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New species of aquaticPhoridae (Diptera) fromMalaysiaR.H.L. Disney aa University Department of Zoology , Field StudiesCouncil Research Fellow , Downing Street,Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, United KingdomPublished online: 30 Sep 2008.

To cite this article: R.H.L. Disney (1993) New species of aquatic Phoridae (Diptera)from Malaysia, Aquatic Insects: International Journal of Freshwater Entomology,15:3, 149-158, DOI: 10.1080/01650429309361512

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Aquatic Insects, Vol. 15 (1993), No. 3, pp. 149-158 0165-0424/93/1503-0149$25.00© Swets & Zeitlinger

New Species of Aquatic Phoridae (Diptera) from Malaysia

R.H.L. DISNEY

R.H.L. DISNEY: New Species of Aquatic Phoridae (Diptera) from Malaysia.Aquatic Insects, Vol. 15 (1993), No. 3, pp. 149-158.

Megase lia anomaloterga sp. n., M. gombakensis sp. n. and Plastophorides gigantochloae sp.n. are described from Malaysia, where all three inhabit the water-filled internodes of a giantbamboo. The recognition of Megaselia nepenlhina Schmitz is clarified and the larva of M.kovaci Disney characterised. These two species and M. deningi Disney form a sibling spe-cies complex.

R.H.L. DISNEY, Field Studies Council Research Fellow, University Department of Zool-ogy, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom.

INTRODUCTION

The aquatic Phoridae of the world have been recently reviewed (Disney, 1991b).A further collection by Dr. Damir Kovac (now at the Forschungsinstitut undNaturmuseum Senckenberg, Frankfurt am Main), from water-filled internodes ofthe giant bamboo Gigantochloa scortechinii Gamble, has turned up more newspecies. Two males and a female Megaselia Rondani represent three new speciesbelonging to a taxonomically complex species group. These are being put to oneside until more specimens are available. The rest of the material is dealt withbelow.

Type material is deposited in the University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge,England. Some paratypes and other duplicates are deposited in theForschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Senckenberg, Germany.

My studies of Phoridae are currently funded by the Isaac Newton Trust (Trin-ity College, Cambridge) and thé Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation (London).

Megaselia anomaloterga sp. n. (Figs. 1-5)

Material: Holotype 6, Malaysia, Ulu Gombak Field Studies Centre (University of Malaya), about 30km from Kuala Lumpur (in direction of Genting Highlands), 250 m, reared from larva in bamboointernode collected 11.10.1991. Paratypes 5 cî 45 6 puparia, same data as holotype except dates in-clude 4.8., 11.9., 17.8., and 31.10.1991.

Male. Frons dark brown, broader than high and with numerous micro-setae(and therefore dull). Lower supra-antennal bristles shorter, finer and a littlecloser together than upper pair, which are nearly as far apart as pre-ocellarbristles. Antials level with upper supra-antennals but situated very close to antero-

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Figs. 1-5. Megaselia anomaloterga sp. n. - 1 : S hypopygium, left face -2: puparium -3 : eclosionplate and anterior cap of puparium. -4: 9 dorsal view of abdominal terminalia (fromsegment 7) -5: 2 abdominal tergites 1-7. (Scale bars = 0.1 mm).

laterals, which stand higher on the frons. Pre-ocellars and medio-laterals aboutequidistant, but the latter higher on frons. Third antennal segment subglobose,brown, with brown arista, and greatest diameter less than 1.5 x greatest breadthof labrum. The latter and the labium pale brown, with only a few pale spines

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below labella. Palps dirty yellow to pale brown, with three strong bristles and 3-4 shorter bristles, apically; and finer hairs below along most of length.

Thorax brown but with paler pleural regions. Scutellum with an anterior pairof short, fine hairs (as on top of scutum) and a posterior pair of bristles. Notopleuronwith three bristles. Mesopleuron with 4-9 hairs. Abdomen with brown tergitesand, apart from at sides of tergite 1, with only minute hairs at hind margins ontergites 2-4 and slightly stronger ones on 5 and 6. Venter yellowish grey andwithout hairs. Hypopygium as Fig. 1 and largely brown with a brownish yellowanal tube.

