Microselia longarista, 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 : 116

Microselia longarista sp. nov.

( Figs. 1A–K )

Diagnosis. Female. Frons with 120–140 setulae; 4 supra-antennal setae as long as adjacent setae; apical seta longer than maximum width of palpus; flagellomere 1 rounded, arista very long; vein R 2+3 vestigial; fore tarsomere 5 long, tapered; setal palisade 2/3 length of mid tibia; 11 postero-dorsal setulae on hind tibia; tergite VI rectangular, with 8 setulae at rear margin; sternite VI divided into two small triangular pieces, each with 5 long setulae; oviscape parallel sided.

Female. Body length 0.98 mm. Frons ( Fig. 1A ) brown, with 120–140 setulae. Two pairs of supra-antennal setae as strong as adjacent frontal setae, upper pair being at same level on frons as lower interfrontal setae. Lower interfrontal seta lower on frons than lower fronto-orbital seta, but not directly under it. Second row of frontal setae slightly concave, upper interfrontal setae closer from each other than either is to an upper fronto-orbital seta. Flagellomere 1 brown, rounded and a bit pointed at apex; arista very long. Palpus pale brown, with 6 long setae, apical one is longer than maximum width of palpus. Labrum yellow and triangular. Labella yellow.

Thorax brown. Scutellum with two pairs of setae, posterior four times length of anterior. Legs brown, hind femora being darkest. Ratios of lengths of fore tarsomeres about 0.90: 0.55: 0.48: 0.44: 1; tarsomere 5 slender and tapered ( Fig. 1C ). Dorsal setal palisade extends more than 2/3 length of mid tibia ( Fig. 1F ); tarsomere 5 similar to fore tarsomere 5, ratios of lengths of mid tarsomeres about 1.61: 0.77: 0.63: 0.56: 1 ( Fig. 1D ). Setae below basal half of hind femur longer and thicker than those of anteroventral setulae of outer half ( Fig. 1H ); palisade extends the full length of tibia; 11 postero-dorsal setulae behind the palisade ( Fig. 1G ); tarsomere 5 tapered but not as same as that in fore tarsomere 5, ratios of lengths of hind tarsomeres about 1.91: 1.05: 0.96: 0.86: 1 ( Fig. 1E ). Wing ( Fig. 1B ) length 0.95–0.97 mm, width 0.47 mm, width/length 0.48. Costal index 0.34–0.36. Vein R 2 +3 vestigial. Costal ratios (ignoring R 2 +3) 1.48–1.50: 1. Costal cilia 0.043 –0.045 mm long. Vein C with 14–16 dorsal setulae. Alula with 2 setae. Veins brown, membrane brownish gray. Haltere dark brown.

Abdominal tergites brown and tergites I–V with sparse minute setulae on posterior margins. Tergite VI ( Fig. 1J ) approximately rectangular, with a row of 8 setulae at rear. Venter brown. Sternite VI ( Fig. 1K ) divided into two small triangular pieces, each bearing 5 long setulae. Ovipositor parallel sided and truncated basally, the dorsum of the oviscape with about 6 minute setulae each side and the venter of the oviscape with 12 minute setulae ( Fig. 1I ).

Male. Unknown.

Distribution. China (Beijing).

Etymology. The species epithet derived from Latin word longus and arista, referring to the character of the antenna.

Material examined. Holotype, f# (slide), Beijing, Zhoukoudian (40°02′53.01″N, 116°45′56.70″E; 630m), 21–July–2010, Tao Li.

Remarks. The characters of the globose flagellomere 1 and its long arista of the new species is distinguished from all known species of the genus. This new species is similar to Microselia southwoodi Disney , in terms of parallel-sided ovipositor, but it differs from the latter in having more fronal setulae, 4 supra-antenna setae, long arista and long setae of palpus. The new species is also different from M. rivierae Schmitz , M. forsiusi Schmitz , and M. espanaensis Disney in having a long and parallel-sided ovipositor.

Figures

FIGURE 1A–K. Microselia longarista sp. nov., female. A. head, anterior view; B. wing, dorsal view; C. fore tarsus, posterior view; D. mid tarsus, posterior view; E. hind tarsus, posterior view; F. mid tibia, posterior view; G. hind tibia, posterior view; H. hind femur, anterior view; I. ovipositor, ventral view; J. tergite VI; K. sternite VI. Scale bar = 0.1mm.