Microphorella paracroptera sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 6D864BBC-62F0-4503-9C46-C53B2D32F5C5

(Figs 3, 23, 32, 33, 36–40, 102)

Other material examined. USA: California: Imperial County: jct Boyd & Whitlock Rds, 32°54'9"N 115°17'26"W, 18.iii.2015, E.Natwick,PT (1♂, UCRC). Inyo County: Amargosa R at Tecopa, 35°50.96'N 116°13.85'W, 12.iv.2014, 1300 ft, J.B. Runyon (1♂, CNC); Death Valley, Saratoga Sprgs [35.68219°N 116.42306°W], 19.iii.1955 (1♂, LACM). Riverside County: Thousand Palms, Thousand Palms Oasis [33°50'N 116°18'W], 10.iii.1955, W. R. M. Mason (1♂, CNC); same data except, 18.iii.1955 (3♂, CNC); same data except, 7.iii.1955, J.C. Hall (1♂, UCDC); Thousand Palms, Willis Palms Oasis [33°49'N 116°19'W], 8.iii.1955, W. R. Richards (5♂, CNC); same data except, CNC1155809 (1♂, CNC); Thousand Palms Cyn, 18.iii.1964, P. Rauch (1♀, UCRC); R. R. Cyn, 4 mi. Elsinore [33.67195°N 117.27122°W], 17.iv.1965, P. Turner (1♂, EMEC). San Bernardino County: Kelbaker Rd, 10.6 mi. SE Baker [35.24689°N, 115.891568°W], 29.iii.1993, P.H. Arnaud, Jr & M.M. Arnaud, swp flowers/foliage Isomeris arborea Nutt., Collection No. 00903 (1♀, USNM); 9 air mi. S Baker, sand dunes S Zzyzx Sprs, 27.iv.1977, Buegler, lizard dung (1♀, EMEC); Soda Dry Lake, vicinity of Baker, Zzyzx Rd [35°08'N 116°06'W], 28/ 30.iii.1993, P.H. Arnaud, Jr, S.M.C. Arnaud & M.M. Arnaud, Collection No. 00902 (2♂, 5♀, USNM); Soda Springs (Zzyzx Springs), S of Baker [35°08'N 116°06'W], 9–11.iv.1990, #00210, P.H. Arnaud, Jr (45♂, 13♀, USNM); Zzyzx Desert Study Area [35°08'N 116°06'W], 12 mi. SE Baker, adjacent Soda Lake, 16/ 17.ii. 1995, 930 ft, P.H. Arnaud, Jr & M.M. Arnaud, Arnaud flight trap, Collection # 01265 (1♂, USNM); same data except, 18.ii.1995, Collection # 01266 (5♂, 4♀, USNM). Nevada: Nye County: Ash Meadow NWR, Carson Slough, 36°25.51'N 116°21.90'W, 24.iv.2014, J.B. Runyon (1♂, CNC); Ash Meadow NWR, Indian Garden Springs outlet at Longstreet Rd, 36°28.05'N 116°19.58'W, 30.iii.2018, J.B. Runyon (1♂, CNC); Ash Meadow NWR, Kings Spring, 36°24.09'N 116°16.44'W, 2315 ft, 31.iii.2018, J.B. Runyon (3♂, CNC); Ash Meadow NWR, Peterson Reservoir, 36°26.70'N 116°21.01'W, 23.iv.2014, J.B. Runyon (5♂, 1♀, CNC); Amargosa River, 1 mi. S Beatty, 36°53.46'N 116°45.02'W, 3200 ft, 2.iv.2018, J.B. Runyon (2♂, CNC).

Diagnosis. Males of this species can be distinguished from other members of the M. acroptera species group by the following combination of characters: halter pale yellow (Fig. 32); wing vein CuA+CuP unmodified; antenna with stylus longer than bulb-shaped postpedicel; hind basitarsus without basiventral spur-like seta; hypopygium relatively small (Fig. 33); hypandrium with anterior end tapered and broadly conical (Figs 36, 37); phallus (Figs 36, 37, 39, 40) without U-shaped portion protruding posteriorly from hypopygium.

Description. Male (Figs 23, 32, 33, 36–40): Wing length 2.1–2.4 mm. Similar to M. acroptera except as follows: Head (Fig. 32): Face and clypeus slightly narrower, about 1.75× width of anterior ocellus. Thorax (Fig. 32): Dorsum blackish metallic green with violet tinges, bronze along and laterad dorsocentrals; acrostichals biserial, weak, extending to prescutellar depression or ending before, sometimes sparse and irregular; 5–6 dorsocentrals; halter pale yellow (Figs 23, 32). Wing: As in description of M. acroptera . Abdomen (Figs 32, 33): Sternite 5 with broad ventral trilobate projection (similar to Fig. 46). Hypopygium (Figs 33, 36–40): relatively small, about 1/3 as long as abdomen. Left epandrial lamella (Fig. 36) slightly shorter than hypandrium; ventral epandrial process with basal 3/4 of uniform width, with narrow hook-like tip, medial surface with pointed projection near mid-length. Dorsal lobe of left surstylus with dorsal posteromedial lobe slightly longer and narrower. Right epandrial lamella (Fig. 37) slightly shorter than hypandrium. Dorsal lobe of right surstylus broad and irregular in shape, with prensiseta well separated from pair of lateral setae. Ventral lobe of right surstylus longer and narrower than dorsal surstylar lobe, with several setae on posterior surface. Hypandrium (Figs 36, 37) ovoid and relatively small, anterior end tapered and broadly conical. Phallus (Figs 39, 40) identical to M. acroptera except, with inflated curve in middle portion slightly larger (best observed in posterior view). Ejaculatory apodeme with rounded anterior margin less developed. Hypoproct larger, left and right lobes symmetrical, with subquadrate apicolateral projection (Fig. 36). Cercus more robust and larger, prominently projecting dorsally from hypopygium.

Female. Similar to male except as follows: Head: Face and clypeus slightly broader, broader than 2× width of anterior ocellus. Legs: Hindleg: Trochanter without tubercle bearing apical spine-like seta; femur without prominent anteroventral row of setae. Abdomen: As in description of M. acroptera .

Distribution and seasonal occurrence. This new species is known from southwestern Nevada (Fig. 3) and eastern California, from Inyo County south to Imperial County (Fig. 102). Specimens were collected from February to April.

Etymology. This species is named for its similarity to M. acroptera .

Remarks. Microphorella paracroptera sp. nov. is primarily restricted to Mojave (Fig. 3) and Sonoran Desert oasis habitats.