Biodiversity Data Journal :
Taxonomic Paper
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Corresponding author:
Academic editor: Jukka Salmela
Received: 11 Jan 2016 | Accepted: 31 Mar 2016 | Published: 14 Apr 2016
© 2016 Emily Hartop, Brian Brown, R. Henry Disney
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Hartop E, Brown B, Disney R (2016) Flies from L.A., The Sequel: A further twelve new species of Megaselia(Diptera: Phoridae) from the BioSCAN Project in Los Angeles (California, USA). Biodiversity Data Journal 4: e7756. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.4.e7756
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Presented are continued results from the BioSCAN Project, an urban biodiversity study sampling primarily from private backyards in Los Angeles, California (USA).
Presented are continued results from the BioSCAN Project, an urban biodiversity study sampling primarily from private backyards in Los Angeles, California (USA).
Twelve new species of Megaselia (Diptera: Phoridae) are described: M. baileyae, M. friedrichae, M. gonzalezorum, M. joanneae, M. losangelensis, M. phyllissunae, M. pongsaiae, M. shatesae, M. stoakesi, M. studentorum, M. voluntariorum, M. wongae.
Diptera, Phoridae, urban biodiversity
In spite of extensive taxonomic work, urban biodiversity is still largely unknown in most metropolitan areas. This makes big finds inevitable, and big finds are big news; the description of 30 new species and one new Nearctic record from the BioSCAN project in urban Los Angeles (
Truthfully, the authors were not surprised to find dozens of new species in Los Angeles: this was a predicted problem and opportunity (
Describing the final twelve species from year one of BioSCAN required the authors to dig deeper into the collections of old, poorly preserved type material: a persistent thorn in the side of the Megaselia taxonomist. Sorting out all of the errors and misidentifications is a slow, frustrating process (
Specimens were collected by Townes lightweight style Malaise traps (
Unlike the first set of new species described from the project, hypandria were not dissected out and photographed. The species herein described are all rare flies in the survey and are represented sometimes only by a single specimen, and never more than ten (out of over 43,000 specimens). This led the authors to decide against sacrificing specimens to potentially damaging genital dissection. Also due to the rarity of specimens, habitus photos of dried specimens are not available for all species, as some of the flies were slide mounted for identification before they were determined to be new.
Specimens were examined using a Leica M205C stereo microscope and an Olympus BX40 compound microscope. Photography was done with a Keyence VHX-5000 digital microscope. Specimens are deposited in the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, USA (LACM) and the Cambridge University Museum of Zoology, UK (CUMZ).
Following the authors’ previously established system, descriptions are presented as tables supplemented by habitus and wing photographs, genitalia drawings, and additional images of any salient features (
An annotated list of literature necessary for the identification of Nearctic Megaselia is given in
A web-based key for Megaselia is in progress by authors Hartop and Brown. With a group as large and taxonomically difficult as this genus, dichotomous keys are often cumbersome, frustrating, and largely useless to anyone not well versed in the group. The online key that is being created will include a system to rapidly narrow down potential matches based on key characters, and then allow the user to further narrow species choices visually based on high quality habitus and wing photos and clear illustrations of the male genitalia. This key should be available online by the end of 2016.
See description Table
Species descriptions, M. baileyae - M. phyllissunae. Character remarks in parentheses, general remarks in last row.
