Megaselia tweedensis, Disney, 2008

Disney, R. H. L., 2008, Six new species of Megaselia Rondani (Diptera: Phoridae) from mainland Australia, Zootaxa 1899 (1), pp. 57-68 : 63-65

Megaselia tweedensis sp. nov.

( Fig. 12 )

In the keys of Borgmeier (1967b) this will readily run to couplet 65 on page 85. If one takes the first lead it runs on to couplet 68, where neither lead applies. If one takes the second lead of couplet 65 it runs on to cou- plet 87 (on page 91), lead 1, to M. ustipennis Borgmeier , which is immediately distinguished by its dark brown postpedicels and reddish brown hind femora. Two subsequently described species running to the same couplet are both distinguished by a yellow, as opposed to brown, thorax. See also M. alisamorum (above).

The name refers to the type locality.

Male. Frons brown, clearly broader than long, with 46–50 hairs and dense but very fine microsetae. SAs unequal, the lower pair clearly shorter and less robust. The antials slightly lower on frons than anterolaterals (which are almost level with upper SAs), and about twice as far from upper SAs as either is from an AL bristle. Pre-ocellars a little closer together than either is from a mediolateral bristle, which is very slightly higher on frons. Cheek with 3 bristles and jowl with two longer ones. The subglobose postpedicels yellowish brown and without SPS vesicles. Palps straw yellow, at most half as broad as labrum, with 6 bristles and as many hairs. Labrum pale and about 0.6x as wide as a postpedicel. Labella light brown, together about 0.8x as broad as a postpedicel and with only a few short spinules below. Thorax yellowishbrown, being paler on sides (apart from brown patch on pteropleuron). Three notopleural bristles and no cleft in front of these. Mesopleuron bare. Scutellum with an anterior pair of hairs (about as large as those in middle of scutum) and a posterior pair of bristles. Abdominal tergites brown with small hairs except for longer ones at rear of T6 ( Fig. 12 ). Venter pale grey, and with hairs on segments 3–6. Hypopygium with brown epandrium and mainly pale hypandrium, with a pale anal tube very lightly tinged brown, and as Fig. 12 . With two rectal papillae. Legs straw yellow with a brown tip to hind femur and patch on mid coxa. Fore tarsus with posterodorsal hair palisade on segments 1–4 and 5 slightly longer than 4. Dorsal hair palisade of mid tibia extends about 0.7x its length. Hairs below basal half of hind femur longer than those of anteroventral row of outer half. Hind tibia with a dozen differentiated posterodorsal hairs and spinules of apical combs simple. Wings 1.39–1.40 mm long. Costal index 0.47–0.48. Costal ratios 3.4–3.5: 1.9: 1. Costal cilia (of section 3) 0.06 mm long. Hair at base of vein 3 subequal to costal cilium just before humeral cross vein. With two axillary bristles, the outer being longer than costal cilia. Sc not reaching R1. Thick veins light brown, thin veins 4–6 dark grey and 7 pale grey. Membrane tinged light grey (just evident to naked eye when viewed against a white background). Haltere brown.

Material. Holotype male, Australia, New South Wales, Tweed Heads, 10 The Quarterdeck , garden, water trap, 19 June 2008, R. H. L. Disney ( AMS, 25–61).

Figures

FIGURE 12. Megaselia tweedensis male, left face of hypopygium. Scale bar = 0.1 mm.