Megaselia striolata Schmitz, 1940
publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.1080/00222930903371813 |
persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/D24787B6-FF9D-FF9B-FD99-FB63FC2151E4 |
treatment provided by |
Felipe |
scientific name |
Megaselia striolata Schmitz |
status |
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Megaselia striolata Schmitz View in CoL
( Figure 67 View Figure 67 )
Megaselia striolata Schmitz, 1940 View in CoL .
Megaselia durskae Disney, 1989c View in CoL . Disney, 2003a.
Megaselia canaryae Disney, 1990 View in CoL . Syn. nov.
The original description of M. striolata emphasized a dull streak on the hind femur, as reflected in its name. However, no such streak was found in the holotype (in the Museum Koenig, Bonn) when it was remounted on a slide; the “streak” proving to be another leg, out of focus, in the line of sight when viewed as a pinned specimen ( Disney 2003a). This error prevented subsequent recognition of the species. Since then the taxonomic value of the subcutaneous pit sensilla vesicles inside the postpedicel has been amply demonstrated (e.g. Buck and Disney 2001). Megaselia striolata has an unusually large number of densely packed SPS vesicles. This feature has contributed to a growing suspicion that M. canaryae is also a synonym of M. striolata , which is herewith formally proposed. Despite the variation in the degree of infuscation of the legs and palps, in an increasing series of specimens from Britain and mainland Europe, that might suggest that there is a continuous range of variation with M. mallochi (Wood) , the latter species always has very much darker legs and brown palps; and most lie at the larger end of the spectrum of variation in size. The male hypopygia are very similar to M. striolata but small differences are evident.
Previous records
Hierro, La Palma.
New records
One male, one female, Lanzarote, new lava field, 24–28 March 1985 (P. Ashmole, CUMZ – 10-68). One female, La Palma, Parc National de la Caldera de Taburiente , Lugar, Roque de la Cumbrecita, 7 September 1999 ( T. Domingo-Quero, CUMZ – 19-148). One female, Tenerife, Sima Rotada, 12 December 1982 (J. L. Martin, CUMZ – 31-101) .
Natural history
Two gravid females had six eggs and one had 12 eggs. In one of those with six mature eggs they measured 0.58 × 0.29 mm; but in the fly with 12 mature eggs they measured only 0.46 × 0.20 mm. Otherwise the eggs resemble Figure 35B View Figure 35 .
CUMZ |
Cameroon University, Museum of Zoology |
T |
Tavera, Department of Geology and Geophysics |
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