Megaselia xanthozona (Strobl, 1892)

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 : 449

Megaselia xanthozona (Strobl, 1892) ( Fig. 3O )

Material examined. 1♂, Rif , Chefchaouen , Talassemtane, Azilane ( NPTS), 35°10'07.5"N 5°14'07.8"W, 1250 m, 4.vii.–15.viii.2013, MT, leg.: K. Kettani ; 2♂♂, Rif , Chefchaouen , Aïn Fouara, Zawya Foukia ( NPTS), 35°06'29.0"N 5°11'11.2"W, 944 m, 15.iv.2016, SN, leg.: A. Aghdir ; 1♂, Rif , Chefchaouen , Fifi, Dayat Fifi, 35°00'48.2"N 5°12'20.8"W, 1205 m, 6.v.2021, SN, leg.: K. Kettani ; 1♂, Rif , Chefchaouen , Akchour, Oued Farda ( NPTS), 35°08'22.2"N 5°06'19.2"W, 520 m, 16.v.2016, SN, leg.: K. Kettani ; 14♂♂, Rif , Larache , Tazia, Dayat Tazia ( PNPB), 35°21'28.5"N 5°33'43.5"W, 733 m, 21.v.–6.vi.2016, MT, leg.: K. Kettani ; 4♂♂, Rif , Tétouan , Jbel Bouhachem, Amsemlil ( PNPB), 35°15'34.6"N 5°25'56.2"W, 1067 m, 23.iv.2017, SN, leg.: K. Kettani ; 2♂♂, Rif , Beni Leit , Bouhachem , Lemtahane, Dar Abdeslam ( PNPB), 35°16'14.9"N 5°25'48.0"W, 964 m, 7.vi.–30.v.17, MT, leg.: K. Kettani ; 6♂♂, Rif , Chefchaouen , Akchour, Chellal Sghir ( NPTS), 35°14'39.8"N 5°09'48.9"W, 450 m, 7.vi.–14.vii.2017, MT, leg.: K. Kettani ; 1♂, High Atlas , Midelt, Bouzmella ( NPHAO), 32°39'53.0"N 4°46'33.9"W, 1440 m, 24.v.2021, SN, leg.: K. Kettani ; 1♂, Eastern Morocco, Berkane , Beni Snassen, Tafoughalt ( SBEI), 34°48'40.1"N 2°24'30.5"W, 786 m, 12.iv.–22.vi.2021, MT, leg.: F.Z. Sliman ; 2♂♂, 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 , Chefchaouen , Beni Salah, Bab Tariouant, 35°01'06.3"N 5°00'34.9"W, 1429 m, 20.v.2022, SN, leg.: F.Z. Sliman ; 5♂♂ 1♀, Middle Atlas , Ifrane, Maison de la Cédraie ( NPIF), 33°27'59.3"N 5°14'23.8"W, 1220 m, 5.vii.2023, SN, leg.: K. Kettani.

Distribution. Europe, Asia, North Africa ( Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia) ( Schmitz, 1940, 1941; Rabieh et al., 2013; Sadeghi et al., 2013). Morocco (New record).

Habitat. This species has a wide distribution in the main biogeographical zones in Morocco, mainly in the Rif, Eastern Morocco, Middle Atlas, and High Atlas, where it inhabits a wide variety of ecosystems with altitudes ranging from 450 to 1440 m, covering a range of terrestrial and wetland environments like forests ( Quercus canariensis , Quercus suber , Quercus ilex ), maquis, meadows, peat bogs, waterfalls, ponds and riverbanks ( Figs 4A, 4C, 4F, 4M, 4O , 5C, 5D ).

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).