Liriomyza phyllodes Lonsdale 2011, spec. nov.

Liriomyza phyllodes spec. nov.

Figs 181–183

Wing length 1.6mm (♂). Female unknown. Length of ultimate section of vein CuA 1 divided by penultimate section: 4.3. Eye height divided by gena height: 4.0. Scutum subshining.

Chaetotaxy: Two ori, two ors. Acrostichal setulae in four rows.

Colouration: Calypter margin and hairs grey. Head yellow with distal margin of first flagellomere infuscated, and ocellar triangle, back of head, posterolateral corner of frons (encompassing both vertical bristles) and clypeus dark brown. Scutum with yellow lateral stripe that ends above wing base; laterotergites brown (paler anteriorly). Pleuron mostly brown with dorsal 1/3 of anepisternum yellow (margin irregular), anepimeron with yellow mottling, meron yellow on dorsal 1/3 and dorsal 1/4 of katepisternum yellow (including base of bristle) with posterodorsal margin brown. Legs yellow with base of coxae, base of femora and dorsal streaking brown, and tibiae and tarsi dark brown. Abdomen dark brown with tergites 1 and 2 yellow medially, tergites 3–5 slightly depigmented medially, and lateral margin of tergites yellow (yellow margin broader posteriorly).

Genitalia: Figs 181–183. Surstylus bare with one subapical spine. Paraphallus broad, weakly pigmented and leaf-like, with outline broadly ovate. Hypophallus long, with hairs fused and pointed. Mesophallus fused to distiphallus. Distiphallus little longer than wide, with lateral subapical swelling laterally, thickly sclerotized dorsum, spinulose internal distal surface and thin ventral suture.

Etymology. The specific epithet is Greek for “leaflike”, denoting the shape of the paraphallus, which is frequently rod-like in other Liriomyza.

Host. Unknown.

Range. USA. California [Riverside].

Type material. Holotype, USA. California: Riverside Co., Palm Desert, P.L. Boyd Deep Canyon Desert Research Center, 33°38’52.3”N, 116°22’36.0”W, 940’, 27.i–2.ii.2007, P.H. Arnaud, Jr. & M.M. Arnaud, Arnaud Malaise trap (1♂, USNM).

Comments. Liriomyza phyllodes is a relatively dark species most similar in external appearance to L. langei, but they can be separated using the above key. The best way to diagnose this species is by examining the phallus, which has a thin, pointed hypophallus with fused hairs, broad leaf-like paraphalli and a thin distiphallus with a lateral subapical swelling.