Microphorella sp. A

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 : 492-493

Microphorella sp. A

( Fig. 105 )

Material examined. USA: California: Contra Costa County: Lafayette [37°53'N 122°07'W], 8.vi.1956, R . A. Stirton, UC Berkeley EMEC 1188338 , CNC1155841 (1♂, EMEC) .

Diagnosis. In addition to the characters listed above for the M. trochanterata lineage, the male of this species is distinguished from other members of the M. acroptera species group by its elongated hypandrium with a broad, dome-like posterior protrusion. It is easily distinguished from M. trochanterata sp. nov. by the absence of specialized elongate setae on the hind tibia and abdominal sternite 8.

Distribution and seasonal occurrence. This species is known only from a single badly damaged male collected in early June of 1956, from the San Francisco Bay Area of northern California ( Fig. 105 ).

Remarks. The single known male is in bad condition and is missing most of the right wing and several legs. The abdomen, along with the right hindleg (minus tarsomeres 3–5) and left coxa and trochanter have been removed and macerated in lactic acid. The tip of the ventral epandrial process of the male terminalia is also broken off and lost. Given the poor condition of the only known specimen of this species, we have elected to leave it undescribed until additional material becomes available for study and type designation.

Figures

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.