Microphorella elongata, 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 : 485

Microphorella elongata sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:BCCF9B20-97EA-4168-B765-565E11B0A0AF

( Figs 83, 84 , 104 )

Type material. HOLOTYPE, ♂ labelled: “Univ. Calif.| Insect Survey | Specimen #| 125254”; “ CALIF. Marin Co. | Liberty Gulch nr.| Alpine Lk., 640–| 900’, 15 Apr 1972 | R. C. Gregory ”; “ UC Berkeley| EMEC | 1188823| [QR code]”; “ CNC | 1155833” [printed on both sides]; “ HOLOTYPE | Microphorella | elongata | Brooks & Cumming” [red label] ( EMEC).

Other material examined. USA: California: Marin County: same data as holotype [37°57'N 122°37'W] except, Univ. Calif. Insect Survey Specimen # 101199, 17.iv.1971, E.I. Schlinger (1♀, EMEC) .

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 its distinctive phallus, which is elongate, C-shaped and broadened apically ( Fig. 83 ).

Description. Male ( Figs 83, 84 ): Wing length 1.7 mm. Similar to M. acuminata sp. nov. except as follows: Head: Face wider, about 2.5× width of anterior ocellus; antenna with arista-like stylus shorter, about 1.5× length of postpedicel. Thorax: Colouration more brownish, less dark. Legs: Dark brown with dark brown setae. Wing: As in description of M. acroptera . Abdomen: Tergite 6 with a few marginal setae. Sternite 6 setulose medially, lacking ventral projection. Hypopygium ( Figs 83, 84 ): Left epandrial lamella ( Fig. 84 ) as long as hypandrium and completely overlapping its left side, ventral edge mostly fused with hypandrium, but margin distinct (epandrium and hypandrium apparently separated proximal to base of ventral epandrial process in holotype, but this may be maceration related damage); ventral epandrial process uniformly wide in basal 4/5, broadening apically with narrow, digitiform dorsoapical process. Dorsal lobe of left surstylus with apex enlarged and weakly curved medioventrally. Ventral lobe of right surstylus ( Fig. 83 ) bifurcate, with short outer lobe and longer medial lobe, both bearing a few setae. Hypandrium smaller, narrow in ventral view, with posterior end slightly wider. Left postgonite lobe with moderately long, narrow apical projection ( Fig. 84 ). Right postgonite with posterior margin below ventral surstylus rounded and protruding beyond epandrium ( Fig. 83 ). Phallus greatly elongated and C-shaped with broadened apex, with narrow, pointed preapical process extending nearly to phallic tip. Hypoproct with lobes similar in size to cerci.

Female. Similar to male except as follows: Legs: Hindleg: Trochanter without tubercle bearing apical spine-like seta; femur with weaker 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 only from the holotype male and a single female collected in mid-April, from Marin County, California ( Fig. 104 ).

Etymology. This species is named for the distinctively elongate phallus.

Figures

FIGURES 81–85. Hypopygium of Microphorella compacta sp. nov., M. elongata sp. nov. and M. tenuis sp. nov. 81. Hypopygium of M. compacta sp. nov. (CNC1155837), left lateral view. 82. Cerci and hypoproct of same specimen, dorsal view. 83. Hypopygium of M. elongata sp. nov. holotype (CNC1155833), right lateral view. 84. Same, left lateral view.85. Hypopygium of M. tenuis sp. nov. (CNC1155838), left lateral view. Abbreviations: cerc—cercus; d sur—dorsal lobe of surstylus; epand— epandrium; hypd—hypandrium; hyprct—hypoproct; pgt lb—postgonite lobe; ph—phallus; v epand proc—ventral epandrial process; v sur—ventral lobe of surstylus.

FIGURES 104–105. Known geographical distribution of the Microphorella acroptera species group. 104. Microphorella serpentina sp. nov., M. elongata sp. nov. and M. tenuis sp. nov. 105. Microphorella maculata sp. nov., M. trochanterata sp. nov. and Microphorella sp. A.