Legs pale yellowish grey brown with dark brown apex to the hind femur. Foremetatarsus not only about as long as segments 2-4 combined but also somewhatinflated, its widest point being almost as wide as greatest width of front tibia.Ventrally several rows of hairs are reduced to short, blunt spinules. Postero-dorsal hair palisade present on all five fore-tarsal segments. Dorsal hair palisadeof mid tibia extends just over half length. Hairs below basal half of hind femurlonger than those of antero-ventral row in apical half. Hind tibia with 9-13postero-dorsals and at least two bifid spines in apical comb of posterior face (asin female of M. nepenthina - Fig. 9).

Wings 1.13-1.26 mm long. Costal index 0.47-0.49. Costal ratios 2.84-3.27 :1.52-1.79 : 1. Costal cilia 0.05-0.06 mm long. Wing membrane lightly tingedbrownish grey. Veins brown, but 7 paler and obscure in basal third. Vein Sc freedistally, and not reaching Rl . With two axillary bristles, which are longer thancostal cilia. With no hair at base of vein 3. Haltère brown.

Female. Head similar to male, except labrum is darker and its greatest widthis greater than maximum diameter of third antennal segment. Thorax as in male.

Abdomen with bare venter, which is dark brownish grey on segments 1-3,contrasting with the very pale grey of the posterior segments. Tergites and terminaliaas Figs. 4-5. Tergite 4 is devoid of pigment, 5 and 6 are pale, 7 is generally darkerand likewise tergite 8. Legs similar to male except fore metatarsus less swollenand with only 2-3 rows of spinules below.

Wings. 1.19-1.38 mm long. Costal index 0.49-0.54. Costal ratios 2.80-3.39 :1.67-2.15 : 1. Costal cilia 0.04-0.05 mm long. Otherwise it, and haltère, as inmale.

Puparium. Pale yellowish brown, with darker respiratory horns, and as Figs.2-3. In life it is covered in debris. The integument is covered in sharply tapered,almost colourless, microscopic tubercles ending in hair tips.

Similar species: In the keys of Borgmeier (1967a) the male of this speciesruns to couplet 11 of Group IV (p. 206). The short costal cilia will exclude mostspecies in this section, apart from other aquatic species covered by my key(Disney, 1991b). The females will either run to the same couplet or on to couplet13. Again the short costal cilia exclude the species covered by Borgmeier, aswell as omitted species which key out in this section, except for some other

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aquatic species. In my key to these aquatic species M. anomaloterga runs tocouplet 17. The males differ from M. bivesicata by having normal-sized ab-dominal spiracles and a different hypopygium. The peculiar abdominal tergitesimmediately distinguish the female. Both sexes are immediately distinguishedfrom most other species by the bifid spines of the hind-tibial comb. The malehypopygium and female abdominal tergites will distinguish it from M. nepenthina(see below).

Megaselia deningi Disney

Material: Malaysia, Genting Highlands, c.900 m alt., 19,3 larvae, 24.2.1991, in freshly cut bamboointernode.

The procurement of a good series of M. nepenthina has allowed clarificationof the distinction between these two species (see below).

Megaselia gombakensis sp. n. (Figs. 6-7)

Material: Holotype S, Malaysia, UIu Gombak Field Studies Centre, 250 m, reared from pupa ininternode of a bamboo lying on ground, collected 10.7.1991.

Male. Frons broader than high, brown and with fairly dense micro-setae (andtherefore dull). The lower supra-antennal bristles shorter, finer and closer to-gether than upper pair. Antials fractionally lower on frons than upper supra-antennals but much closer to antero-laterals, which are approximately level withthe upper supra-antennals. Pre-ocellars further apart than latter bristles and alsofurther apart than either in from a medio-lateral, which is a little higher on thefrons. Third antennal segment subglobose, brown, with brown arista, and great-est diameter clearly greater than greatest breadth of labrum. The latter and la-bium pale brown to straw coloured. The labella enlarged and with dense fields ofshort colourless spinules below. Palps brown, somewhat broad apically, withfive strong apical bristles and scattered hairs below.

