Megaselia pisanoi, 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 : 469-470

Megaselia pisanoi new species ( Figs. 23 , 31, 55, 85, 116)

Diagnosis. Male. In the group III key of Borgmeier (1964), M. pisanoi keys to M. goniata Borgmeier. These two species are remarkably similar but differ in a number of details. M. pisanoi has all legs brown, forelegs only slightly lighter ( Fig. 23 ), while M. goniata has legs yellowish, hind legs darker. The hind femur fringe of M.

pisanoi has 10+ setae, while M. goniata has 7. The ratio of costal segments for M. goniata is such that C1 is 3.6x C3, but M. pisanoi has C1 typically 4.5x C3 or longer. The palpal setae for M. goniata are said to be 3 apically with one shorter laterally; M. pisanoi has at least 6 palpal setae. Lastly, the small size of M. goniata (1mm) is mentioned by Borgmeier; the slide mounted holotype of M. pisanoi measures over 1mm just from the front of the thorax to the end of T6 (not including the head which was dissected and mounted separately). Unfortunately, the holotype of M. goniata is almost completely destroyed and a complete comparison to type material was not possible. The midfemur of the holotype of M. goniata was examined, and does not appear as denticulate as M. pisanoi ; the widest part of the expansion on M. goniata is 0.11mm, while M. pisanoi is 0.16mm. M. goniata does appear to have a brushlike process on the left lobe of the hypandrium as seen in M. pisanoi ( Fig. 116 ); further specimens are needed to confirm the status of these apparent sibling species.

Description. See Table 6.

Distribution. Los Angeles, California ( USA).

Etymology. Named in honor of Mark Pisano, host of BioSCAN site 4.

Biology. Unknown.

Holotype. ♂, USA: CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles, Mount Washington, 3–10.V.2014, Donahue, Malaise trap ( LACM 329817)

Paratypes. 3 ♂, USA: CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles, Glendale, 28.VI.2014 – 5.VII.2014, Hoffman, Malaise trap ( LACM 329818, LACM 329819, CUMZ). ♂, USA: CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles, Highland Park, 31.V.2014 – 7.VI.2014, Brejcha, Malaise trap ( CUMZ).

Additional Material Examined. USA: CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles: Los Feliz, Glendale, Glassell Park, Highland Park, Mount Washington, 8 ♂, I–V.2014, Malaise trap ( LACM, MCZC, USNM).

Figures

FIGURES 19 – 27. Habitus images (lateral). 19. Megaselia lombardorum. 20. Megaselia marquezi. 21. Megaselia mikejohnsoni. 22. Megaselia oxboroughae. 23. Megaselia pisanoi. 24. Megaselia renwickorum. 25. Megaselia rodriguezorum. 26. Megaselia sacatelensis. 27. Megaselia seaverorum ..

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.