Megaselia heini, 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 : 460-461

Megaselia heini new species (Figs. 12, 44, 74, 104)

Diagnosis. Male. Due to observed costal indices ranging from 0.41–0.44, M. heini could key in either the group VII or group VIII keys of Borgmeier (1966). In the group VII key, M. heini keys to M. latipennis Borgmeier from which it differs by having extremely strong hypoproct hairs ( Fig. 74) compared to the “small” apical hairs of M. latipennis . In the group VIII key, M. heini keys to M. polyporicola Borgmeier. Comparison to the description was inconclusive; upon examination of the type material it was found that the two species differ in details of the genitalia ( Fig. 74). The terminal hairs on the hypoproct of M. polyporicola , although “long”, do not compare to the long, curved, strong setae found on M. heini . Additionally, M. polyporicola has more numerous, but finer, hairs on the epandrium than the M. heini , which has sparse, stout setation.

Description. See Table 4.

Distribution. Los Angeles, California ( USA).

Etymology. Named in honor of Tony Hein, host of BioSCAN site 16.

Biology. Unknown.

Holotype. ♂, USA: CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles, Los Feliz, 4–11.IV. 2014, Louie, Malaise trap ( LACM 329784).

Paratypes. ♂, USA: CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles, Highland Park, 1–8.III. 2014, Franco, Malaise trap ( LACM 329785). ♂, USA: CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles, Koreatown, 5–12.IV. 2014, Ralph, Malaise trap ( LACM 329786). 2 ♂, USA: CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles, Highland Park, 31.V. 2014 – 7.VI. 2014, Franco, Malaise trap ( CUMZ).

Additional Material Examined. USA: CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles: Exposition Park, University Park, Los Feliz, Silverlake, Mid-City, Glendale, Elysian Park, Hollywood, Carthay, Glassell Park, Eagle Rock, Highland Park, Mount Washington, 46 ♂, Malaise traps ( LACM, MCZC, USNM).