Thorax brown, being darkest on top. Scutellum with an anterior pair of minutehairs and a posterior pair of bristles. Notopleuron with three bristles. Mesopleuronwith 14 hairs and a bristle (which is as strong as the posterior notopleural bristle).Abdomen with brown tergites, bearing short sparse hairs, which are longer atrear margins. Venter brown, with a few hairs below on segments 3-6. Hypopygiumas Fig. 6, being generally brown with a dusky yellow anal tube.

Legs brown, the hind pair being darker. Front metatarsus slender and about aslong as segments 2-4 combined. Postero-dorsal hair palisade present on all fivefore-tarsal segments. Dorsal hair palisade of mid tibia extends just over twothirds of length. Hairs below basal half of hind femur a little shorter than those inantero-ventral row of apical half. Hind tibia with about 12 postero-dorsal s andthe spines of apical comb all simple.

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8Figs. 6-8. Megaselia species. -ft: M. gombakensis sp. n. 6 hypopygium, left face. -7 : M. gombakensis

right eclosion plate of puparium. - 8 : M. kovaci, mature egg from gravid female, withanterior end facing top of page. (Scale bars = 0.1 mm).

Wings. 1.27-1.28 mm long, costal index 0.53-0.54. Costal ratios 3.69 : 2.82 :1. Costal cilia 0.07 mm long. Membrane lightly tinged brownish grey, Veinsbrown, but 7 paler (especially at base). Vein Sc free distally. A small hair at baseof vein 3. With 3 axillary bristles, the outer two being longer than costal cilia butthe innermost being shorter. Haltère brown, the stem being a little darker.

Puparium. Pale yellowish brown with brown respiratory horns. The latter areborn on separate exclusion plates and are relatively long (Fig. 7). The anteriorcap is detachable. Otherwise similar to M. anomaloterga, except the tubercles ofthe integument are more rounded, with minute apical hairs, and impart a shagreenedappearance at lower magnifications.

Similar species: In the keys of Borgmeier (1967a) this species runs to couplet49 of Group II (p. 204). In my keys to aquatic species (Disney, 1991b) it runs tocouplet 15. The brown hind femur, hypopygium and single strong bristle on themesopleuron will distinguish the new species.

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Megaselia kovaci Disney (Fig. 8)

Material: 49,6cî , 13 larvae, 8 pupae, 2puparia, Malaysia, Ulu Gombak Field Studies Centre,250m, in bamboo internode on ground, 14.4.1991.

Dr Kovac previously observed, but did not collect, some red larvae that werethought to be possible larvae of this species (Disney, 1991b). He has discoveredthat these larvae belong to a different family of Diptera. The series of larvae,pupae and adults he has now sent enables me to report that the larvae of M.kovaci will run to, the otherwise very distinctive, M. bivesicata Schmitz in mykey. Indeed they closely resemble this species, apart from being generally smaller.The puparia also closely resemble those of M. bivesicata, apart from being gen-erally smaller.

An interesting difference between this species and M. deningi is in the form ofthe egg. That of M. kovaci, from a gravid female, is as Fig. 8. This contrasts withthe boat-shaped egg of M. deningi (Fig. 18 in Disney, 1991b). It seems likely thatthe egg of M. kovaci is laid on the wall of the bamboo internode, with its longaxis vertical and the subterminal respiratory region uppermost.

Megaselia nepenthina Schmitz (Figs. 9-10)

Material: Malaysia, Ulu Gombak, c. 250 m alt., 9 9 larvae pupae, 12.5.1991, cut bamboo internode;9 9, 6.10.1991, cut bamboo on ground; 9 9 puparia, 7.11.1991, bamboo internode on ground; 9 9S â larvae puparia, 2.12.1991, bamboo internode on ground.

This species has only been known for certain from the type series of malesand a puparium from Sumatra. The possible females from Borneo reported bySchmitz (1955) are more probably the females of M. deningi.

