Published March 15, 2023 | Version v1
Taxonomic treatment Open

Microselia Schmitz

Description

Genus Microselia Schmitz

Microselia Schmitz, 1934: 11. Type-species: M. rivierae Schmitz, 1934.

Recognition. Specimens of this genus, including this specimen, key correctly in Disney’s (1994) key to genera (females) to couplet 207, where the choices are Epacteon Borgmeier and Microselia Schmitz.

The placement of this specimen in Microselia, and not Epacteon, is based on the third antennal segment being bean-shaped with a dorsal, pre-apical, arista and with the conus of the second antennal segment being inserted into the base of segment in normal way. Epacteon specimens have a pear-shaped third antennal segment, with an apical arista and with the conus of second segment inserted into the side, and not the base, of the third antennal segment.

Most species of Microselia are described from females only. Phoridae genera are often known only from the morphology of specimens of one sex.

High variability of characters for Microselia has been noted in the literature: absence, presence of vein 2 (Disney & Shaw, 1994; Carles-Tolra, 2006); absence, presence of supra-antennal bristles and the variable configuration of last tarsal segment of the foreleg (Disney, 1991) which is particularly relevant and morphologically similar to this specimen.

Based on existing definitions of Phoridae genera, and with the understanding that Microselia is closely related to Pseudacteon (Delage et Lauraire, 1971; Disney, 1988, 1994), and Epacteon is perhaps a synonym of Microselia (Brian Brown, personal communication), the authors place this species in Microselia as identified by the world key to genera of female Phoridae (Disney, 1994).

Notes

Published as part of Cox, Russell & Tees, Natalie A., 2023, A Remarkable New Species of Scuttle Fly and First Record of Microselia Schmitz (Diptera: Phoridae) from Australia, pp. 45-50 in Records of the Australian Museum (Rec. Aust. Mus.) (Rec. Aust. Mus.) 75 (1) on page 46, DOI: 10.3853/j.2201-4349.75.2023.1825, http://zenodo.org/record/7946292

Files

Files (2.1 kB)

Name Size Download all
md5:0ed44c977827510230cd43a83a7fd886
2.1 kB Download

System files (12.1 kB)

Name Size Download all
md5:3317ba71a42069230381565bc1bd2839
12.1 kB Download

Linked records

Additional details

Biodiversity

Family
Phoridae
Genus
Microselia
Kingdom
Animalia
Order
Diptera
Phylum
Arthropoda
Scientific name authorship
Schmitz
Taxon rank
genus

References

  • Schmitz, H. 1934. Eine neue parasitische Phoride aus dem Mittelmeergebiet. Broteria 3: 10 - 14.
  • Disney, R. H. L., and M. R. Shaw. 1994. The ant host (Hym., Formicidae) of Microselia (Dipt., Phoridae) from France. Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 130 (1564 - 67): 227 - 228.
  • Carles-Tolra, M. 2006. Microselia micropila sp. n.: a new phorid species from Spain, ethology of Microselia rivierae Schmitz, 1934, and a key to the European species of Microselia Schmitz (Diptera, Phoridae). Boletin Sociedad Entomologica Aragonesa 39: 103 - 109.
  • Disney, R. H. L. 1991. Scuttle flies from Zimbabwe (Diptera, Phoridae) with the description of five new species. Journal of African Zoology 105: 27 - 48.
  • Disney, R. H. L. 1988. A new species of Microselia (Dip., Phoridae) from France. Annales de Parasitologie Humaine et Comparee 63 (1): 85 - 88. https: // doi. org / 10.1051 / parasite / 198863185