis sp. nov.

( Fig. 5 )

In the keys of Borgmeier (1967a) on page 201 this will run to couplet 16, lead 1 or couplet 20, lead 2, depending on whether the yellowish brown haltere knobs are treated as yellow or brown. The yellow thorax will immediately distinguish it from the species of these couplets and from the subsequently described M. hep- worthae Disney. Because the anterior scutellars are so fine, despite being over half as long as the posterior pair the new species might be taken to couplet 46, lead 1 on page 204, to M. mainitensis Brues. But the latter’s costal section 1 is less than sections 2+3, its costal index is greater than 0.5 and its thorax is reddish brown.

The name refers to the contrasting dark brown tips to the otherwise straw yellow hind femora.

Male. Frons orange brown, broader than long, with 78–104 hairs and dense but fine microsetae. SAs unequal, the lower pair being shorter. [In the only available specimen the upper SA on the left side is only about as strong as the lower SA and evidently a little displaced upwards. The right side is being treated as normal]. The antials slightly lower or level with upper SAs but lower on frons than anterolaterals, and about midway between an upper SAs and an AL bristle. Pre-ocellars about as far apart as either is from a mediolateral bristle, which is very slightly higher on frons. Cheek with 4 bristles and jowl with two, which are longer and more robust. The subglobose postpedicels greyish yellow, with at least 20 subcutaneous pit sensilla (SPS) vesicles. Palps straw yellow, at most a third as broad as postpedicel and with 6 bristles and 8–9 hairs. Labrum pale straw yellow and about 0.6x as wide as a postpedicel. Labella coloured as labrum but together about 2.2x as wide as latter, and with a dozen small spinules along the apical-lateral margin of each. Thorax yellow apart from brown patch on pteropleuron. Three notopleural bristles and no cleft in front of these. Mesopleuron with 15–16 hairs and a strong bristle at hind margin. Scutellum with an anterior pair of very thin hairs, which are about 0.6x as long as the posterior pair of bristles. Abdominal tergites with T1, most of the posterior half of T2, most of T3, the lateral thirds of T4, lateral quarters of T5 and the lesser part of T6 brown, with the rest being straw yellow. The hairs are longer towards the sides of T2, posterolaterally on T3 to T5 and at rear of T6 ( Fig. 5 ). Venter pale whitish grey, and with robust hairs on segments 3–6. Hypopygium largely brown, with a straw yellow anal tube, and as Fig. 5 . With two rectal papillae. Legs straw yellow but hind femur with brown tip and a brown patch on mid coxa. Fore tarsus with posterodorsal hair palisade on segments 1–4 and 5 only a little shorter than 4. Dorsal hair palisade of mid tibia extends almost entire length. Hairs below basal half of hind femur clearly longer than those of anteroventral row of outer half. Hind tibia with a dozen clearly differentiated posterodorsal hairs and spinules of apical combs simple. Wings 1.7–1.8 mm long. Costal index 0.47– 0.48. Costal ratios 3.7–3.8: 2.3: 1. Costal cilia (of section 3) 0.08–0.09 mm long. Hair at base of vein 3 fine. With two axillary bristles, the outer being subequal to costal cilia but more robust. Sc not reaching R1. Thick veins yellowish brown, thin veins 4–6 dark grey and 7 pale grey. Membrane tinged brownish grey (evident to naked eye when viewed against a white background). Haltere knob light brown.

Material. Holotype male, Australia, New South Wales, Tweed Heads, 10 The Quarterdeck , garden, water trap, 4 July 2008, R. H. L. Disney ( AMS, 25–61).

Figures

FIGURES 5–7. Megaselia males: (5) M. maculafemoralis left face of hypopygium; (6) M. necscabra left face of hypopygium; (7) M. necscabra left notopleuron (N = notopleural cleft. Scale bar = 0.1 mm.