The fresh series from Malaysia allows clarification of the recognition of thisspecies. However, it is now clear that M. deningi, M. kovaci and M. nepenthinaform a sibling species complex, with the latter intermediate between the othertwo. Like these two species (see Disney, 1991b), M. nepenthina is much morevariable than Schmitz (1955) or Borgmeier (1967a+b) supposed.

M. bivesicata males are distinctive, by virtue of the enlarged spiracles onabdominal segment 6 (Fig. 5 in Disney, 1991b). The male hypopygium of M.nepenthina (Fig. 10) is intermediate between that of the other two species, butthe number of hairs on the epandrium is somewhat variable. However, the hairsnear the posterior margin are generally weaker than those of M. deningi (Fig. 4 in1991b). The anterior scutellar hairs are more variable than Schmitz supposed andso in some specimens are as in M. kovaci.

The female tergites are like those of M. deningi (Fig. 7 in Disney, 1991b), butwith the pigmentation of tergites 3 and 6 much paler. However, M. nepenthinafemales can be immediately distinguished by the presence of a variable numberof bifid spines in the apical comb of the hind tibia (Fig. 9). In the male, bycontrast, all these spines are simple. This is only the second case of this character

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10

Figs. 9-10. Megaselia nepenthina. -9 : 9 posterior face of apex of hind tibia.-10: <5 hypopygium,left face. (Scale bars = 0.1 mm).

being sexually dimorphic that has been reported since the taxonomic value ofthis character was highlighted (Disney, 1983). The other case is in the OrientalMegaselia chlumetiae Disney, which also only has bifid spines in the female(Disney, et al., 1992).

The larva of M. nepenthina runs to M. deningi in my keys, and very closelyresembles the latter species apart from being generally smaller. The larva of M.kovaci is like that of M. bivesicata (see above).

Plastophorides gigantochloae sp. n. (Figs. 11-13)

Material: Holotype 6, Malaysia, Ulu Gombak Field Studies Centre (University of Malaya, about 30km from Kuala Lumpur (in direction of Genting Highlands), 250 m, in bamboo section fixed 1.5 mfrom ground, 11.2.1991. Paratypes 16d, as holotype, except one dated 23.8.1991.

Male. Frons broader than high, brown, with dense micro-setae (and thereforedull). Lower supra-antennal bristles clearly shorter, finer and closer togetherthan upper pair. Antials fractionally higher on frons than upper supra-antennalsand much closer to them than to to antero-laterals. The latter clearly higher onfrons than antials. Pre-ocellars about as far apart as upper supra-antennals, but

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Figs. 11-13. Plastophorides gigantochloae sp.n. <S. - 11 : ventral face of abdominal segments 5 and6, plus base of hypopygium. -12: posterior face of hind femur. - 13: left face ofhypopygium. (scale bars = 0.1 mm).

slightly further from medio-laterals than from each other. Medio-laterals dis-tinctly a little lower on froris than pre-occellars. Third antennal segment subglobosebut a little pointed apically. It and the pre-apical arista brown. Greatest diameterof third antennal segment clearly greater than greatest breadth of labrum. The

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latter and labium pale brown to straw coloured. Only a few colourless spinesbelow labella. Palps yellow, with 6-7 medium length bristles and a few shorthairs.

Thorax dark brown to almost black on top. Scutellum with an anterior pair ofweak bristles (only slightly more robust than hairs at rear of scutum) and aposterior pair of strong bristles. Notopleuron with three bristles. Mesopleuronwith 6-24 hairs. Abdomen with dark brown tergites, with sparse, short, hairs, buta little more numerous and conspicuous on and behind tergite 6 (Fig. 13). Venterbrown with hairs on segments 3-6. Segment 5 with paired sclerotised patches(characteristic of males of this genus) as Fig. 11. Hypopygium as Fig. 13, with abrown epandrium, a more yellowish hypandrium and a pale yellow anal tube.

Hind leggs brown, middle legs paler brown and front pair yellowish brown.Front metatarsus slender and a little longer than segments 2-4 combined. Postero-dorsal hair palisade present on all five fore-tarsal segments. Dorsal hair palisadeof mid tibia extends more than four fifths of length. Hind femur as Fig. 12. Hindtibia with about 14 postero-dorsals, the first six being fine and the last forming astrong pre-apical spine.

