Microphorella compacta, 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 : 482-484

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.16605978
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039A87AB-FFC8-FFF2-FF42-FC602489F5C1
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Microphorella compacta
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Microphorella compacta sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C2F35FD9-533C-43C6-BCEA-E50F4F6D0E10

( Figs 72–75 View FIGURES 71–77 , 81, 82 View FIGURES 81–85 , 103 View FIGURES 102–103 )

Type material. HOLOTYPE, ♂ ( Fig. 72 View FIGURES 71–77 ) labelled: “USA: CA: Del Norte Co., French | Hill Rd, 1km NW French Hill | (41.8255°N 123.9914°W)| 546m, swp meadow with pines| 03.vi.2009, J. Mlynarek ”; “ Microphorella | Det. J.M. Cumming ”; “ HOLOTYPE | Microphorella | compacta | Brooks & Cumming” [red label] ( CNC) GoogleMaps . PARATYPE: USA: California: Del Norte County: Gasquet [41°50'43"N 123°58'10"W], 20.vi.1974, P.H. Arnaud, Jr, CNC1155837 View Materials (1♂, CAS) GoogleMaps .

Other material examined. USA: California: Del Norte County: Jedediah Smith Redwoods SP, Walker Rd. , creek, 41°48'44"N 124°6'36"W, 25-31.v.2009, YPT GoogleMaps , J.M. Cumming & S.E. Brooks (1♀, CNC) .

Diagnosis. In addition to the characters listed above for the M. acuminata lineage, males of this species can be distinguished from other members of the M. acroptera species group by a combination of hypopygial features ( Fig. 81 View FIGURES 81–85 ), including the delicately sclerotized phallus with narrow preapical process, the long, narrow apical projection of the left postgonite, the digitiform tip of the ventral epandrial process, the reduced hypandrium (narrow in ventral view), the broad, curved left dorsal surstylar lobe and the non-protruding lower margin of the right postgonite which is even with the posterior epandrial margin below the surstylus.

Description. Male ( Figs 72–75 View FIGURES 71–77 , 81, 82 View FIGURES 81–85 ): Wing length 1.4–1.5 mm. Similar to M. acuminata sp. nov. except as follows: Head ( Fig. 72 View FIGURES 71–77 ): Antenna with arista-like stylus shorter, about 1.6× length of postpedicel. Thorax ( Fig. 72 View FIGURES 71–77 ): Dark brown, with metallic blue tinge faint; 6 dorsocentrals, anterior setae rather short; scutellum without small outer seta. Halter dark brown. Legs: Dark brown with dark brown setae. Wing: As in description of M. acroptera (except holotype which has M 2 incomplete on both wings) ( Fig. 72 View FIGURES 71–77 ). Abdomen ( Figs 74, 75 View FIGURES 71–77 ): Dark brown. Sternite 5 with broad posteromedial emargination (based on examination of unmacerated holotype only). Sternite 6 with small, bilobate ventral projection. Hypopygium ( Figs 74, 75 View FIGURES 71–77 , 81, 82 View FIGURES 81–85 ): relatively small, less than half as long as abdomen. Left epandrial lamella as long as hypandrium and almost completely overlapping its left side; ventral epandrial process uniformly wide in basal 2/3, broadening apically with narrow, digitiform dorsoapical process. Dorsal lobe of left surstylus with gentle posterior curve and broader apex. Ventral lobe of right surstylus bifurcate, with short outer lobe and longer medial lobe, both bearing a few setae (similar to Fig. 80 View FIGURES 78–80 ). Hypandrium smaller, narrow in ventral view and tapering anteriorly. Left postgonite lobe with long, narrow apical projection. Right postgonite not protruding posteriorly below ventral lobe of surstylus, even with posterior epandrial margin, apical portion with unevenly bifurcate apex. Phallus thin and delicately sclerotized, with short, narrow pointed process arising preapically and extending nearly to phallic tip. Ejaculatory apodeme small. Hypoproct and cercus as in Fig. 82 View FIGURES 81–85 .

Female. Similar to male except as follows: Head: Antenna with arista-like stylus apparently shorter, about 1.4× length of postpedicel. Thorax: Scutellum with small outer seta present. Legs: Hindleg: Trochanter without tubercle bearing apical spine-like seta; femur without distinct anteroventral row of setae. Abdomen: Apical segments retractable into segment 5.Tergite 5 with cluster of stout medial setae. Terminalia:Tergite 6 not observable. Syntergite 9+10 medially divided into hemitergites, with 3–4 acanthophorous spines on each side; cercus sclerotized, pointed apically (abdomen of unique female not dissected).

Distribution and seasonal occurrence. This new species is known from Del Norte County ( Fig. 2 View FIGURES 1–3 ) in northern California ( Fig. 103 View FIGURES 102–103 ). The only three specimens known were collected in late May and June.

Etymology. This species is named in reference to the compact shape of the hypandrium.