Megaselia aulaeae, DISNEY, 2020

DISNEY, R. Henry L., 2020, Scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) from the canopies of ash trees in Norway, with six new species, Fragmenta Faunistica 63 (1), pp. 29-45 : 31-33

Megaselia aulaeae n. sp.

( Figs 12–23 )

Diagnosis (male). In the key to the males of Megaselia from the British Isles ( Disney 1989) it runs to couplet 58, where neither option applies. However in such a case one is directed to proceed to couplet 92, where the hairs at the base of the hind femur are intermediate, but the species of the first option have different hypopygia. The second option leads on to couplets 136– 139, but all options have different hypopygia, as also with an additional six species not covered. In the key of Schmitz (1957) to the Palaearctic species of Abteilung II it runs to couplet 31, where neither option fits. It likewise it fails to key out in Borgmeier’s (1964) to Nearctic species of Group II; and likewise for the rest of the world fauna.

Male. Frons as Fig. 12 , with very fine microtrichia mainly restricted to edges and by the median furrow. Cheek with 4 bristles and jowl with 2 that are much longer and more robust. Postpedicels, which lack SPS vesicles, palps and proboscis as Fig. 2 . Thorax brown, with 3 notopleural bristles and no cleft in front of these. Mesopleuron with hairs and 2 bristles ( Fig. 14 ). Scutellum with an anterior pair of small hairs and a posterior pair of bristles ( Fig. 15 ). Abdominal tergites brown with small hairs except at rear of T6 ( Fig. 17 ). Venter gray, and with hairs on segments 3–6 ( Fig. 16 ). Hypopygium as Figs 17–19 ), the left hypandrial lobe with long microtrichia and as Fig. 18 . Legs brown except front leg with tip of coxa, tibia and tarsi yellowish. Fore tarsus with posterodorsal hair palisade on segments 1–4 and 5 clearly longer than 4 ( Fig. 20 ). Dorsal hair palisade of mid tibia extends about 0.67 times its length. Hairs below basal half of hind femur longer than those of anteroventral row of outer half differentiated posterodorsal hairs, without anterodorsals, and spinules of apical combs simple. Wings ( Fig. 23 ) 1.33 mm long. Costal index 0.46. Costal cilia (of section 3) 0.09–0.10 mm long. No hair at base of vein 3. 2 unequal axillary bristles, the outermost being 0.1 mm long. Sc not reaching R1. Haltere brown.

Material. Holotype male, Norway, Sogn & Fjord, Stryn , 61.8613ºN, 6.3367ºE, 15 Jul 2018, J. Svetlik & L. Børjia (16, UCMZ, 39–91).

Etymology. Named after it being from the canopy (aulaea) of an ash tree.

Figures

Figs 12–17. Megaselia aulaeae n. sp. male. 12 – frons; 13 – postpedicels, palps and proboscis; 14 – mesopleuron; 15 – scvutellum; 16 – abdominal venter; 17 – left face of hypopygium.

Figs 18–23. Megaselia aulaeae n. sp. male. 18 – left hypandrial lobe and penis complex; 19 – right face of hypopygium; 20 – front tarsus; 21 – hind femur; 22 – base of hind femur; 23 – wing.

Figs 1–6. Gymnophora winqvisti Disney female. 1 – frons; 2 – postpedicels; 3 – palp; 4 – notopleuron; 5 – dorsal face of abdomen; 6 – tergite 7.