Megaselia baileyae | Megaselia friedrichae | Megaselia gonzalezorum | Megaselia joanneae | Megaselia losangelensis | Megaselia phyllissunae | |
Head | ||||||
SA ratio | 0.46 | 0.77 | 0.65 | 0.49-0.59 | 0.80 | 0.47 |
VIF position | normal | normal | normal | normal | normal* | normal |
SPS vesicles | absent | present | absent | absent | absent | absent |
Palpal setae length | long | long | long | long | long | long |
Labellum spinosity | spinose | spinose (sparse) | spinose | spinose (dense) | not | spinose |
Thorax | ||||||
Anepisternum | bare | bare | bare | bare | bare | bare |
Relative halter color | lighter | lighter | lighter | lighter | lighter (white) | lighter |
# NP setae | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
NP cleft | absent | present (small) | absent | absent | present (short) | absent |
Scutellar setae | 2+2 | 2+2 | 2+2 | 2+2 | 2+2 | 2+2 |
Leg | ||||||
ts1 palisade | 1-4 | 1-5 (5>4) | 1-3 (fades out) | 1-4 | 1-4 | 1-4 |
t2 palisade | 0.74 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.75 | 0.80 | 0.75 |
t3 comb bifurcate | absent | absent | absent | absent | absent | absent |
t3 setulae | PD | PD | PD | PD | PD | PD |
f3 basal setae | f3>AV | f3>AV | f3>AV | f3<AV | f3>AV | f3>AV |
f3 basal setae differentiation | absent | absent | absent | present(+/- 8 curved) | absent | present(+/- 8 curved) |
Wing | ||||||
Wing Length (mm) | 1.58 | 1.1 | 1.58-1.59 | 1.73 | 1.36 | 1.67 |
Subcosta | free | free | free | free | free (faint) | free |
R seta | long (>3x vein) | long (~2x) | long (>3x vein) | short-long | long (4x+) | long (3x vein) |
R2+3 | present | present | present | present | present | present |
Costal index | 0.32-0.36 | 0.34-0.35 | 0.35-0.36 | 0.38-0.41 | 0.41 | 0.38 |
Costal ratios | 4.7: 1.5: 1 | 4.0: 1.2: 1 | 4.95: 1.73: 1 | 3.5: 1.75: 1 | 3.68: 1.66: 1 | 3.5: 1.8: 1 |
Costal setae length (mm) | 0.09 | 0.05 | 0.07 | 0.09 | 0.06 | 0.11 |
Number alular setae | 3 | 2-3 | 2 | 2-4 | 2 | 2 |
Alular setae length (mm) | 0.11 | 0.08 | 0.1 | 0.10-0.11 | 0.08 | 0.13 |
Wing color | lightly infuscated/ clear | lightly infuscated/ clear | lightly infuscated/ clear | lightly infuscated/ clear | lightly infuscated/ clear | lightly infuscated/ clear |
Genitalia | ||||||
AT length | AT<E | AT+/-E | AT+/-E | AT+/-E | AT>=E | AT+/-E |
E setation | hairs | hairs | hairs | hairs | hairs | hairs |
General Remarks | *VFO high, upper SA wider than PO |
Right wing, dorsal. a. Megaselia baileyae. b. Megaselia friedrichae. c. Megaselia gonzalezorum. d. Megaselia joanneae. e. Megaselia losangelensis. f. Megaselia phyllissunae. g. Megaselia pongsaiae. h. Megaselia shatesae. i. Megaselia stoakesi. j. Megaselia studentorum. k. Megaselia voluntariorum. l. Megaselia wongae.
Male. In the group VIII key of
Named in honor of Kelsey Bailey, BioSCAN Photographer, for her hard work on all our publications and outreach.
Los Angeles, California (USA).
Unknown.
See description Table
Male. In the group VIII key of
Named by BioSCAN Phase I Project Manager Dean Pentcheff in honor of Kristin Friedrich whose effective work on behalf of this project brought a wide audience into an appreciation of the richness of urban biodiversity.
Los Angeles, California (USA).
Unknown.
See description Table
Male. In the group VIII key of
Named by BioSCAN employee Lisa Gonzalez in honor of her family; parents Armando and Aida Gonzalez, and sister Rita Gonzalez.
Los Angeles, California (USA).
Unknown.
See description Table
Male. In the group VIII key of
Named by Adam and Jenessa Wall in honor of their mother, JoAnne Kay Wall.
Los Angeles, California (USA).
Unknown.
See description Table
Male. In the group VIII key of
Named by BioSCAN Phase I Co-Principal Investigator Regina Wetzer in honor of our “City of Angels”, the place that made BioSCAN possible.
Los Angeles, California (USA).
Unknown.
See description Table
Male. In the group VIII key of
Named in honor of Phyllis Sun for her many contributions to phase I of the BioSCAN project.
Los Angeles, California (USA).
Unknown.
See description Table
Species descriptions, M. pongsaiae - M. wongae. Character remarks in parentheses, general remarks in last row.
