Megaselia pleuralis (Wood, 1909)

DISNEY, R. H. L., 2003, Tasmanian Phoridae (Diptera) and some additional Australasian species, Journal of Natural History 37 (5), pp. 505-639 : 573-575

Megaselia pleuralis (Wood, 1909)

(figures 33, 34)

Phora pleuralis Wood, 1909: 117 .

Aphiochaeta vulgata Malloch, 1912: 483 .

Aphiochaeta approximata Malloch, 1912: 483 .

Aphiochaeta secunda Brues, 1915: 132 .

Aphiochaeta pulicaria var. luteimana Santos Abreu, 1921: 47 .

This species is found throughout the Holarctic Region . It has undoubtedly been introduced by man into Tasmania. The males are distinguished from similar European species in the key to British species (Disney, 1989). Both sexes normally have dark greyish brown femora and grey tinged wings. However, specimens with pale wings and the femora ranging from yellowish brown to dominantly yellow also occur .

The larvae are probably polyphagous saprophages. Larvae have been recorded in pigeon dung and as a secondary invader of a gall, and adults have been obtained in emergence traps set over soil in a variety of habitats, ranging from pastures to woodlands: and the adults visit flowers for nectar and also feed on honeydew on leaf surfaces (Disney, 1994b).

Material

Female, Tasmania, Hobart, Battery Point, De Witt Street, garden, 23–31 December 1991 ( R . H. L. Disney —25-34; male, 1–11 January 1992 ( RHLD —25-6); female, Sandy Bay , Acushla Court, garden, 24–25 September 1998 ( RHLD —25-31). Female, Fern Tree, near Hobart, Grays Road, at window of builder’s shed, 18 September 1998 ( RHLD —25-23) .