Megaselia micawberi, Henry & Bøggild, 2021

Henry, R. & Bøggild, Esben, 2021, Nineteen new species of Megaselia Rondani (Diptera, Phoridae) from Denmark, Zootaxa 4975 (2), pp. 306-342 : 324

Megaselia micawberi n. sp.

( Figs 132–145)

Diagnosis. In the key of Lundbeck (1922) it runs to couplet 47 lead 1, where its pale legs and hypopygium clearly distinguish it, or to couplet 48 lead 2 to M. nudiventris (Wood) , whose hypopygium is clearly different ( Figs 9 & 10 in Disney, 2011d). In the key to the males of the British Isles ( Disney,1989) it runs to couplets 191 lead 1 or 192 but its hypopygium fits none of the options. It fails to run down in keys for the rest of the world’s fauna and subsequent additions.

Description. Male. Frons as Fig. 132, with dense but very fine microtrichia. Cheek with 3 or 4 bristles and jowl with 2 that are longer and more robust. Postpedicels, which lack SPS vesicles ( Fig. 134), palps and proboscis as Fig. 133. The labella with only a few short spinules below. Thorax brown, with 3 notopleural bristles and no cleft in front of these and mesopleuron bare ( Fig. 135). Scutellum with an anterior pair of dorsal hairs and a posterior pair of bristles. Abdominal tergites brown with moderate hairs, but longer ones at rear of tergites) gray, and with hairs on segments 3–6 ( Fig. 136). Hypopygium as Figs 137–140, the left side of epandrium having one bristle longer the those at rear of T6. The pale left hypandrial lobe with small microtrichia absent near tip and on inner face ( Fig. 138). The right hypandrial lobe very short but broad ( Fig. 139). Legs dusky yellow to yellow. Fore tarsus with posterodorsal hair palisade on segments 1–5 and 5 only just longer than 4 ( Figs 141 & 142). Dorsal hair palisade of mid tibia extends about 0.75 times its length. Hairs below basal half of hind femur longer than those of anteroventral row of outer half ( Fig. 143). Hind tibia about 15 modferately differentiated posterodorsal hairs, without anterodorsals, and spinules of apical combs simple. Wings ( Fig. 144) 1.77–1.80 mm long. Costal index 0.45–0.50. Costal ratios 2.8–3.4: 1.7–2.0: 1. Costal cilia (of section 3) 0.11–0.12 mm long. Vein 3 hair 0.05 mm long. 4 axillary bristles ( Fig. 145), the outermost being 0.0.11– 0.13 mm long. Sc reaching R1. Haltere knob pale ( Fig. 145).

Type material. Holotype male, DENMARK, DK SJ, Draved Skov , 17.V.–8.VI.2014, Esben Bøggild ( UCMZ — 9–26) . Paratype male as holotype.

Etymology. Named after the ever-optimistic Wilkins Micawber in the Dickens novel David Copperfield. His optimistic approach to hardships is ever inspiring.