Microphorella triangulata, Brooks & Cumming, 2025

Brooks, Scott E. & Cumming, Jeffrey M., 2025, Revision of the Microphorella acroptera species group and establishment of the Microphorella arcana species group (Diptera: Dolichopodidae sensu lato: Parathalassiinae), Zootaxa 5661 (4), pp. 451-503 : 474

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5661.4.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F9498ECE-DED3-46F1-A7D3-1E726D1D11A0
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16605960
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039A87AB-FFC0-FFC4-FF42-FF7D225CF0D6
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Microphorella triangulata
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Microphorella triangulata sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:CEBE7C56-0B72-43C8-AF26-1D70F3CF963D

( Figs 58, 59 View FIGURES 56–59 , 101 View FIGURES 100–101 )

Type material. HOLOTYPE, ♂ labelled: “ CALIF: Inyo Co. | 2mi. S 1miW Lone Pine | sand Alabama Hills | III-19 to V-17-1980 ”; “ D. Giuliani collr.| antfreeze pit trap ”; “ HOLOTYPE | Microphorella | triangulata | Brooks & Cumming” [red label] ( CSCA) . PARATYPES: USA: California: Inyo County : same data as holotype [36°34'N 118°05'W] (10♂, 13♀, CSCA) GoogleMaps ; same data as holotype except, CNC1155801 View Materials , CNC1155847 View Materials (2♂, CSCA) .

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from other members of the M. acroptera species group by the elongate, narrowly triangular postpedicel ( Fig. 58 View FIGURES 56–59 ), that is longer than the stylus, and yellow halter. Males are further distinguished by the upturned spur-like basiventral seta on the hind basitarsus ( Fig. 59 View FIGURES 56–59 ); hypopygium very similar to M. acroptera (see Figs 11–15 View FIGURES 11–16 ).

Description. Male ( Figs 58, 59 View FIGURES 56–59 ):Wing length 1.9 mm.Similar to M. acroptera except as follows: Head: Face and clypeus narrower, about 1.3× width of anterior ocellus; postpedicel long and triangular, longer than arista-like stylus ( Fig. 58 View FIGURES 56–59 ). Thorax: Acrostichals biserial, weak and sparse; 5 dorsocentrals; halter yellow. Legs: Hindleg: Basitarsus ( Fig. 59 View FIGURES 56–59 ) with tiny, upturned, basiventral spur-like seta. Wing: As in description of M. acroptera . Abdomen: Sternite 5 with broad ventral trilobate projection (similar to Fig. 46 View FIGURES 41–46 ). Hypopygium : Left epandrial lamella with hook-like tip of ventral epandrial process slightly shorter and medial surface without dentiform projection. Dorsal lobe of left surstylus with prensiseta developed as a thick tapering seta, not blade-like. Phallus identical to M. acroptera except, with tubular apical portion gently curved to right in posterior view, without basal kink.

Female. Similar to male except as follows: Head: Antenna with arista-like stylus nearly subequal length of postpedicel. Legs: Hindleg: Trochanter without tubercle bearing apical spine-like seta; femur without prominent anteroventral row of setae; basitarsus without basiventral spur-like seta. Abdomen: As in description of M. acroptera .

Distribution and seasonal occurrence. Specimens of this new species are known only from the type locality near Lone Pine, Inyo County, California, collected during March to May ( Fig. 101 View FIGURES 100–101 ).

Etymology. This species is named for the elongate triangular postpedicel of the antenna, which is subequal in length to the stylus in both males and females ( Fig. 58 View FIGURES 56–59 ).

Remarks. This species is apparently closely related to M. acroptera and M. subacroptera sp. nov., based on their very similar hypopygial morphology.