Megaselia pongsaiae | Megaselia shatesae | Megaselia stoakesi | Megaselia studentorum | Megaselia voluntariorum | Megaselia wongae | |
Head | ||||||
SA ratio | 0.43 | 0.71 | 0.90 | 0.90 | unequal* | 0.76 |
VIF position | normal | normal | normal | normal | normal** | normal |
SPS vesicles | absent | PP too dark to tell | absent | may be present | absent | may be present |
Palpal setae length | long | long | long | long | long | long |
Labellum spinosity | spinose (dense) | not | not | not | not | spinose (sparse) |
Thorax | ||||||
Anepisternum | bare | bare | 6-10 setae, 2 2x others | bare | bare | bare |
Relative halter color | same | same | same | same | same | lighter |
# NP setae | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
NP cleft | present (long) | absent | absent | absent | absent | absent |
Scutellar setae | 2+2 | 2+2 | 2+2 | 2+2 | 2+2 | 2+2 |
Leg | ||||||
ts1 palisade | 1-4 (5?) | unknown | palisade cannot be determined, tarsi expanded with spinules | 1-4 | 1-3 (fades out) | 1-4 |
t2 palisade | 0.67 | 0.67 | 0.63 | 0.62 | 0.57 | 0.67 |
t3 comb bifurcate | absent | absent | absent | absent | absent | absent |
t3 setulae | PD | PD | PD | PD | PD | PD |
f3 basal setae | f3>AV | f3>AV | f3<AV | f3>AV | f3+/-AV | f3>AV |
f3 basal setae differentiation | absent | present (+/- 9, curved) | present* | absent | absent | absent |
Wing | ||||||
Wing Length (mm) | 1.5 | 1.9 | 1.65 | 1.55 | 1.09 | 1 |
Subcosta | free | complete | free | complete | complete | free |
R seta | long (4x+) | small | absent | long (2x+) | short | long (slightly > 2x vein) |
R2+3 | present | present | present | present | present | present |
Costal index | 0.40 | 0.38 | 0.40-0.41 | 0.52 | 0.38 | 0.37-0.40 |
Costal ratios | 4.5: 1.86: 1 | 3.7: 1: 1 | 4.2: 2.25: 1 | 2.4: 1.85: 1 | 3.04: 1.6: 1 | 3.4: 1.15: 1 |
Costal setae length (mm) | 0.08 | 0.18 | 0.10 | 0.14 | 0.08 | 0.06 |
Number alular setae | 2 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 2-3 | 2 |
Alular setae length (mm) | 0.1 | 0.13+ (angled on slide) | 0.10-0.11 | 0.12 | 0.08 | 0.08 |
Wing color | lightly infuscated/ clear | lightly infuscated/ clear | lightly infuscated/ clear | lightly infuscated/ clear | lightly infuscated/ clear | lightly infuscated/ clear |
Genitalia | ||||||
AT length | AT<E | AT<E | AT<E | AT<E | AT<E | AT<E |
E setation | hairs | hairs | bristles (weak) | hairs | hairs | hairs |
General Remarks | *F3 with short, blunt spines basally | large C2 | *upper SA missing **close to VFO |
Male. In the group VIII key of
Named by Kathy Omura in honor of USC work study student Jean Pongsai for her hard work training and supervising students.
Los Angeles, California (USA).
Unknown.
See description Table
Male. In the group VIII key of
Named in honor of Tessa Shates whose volunteer work with author Hartop helped in identifying these twelve new species.
Los Angeles, California (USA).
Unknown.
See description Table
Male. In the keys of
Named in honor of Ralph Stoakes, the collector of the holotype.
Los Angeles, California and Larimer County, Colorado (USA).
Unknown.
See description Table
Male. In the group VII key of
Named in honor of the many USC work study students who continue to do countless hours of work on every aspect of the BioSCAN project. Without them, BioSCAN would not be possible.
Los Angeles, California (USA).
Unknown.
See description Table
Male. In the group VIII key of
Named in honor of the many people that have, are, and will volunteer for the BioSCAN project. These volunteers are critical to our operation, and have contributed to everything from public outreach in the NHM Nature Lab to specialized work on phorid flies.
Los Angeles, California (USA).
Unknown.
See description Table
Male. In the group VIII key of
Named in honor of BioSCAN volunteer Maria Wong whose help identifying Megaselia for BioSCAN Phase I contributed to the discovery of these twelve new species.
Los Angeles, California (USA).
Unknown.
The authors continue to stress that the field of species-level taxonomy, especially in urban environments, must continue to grow. Taxonomists and their funding agencies must give time, attention and money to the environments surrounding their towns and cities. Poor quality type material continues to be an obstacle to identification of Megaselia. Dissecting and slide mounting old type specimens has proven to be the only method for any sort of definitive identification. Redescription of historic type material (
The BioSCAN Project is funded by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the Seaver institute. R. Henry L. Disney is supported by a grant from the Balfour-Browne Trust Fund (University of Cambridge). The BioSCAN team is thanked for their tireless dedication to the project; we hope that naming these new species of flies in their honor properly conveys our gratitude. This is contribution number eleven of the BioSCAN project.