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 C 1 is 3.6x C 3, but M. pisanoi has C 1 typically 4.5x C 3 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 T 6 (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).