Wings 1.35-1.54 mm long. Costal index 0.48-0.53. Costal ratios 1.09-1.28 : 1 ,vein 3 being unforked. Costal cilia 0.04-0.05 mm long. Membrane only veryweakly tinged. Thick veins pale brownish grey, the thin veins 4-6 paler still and7 obscure. Base of vein 3 with a minute hair (0.02-0.03 mm long). Axillary ridgewith 3-4 (usually 3) bristles, which are longer than costal cilia. Haltère with allbut base of knob pale yellow, the stem being brownish grey.

Affinities: Beyer (1959a) erected this genus and provided (1959b) a key to thefemales of the two species known from Africa and the one species from theSeychelles. The description of the male of the type species (Disney, 1991a)allowed a better characterisation of this genus. The present species is the firstrecord of the genus for the Oriental Region. It is immediately distinguished fromthe other three species by its longer costal index, exceeding 0.45. In the otherknown species the index is at most 0.42.

A Plastophorides bequaerti Beyer female was recorded on the head of an ant(Schmitz, 1916) and the form of the ovipositor in the genus is of the formassociated with parasitoid habits.

MODIFICATION TO THE KEY TO PUPAE (PUPARIA)

The preliminary key to the pupae of aquatic Phoridae (Disney, 1991b) can be modified by thereplacement of couplet 6 onwards, in order to accommodate the new species of Megaselia and M.kovaci.

6. The two respiratory horns protrude from an undivided, single, eclosion plate (Fig. 3)M. anomaloterga sp. n.

- The two respiratory horns each protrude from a separate eclosion plate (Fig. 7 and Fig. 68 inDisney, 1991b) 7

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7. The puparium is narrowed a little before the tip so that it has a distinctly demarcated tail piece(e.g. Fig. 59 in 1991b)

M. bivesicata Schmitz, M. deningi Disney, M. kovaci Disney and M. nepenthina Schmitz- No distinctly demarcated tail piece 88. Tail end with distinct processes (e.g. Fig. 68 in 1991b). Respiratory horns relatively short (Figs.

65, 66 and 68 in 1991b) M. rufipes (Meigen) and M. scalaris (Loew)- Tail end without processes. Respiratory horns relatively long (Fig. 7) M. gombakensis sp. n.

REFERENCES

BEYER, E. (1959a): Neue Phoridengattungen und -Arten aus Angola (Phoridae, Diptera). -Publcoes.Cult. Co. Diam. Angola 45, 65-76.

— (1959b): Zur näheren Kenntnis einiger als Aphiochaeta beschriebenen paläotropischenPhoriden (Diptera). - Brotéria 28, 105-108.

BORGMEIER, T. (1967a): Studies on Indo-Australian phorid flies, based mainly on material of theMuseum of Comparative Zoology and the United States National Museum (Diptera, Phoridae).- Stadia Ent., Petrépolis 9, 129-328.

— (1967b): Studies on Indo-Australian phorid flies, based mainly on material of the Museumof Comparative Zoology and the United States National Museum (Diptera, Phoridae). -Studia Ent., Petrópolis 10, 81-276.

DISNEY, R.H.L. (1983): A useful new character in the giant genus Megaselia (Diptera: Phoridae),with two new species from Britain. - Z. ang. Zool. 70, 225-234.

— (1991a): Scuttle flies from Zimbabwe (Diptera, Phoridae) with description of five newspecies. - J. Afr. Zool. 105, 27-48.

— (1991b): The aquatic Phoridae (Diptera). - Ent. scand. 22, 171-191.DISNEY,R.H.L., KHOCHARE, N.N. and GODASE, S.K. (1992): A new parasitoid (Diptera: Phoridae)

of the mango shoot borer, Chlumetia transversa (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), in India. - Bull,ent. Res. 82,191-195.

SCHMITZ, H. (1916): Bemerkungen zu einigen termitophilen und myrmecophilen Phoriden. - Zoöl.Meded. Leiden 2, 27-32.

— (1955): Über Phoriden in Nepenthes-Kannen. Brotéria 51, 57-87.

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