Microselia yanjingensis, Liu, 2022

Liu, Guang-Chun, 2022, Newly recorded ant-parasitizing genus (Diptera, Phoridae) from China, with descriptions of two new species, Zootaxa 5165 (1), pp. 115-120 : 118

Microselia yanjingensis sp. nov.

( Figs. 2A–K )

Diagnosis. Female. Frons with 68–70 setulae; 2 supra-antennal setae shorter and thinner than adjacent setae; apical seta as long as maximum width of palpus; flagellomere 1 bean-shaped, arista short; vein R 2+3 absent; fore tarsomere 5 long, tapered; setal palisade 3/4 length of mid tibia; 8 postero-dorsal setulae on hind tibia; tergite VI rectangular, with 10 short setulae at rear margin; sternite VI divided into two small irregular pieces, each with 3–4 setulae; oviscape parallel sided.

Female. Body length 0.95 mm. Frons ( Fig. 2A ) brown, with 68–70 setulae. One pair of supra-antennal setae short and thin, 0.6 times as long as adjacent frontal setae. Lower interfrontal seta closer to median furrow than to eye margin. First row of frontal setae slightly convex on frons. Second row of frontal setae concave, upper interfrontal setae further from each other than either is to an upper fronto-orbital seta. Flagellomere 1 brown, bean-shaped and pointed at apex; arista short. Palpus pale brown, with 4 long setae, apical one is as long as maximum width of palpus. Labrum light brown and triangular. Labella light brown.

Thorax brown. Scutellum with two pairs of setae, posterior three times length of anterior. Legs brown, hind femora being darkest. Ratios of lengths of fore tarsomeres about 0.99: 0.63: 0.59: 0.51: 1; tarsomere 5 slender and tapered ( Fig. 2F ). Dorsal setal palisade extends 3/4 length of mid tibia ( Fig. 2C ); tarsomere 5 slender and tapered; ratios of lengths of mid tarsomeres about 1.67: 0.71: 0.63: 0.59: 1 ( Fig. 2G ). Setae below basal half of hind femur longer and thicker than those of anteroventral setulae of outer half ( Fig. 2E ); setal palisade extends 9/10 of tibia; hind tibia with 8 postero-dorsal setulae; tarsomere 5 tapered ( Fig. 2D ) but not as same as that in fore tarsomere 5, ratios of lengths of hind tarsomeres about 2.75: 0.88: 0.88: 0.75: 1 ( Fig. 2H ). Wing ( Fig. 2B ) length 0.87 mm, width 0.42 mm, width/length 0.48. Costal index 0.32. Vein R 2+3 absent. Costal ratios 1.42: 1. Costal cilia 0.034 mm long. Costa with 11–12 dorsal setulae. Alula with 2 setae. Veins brown, membrane brownish gray. Haltere brown.

Abdominal tergites brown and tergites I–V with sparse minute setulae on posterior margins. Tergite VI ( Fig. 2J ) approximately rectangular, with about 10 setulae at rear margin, of which 4 are longer. Venter brown. Sternite VI ( Fig. 2K ) divided into two small irregular pieces, each bearing 3–4 long setulae. Ovipositor parallel sided, the dorsum apex of the oviscape with about 15–16 minute setulae each side and the venter apex of the oviscape with 10–12 minute setulae ( Fig. 2I ).

Male. Unkonwn.

Distribution. China (Beijing).

Etymology. The species epithet derived from the type locality. Yanjing is the old name of Beijing, China.

Material examined. Holotype, f# (slide), Beijing, Mentougou, Mt. Baihua (39°50′28.6″N, 115°59′50.8″E; 460m), 12–Aug–2010, Tao Li; paratype, 1f#, Beijing, Mentougou, Mt. Baihua (40°20′47.6″4N, 116°33′26.9″E; 420m), 16–Aug–2010, Tao Li.

Remarks. The new species is similar to Microselia southwoodi Disney, 1988 in terms of the form of ovipositor and absence of vein R 2+3. It is differs from the latter by less setulae of frons, shorter supra-antennal setae and less postero-setulae of hind tibia. It is distinguished from M. longarista sp. nov. by less frons setulae, less and shorter supra-antennal setae, shorter setae of palpus, bean-shaped flagellomere 1 and shorter arista.

Figures

FIGURE 2A–K. Microselia yanjingensis sp. nov., female. A. head, anterior view; B. wing, dorsal view; C. mid tibia, posterior view; D. hind tibia, posterior view; E. hind femur, anterior view; F. fore tarsus, posterior view; G. mid tarsus, posterior view; H. hind tarsus, posterior view; I. ovipositor, dorsal view; J. tergite VI; K. sternite VI. Scale bar = 0.1mm.