Microphorella arcana sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 386AA3CC-A3FB-434F-BB61-EA0E9D5A5060

(Figs 106–108, 115)

Type material. HOLOTYPE, ♂ (Fig.106)labelled:“ USA: CA: Kent[sic]|Co.,Mt.Pinos [34°48'46"N 119°08'43"W], 2550m | 3-4.vi.1992 | A. Goering / J. Skevington | malaise, iris meadow”; “HOLOTYPE| Microphorella | arcana | Brooks & Cumming” [red label] (DEBU).

Diagnosis. Males of this species can be distinguished from other members of the M. arcana species group by the following features: mid femur with cluster of 6 long basiventral setae (Fig. 106), hind femur with posterior patch of setae relatively sparse and not brush-like (Fig. 107), abdomen with transverse row of long curved setae on sternite 5 (Fig. 108) and bulbous projection on sternite 6 (Fig. 107).

Description. Male (Figs 106–108): Wing length 1.8 mm. Similar to M. ovata sp. nov. except as follows: Head (Figs 106, 107): Antenna with postpedicel ending in longer narrow apex. Thorax: Dark brown in lateral view; acrostichal setae weak and sparsely biserial, ending near 2nd pair of dorsocentrals. Legs: Hindleg: Femur with setae of anteroventral row distinctly longer than femur width, posterior surface with mound-like swelling weaker and bearing less dense cluster of setae (Fig. 107). Wing: As in description of M. acroptera . Abdomen (Figs 106–108): Dark brown with short dark setae; segment 6 mostly bare; segment 7 bare. Segments 5–7 narrowed and laterally compressed to form cavity on right side for hypopygium. Sternite 5 with broad subtriangular ventral process with membranous tip, with transverse row of about 6 long curved setae near posterolateral margin (Fig. 108). Sternite 6 with bulbous lateral projection (Fig. 107). Sternite 8 subquadrate, setose, slightly wider than segment 7. Hypopygium (Fig. 106): Concolourous with abdomen and about half as long; other features not observable on unique male holotype, which has the hypopygium mostly encased in glue.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution and seasonal occurrence. This new species is only known from Mount Pinos in Kern and Ventura counties, southern California, where the holotype was collected in early June of 1992 (Fig. 115).

Etymology. This species is named after the Latin for mystery, in reference to Iwihinmu, the Chumash name for Mount Pinos, which means “a place of mystery” in the Samala language. The name also alludes to the currently mysterious morphology of the terminalia of the only known male, which unfortunately is encased in glue.