Scatopsciara (Scatopsciara) hoyti ( Hardy, 1956 )

Vilkamaa, Pekka & Menzel, Frank, 2019, Re-classification of Lycoriella Frey sensu lato (Diptera, Sciaridae), with description of Trichocoelina gen. n. and twenty new species, Zootaxa 4665 (1), pp. 1-67 : 8-9

Scatopsciara (Scatopsciara) hoyti ( Hardy, 1956)

Literature. Scatopsciara (Scatopsciara) spiculata Vilkamaa, Hippa & Mohrig—Vilkamaa et al. (2012b) : 69, fig. 2 A–D. Sciara (Lycoriella) hoyti Hardy—Hardy (1956) : 80, fig. 6 a–c; Hardy (1960): 220, 224, fig. 72 a–c; Steffan (1976): 48. Lycoriella (Lycoriella) hoyti (Hardy) — Steffan (1973): 357. Lycoriella hoyti (Hardy) — Steffan (1974): 43, 46; Steffan (1989): 148. Scatopsciara hoyti (Hardy) —Mohrig et al. (2019): 427, 434, figs 19 A, B and 20 A–D.

Discussion. Sciara hoyti Hardy was described based on 7 males and 2 females from the Hawaii Islands (Keanakolu, Mauna Kea). Steffan (1973) included this species in Lycoriella sensu Tuomikoski (1960) , in spite of the missing bow-like bordered tibial organ and the missing whiplash seta, and compared the species with L. pallidior Tuomikoski, 1960 although the structure of the genitalia of the latter is very different. Contrary to the known species of Lycoriella , the first palpal segment of S. hoyti has only one seta, the gonostylus is allegedly strongly extended in the middle ( Hardy 1956: fig. 6c), and Hardy described six strong megasetae on the impressed area (three apically, two in the middle and one more basally at the medial corner of the impression). On the basis of these characters, S. hoyti does not belong to Lycoriella Frey. Mohrig et al. (2019: 427) have studied the holotype of S. hoyti Hardy and mention two conspecific males from Maui Island (Hawaii), and combine this species into the genus Scatopsciara Edwards s. str., with Scatopsciara spiculata Vilkamaa, Hippa & Mohrig, 2012 from New Caledonia as junior synonym. They found that the gonostyli of holotype are deformed in fig. 6c by Hardy (1956: 81), the apex of the gonostyli has a strong tooth and the inner sides of gonostyli have only 4 megasetae (1 megaseta subapical and 3 further mesial up to the middle). The different lenght of tibial spurs at the middle and hind tibia, the narrow bristle row at the front tibia, the trapezoid tegmen, the sensory pit on the first palpal segment and the very short R 1 support the position in the Sc. atomaria group of the genus Scatopsciara Edwards (compare here especially with the detailed description in Vilkamaa et al. (2012b: 69).