Megaselia plurispinulosa (Zetterstedt, 1860)

Sliman, Fatima Zahra, Disney, Ronald Henry Lambert & Kettani, Kawtar, 2025, New records of Megaselia Rondani (Diptera: Phoridae) from Morocco with notes on distribution and habitats, Journal of Insect Biodiversity and Systematics 11 (2), pp. 437-453 : 445

Megaselia plurispinulosa (Zetterstedt, 1860) ( Fig. 3E )

Material examined. 1♂, Rif , Chefchaouen, Jbel Talassemtane ( NPTS), 35°7'50.163"N 05°4'50.49"W, 1554 m, 13.iv.2009, SN, leg.: A. Taheri ; 1♂, Rif , Tétouan , Jbel Bouhachem , Amsemlil, Oued Amsemlil ( PNPB), 35°15'36.84"N 05°25'56.58"W, 1059 m, 22.v.2010, SN, leg.: K. Kettani ; 2♂♂, Rif , Beni Leit , Lemtahane, Dar Abdesalam ( PNPB), 35°16'15.3"N 5°26'05.3"W, 966 m, 7–30.v.2017, MT, leg.: K. Kettani ; 1♂, Rif , Chefchaouen , Akchour, Chellal Sghir ( NPTS), 35°14'20.9"N 5°10'41.3"W, 450 m, 7.vi.–14.vii.2017, MT, leg.: K. Kettani ; 1♂, Rif , Larache , Jbel Bouhachem, Amghart ( PNPB), 35°21'53.0"N 5°28'09.0"W, 424 m, 29.iv.–22.v.2019, MT, leg.: K. Kettani ; 2♂♂, Rif , Fahs-Anjra , Khemis Anjra, Oued Khemis, 35°39'58.0"N 05°30'21.1"W, 63 m, 27.iii.2021, SN, leg.: K. Kettani ; 1♂, Rif , Larache , Taida, Oued Taida ( PNPB), 35°12'40.32"N 05°18'56.519"W, 590 m, 20.iv.2021, SN, leg.: K. Menouar & L. Zouhair ; 3♂♂, Rif , Al Hoceima , Targuist, Beni Bounsar, 34°50'30.944"N 04°25'23.638"W, 1340 m, 1–30.iv.2022, MT, leg.: K. Kettani ; 1♂, Rif , Tétouan, Aouchtame, 35°24'24.77"N 05°8'22.51"W, 17 m, 16.v.2023, SN, leg.: K. Kettani ; 1♀, Middle Atlas , Ifrane, Ain Vittel ( NPIF), 33°33'17.339"N 05°6'47.091"W, 1569 m, 13.x.2023, SN, leg.: F.Z. Sliman.

Distribution. Europe, Canary Islands, Asia ( China, Iran, Türkiye) ( Schmitz, 1940, 1941; Namaki Khameneh et al., 2019). Morocco (New record).

Habitat. This species was captured in numerous localities across Morocco from a wide variety of terrestrial habitats (forests, maquis, grassland) and wetlands (riparian banks, coastal shoreline, near a waterfall, peat bog) over a wide range of altitudes (17–1569 m) ( Figs 4F, 4H, 4I, 4O , 5C ).

Figures

Figure 3. Species of Megaselia from Morocco. A. M. meconicera (Speiser, 1925); B. M. melanocephala (von Roser, 1840); C. M. parvula Schmitz 1930; D. M. pleuralis (Wood, 1909); E. M. plurispinulosa (Zetterstedt, 1860); F. M. posticata (Strobl, 1898); G. M. pumila (Meigen, 1830); H. M. pusilla (Meigen, 1830); I. M. spinicincta (Wood, 1910); J. M. stichata (Lundbeck, 1920); K. M. subnudipennis (Schmitz, 1919); L. M. subpleuralis (Wood, 1909); M. M. trichorrhoea Schmitz, 1921; N. M. verralli (Wood, 1910); O. M. xanthozona (Strobl, 1892) (Scale bars = 0.5 mm).

Figure 4. Habitats of Moroccan Megascelia. A. Azilane (NPTS); B. El Mkhaled; C. Tazia (PNPB); D. Forest of Maâmora (SBEI); E. Zawya; F. Malaise trap set in Beni Bounsar; G. Oued Ouara; H. Talassemtane (NPTS); I. Amghart; J. Zarka River; K. Sidi Boughaba (SBEI); L. Riba (PNPB); M. Tafoughalt (SBEI); N. Adrou (PNPB); O. Lemtahane (PNPB). (© A., C., F–J., L., O.: K. Kettani; B., D., E., K.: F.Z. Sliman; M.: H. Maamri).

Figure 5. Habitats of Moroccan Megascelia. A. Melloussa; B. Barrage Smir (SBEI); C. Chellal Sghir Akchour (NPTS); D. Dayat Fifi; E. Ikadjiouen; F. Dar Chaoui; G. Azib Tamsoult (NPTB); H. Marj Amlay; I. Jbel Kelti. (© A.: M. Doukale; B.– F., H.: K. Kettani; G.: Y. Fekrani; I.: K. Menouar).