Microphorella convoluta, 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 : 463-465

Microphorella convoluta sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:0FD45154-9404-44C0-A0F0-2CF7DD9880AC

( Figs 21, 22 , 29–31 , 100 )

Type material. HOLOTYPE, ♂ labelled:“Onefour,Alta.|49°6',110°24'| 4.VI.1955 |J. R.Vockeroth”;“ HOLOTYPE | Microphorella | convoluta | Brooks & Cumming” [red label]; “ CNC | 1155851” [white label with blue border, text duplicated on underside] ( CNC) . PARATYPE: USA: Montana: Valley County: Duncan Rd , alkali area, 48.81786°N 107.09033°W, 21–22.vi.2023, bee bowls, M. Campano, P. Watkins (1♂, MTEC) .

Diagnosis. Males of this species can be distinguished from other members of the M. acroptera species group by the following combination of characters: hind trochanter with rounded, globular tubercle ( Fig. 21 ); hind basitarsus with upturned basiventral spur-like seta ( Fig. 22 ); halter brown; postpedicel bulb-shaped; cercus with narrow, dorsally-projecting lobe ( Figs 29–31 ); dorsal lobe of surstylus with 3–4 prensisetae ( Figs 29, 30 ); apical portion of phallus (distal to inflated part) elongate, with U-shaped curve protruding posteriorly.

Description. Male ( Figs 21, 22 , 29–31 ): Wing length 1.6 mm. Similar to M. acroptera except as follows: Head: Face tapered ventrally, about 1.3× width of anterior ocellus at narrowest point in middle; antenna with arista-like stylus shorter, subequal to length of postpedicel. Thorax: Setae relatively weak; acrostichals biserial, short, extending to prescutellar depression; 6 dorsocentrals. Legs: Hindleg: Trochanter ( Fig. 21 ) with tubercle rounded and globular; basitarsus ( Fig. 22 ) with tiny, upturned, basiventral spur-like seta. Wing: As in description of M. acroptera . Abdomen: Sternite 5 with apically pointed subtriangular projection. Hypopygium ( Figs 29–31 ): Left epandrial lamella ( Fig. 30 ) as long as hypandrium, ventral margin mostly distinct, fading into hypandrium anteriorly; ventral epandrial process gradually tapering to bluntly pointed apex, with pointed projection arising near mid-length about 1/3 as long as process. Dorsal lobe of left surstylus ( Fig. 30 ) with 3 blade-like prensisetae dorsolaterally near base, apex of lobe tapered to point, with rounded medioventral projection bearing curved seta (not visible in Fig. 30 ). Ventral lobe of left surstylus as long as dorsal lobe, with long seta near mid-length and a few smaller setae apically. Right epandrial lamella ( Fig. 29 ) nearly as long as hypandrium, ventral margin mostly distinct, fading into hypandrium anteriorly. Dorsal lobe of right surstylus short with rounded margin, bearing 4 prominent blade-like prensisetae. Ventral lobe of right surstylus long and relatively narrow, about 3× longer than dorsal lobe, with a few setae on posterior surface. Hypandrium ( Figs 29, 30 ) ovoid, large, as long as epandrium in left lateral view, slightly longer than epandrium in right lateral view. Phallus ( Figs 29, 30 ) long and convoluted, with curving tubular basal portion, inflated middle portion, and long J-shaped tubular apical portion bearing tiny spines preapically. Ejaculatory apodeme about half as wide as in M. acroptera , anterior margin straight. Cercus ( Figs 29–31 ) with broad base bearing a few prominent setae, with narrow, dorsally projecting lateral lobe and short flap-like posteromedial lobe.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution and seasonal occurrence. This new species is only known from Onefour in southeastern Alberta and Valley County in northeastern Montana ( Fig. 100 ). Specimens were collected in June.

Etymology. This species is named for the convoluted basal part of the phallus, a characteristic feature of the M. acroptera lineage.

Remarks. The paratype was collected from an alkali area, which was presumably an arid habitat.

Figures

FIGURES 17–24. Habitus, abdomen and hindleg of Microphorella bifida sp. nov., M. convoluta sp. nov., M. paracroptera sp. nov. and M. serpentina sp. nov. 17. Habitus of M. bifida sp. nov. male holotype 18. Male hindleg and abdomen of M. bifida sp. nov. paratype, right lateral view, arrow indicates trochanter tubercle. 19. Process of male abdominal sternite 5 (macerated) of M. bifida sp. nov. (CNC1155824), posterior view. 20. Female abdomen of M. bifida sp. nov. paratype, left lateral view of posterior segments. 21. Male hindleg of M. convoluta sp. nov. holotype, anteroventral view of basal segments, arrow indicates trochanter tubercle. 22. Same except, hind tibia and tarsus, lateral view, arrow indicates spur-like seta on basitarsus. 23. Male hindleg, thorax and abdomen of M. paracroptera sp. nov. holotype, left lateral view, arrow indicates trochanter tubercle. 24. Male hindleg of M. serpentina sp. nov. paratype, posterior view, arrow indicates trochanter tubercle.

FIGURES 29–31. Hypopygium of Microphorella convoluta sp. nov. holotype. 29. Hypopygium, right lateral view. 30. Same, left lateral view. 31. Cerci, dorsal view. Abbreviations: cerc—cercus; d sur—dorsal lobe of surstylus; pgt lb—postgonite lobe; ph—phallus; v epand proc—ventral epandrial process; v sur—ventral lobe of surstylus.

FIGURES 100–101. Known geographical distribution of the Microphorella acroptera species group. 100. Microphorella acroptera Melander and M. convoluta sp. nov. 101. Microphorella bifida sp. nov., M. triangulata sp. nov. and M. tubifera Melander.