Opportunity in our Ignorance: Urban Biodiversity Study Reveals 30 New Species and One New Nearctic Record for Megaselia (Diptera: Phoridae) in Los Angeles (California, USA) Author Hartop, Emily A. Author Brown, Brian V. Author Disney, R. Henry L. text Zootaxa 2015 3941 4 451 484 journal article 10.11646/zootaxa.3941.4.1 4a423dfe-e6dc-48fc-8149-d17562f026b3 1175-5326 242977 0282A923-893A-45BC-941A-6CDECBE36618 Megaselia sidneyae new species ( Figs. 28 , 32 , 60 , 90 , 121, 122 ) Diagnosis. Male. In the group V key of Borgmeier (1964) , M. sidneyae keys to M. divergens Malloch , which in the description (1912) lacks the characteristic femoral sculpturing ( Fig. 32 ) and curved, spinelike left process of the hypandrium ( Figs. 90 , 121, 122 ). M. divergens is also a smaller species ( 1 mm compared to M. sidneyae at> 1 mm measuring only the thorax through tergite 6). Examination of type material was inconclusive; the male and female from Plummers Island, Maryland designated in the original description are both female, and the male from Washington, District of Columbia from 30 September 1912 is not to be found. This leads us to believe that it is possible this species was mistakenly identified from females only, as the “male” from Maryland is clearly female with withdrawn genitalia. Of the material mentioned by Malloch from Williams, Arizona, only three of the four specimens were found. Two are females, and the third needs to be slide mounted but is almost certainly a different species based on the long, heavy setation visible on the tergites ( M. sidneyae has short setation throughout, and M. divergens is noted by Borgmeier as having bare tergites). Of the males in the non-type collection material of M. divergens (that can be positively identified as mounted), there are some that clearly belong to M. sidneyae and are listed in additional material examined. These were obviously designated as this species post-description according to mostly venational characteristics. At this time, with no way to assuredly match males and females, we here describe M. sidneyae as a new species, distinct from M. divergens as above, easily recognized by the basal femoral sculpturing and curved, spinelike left hypandrial process. Description. See Table 7 . Distribution. Los Angeles, California ( USA ). Etymology. Named in honor of Sidney Higgins, host of BioSCAN site 23. Biology. Unknown. Holotype . ♂, USA : CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles, Eagle Rock, 3–10.V.2014 , Keller, Malaise trap ( LACM 329831). Paratypes . 4 ♂ , USA : CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles, Elysian Park, 3–10.V.2014 , Harding, Malaise trap ( LACM 329832, LACM 329833, 2 CUMZ ). FIGURES 69–74. Male genitalia, left lateral. 69. Megaselia defibaughorum . 70. Megaselia donahuei . 71. Megaselia francoae . 72. Megaselia fujiokai . 73. Megaselia hardingorum . 74. Megaselia heini . FIGURES 75–80. Male genitalia, left lateral. 75. Megaselia hentschkeae . 76. Megaselia hoffmanorum . 77. Megaselia hoggorum . 78. Megaselia hoguei . 79. Megaselia isaacmajorum . 80. Megaselia kelleri Additional Material Examined. USA : CALIFORNIA: El Dorado County: Lake Tahoe, 2 ♂ , 8–12.VI.1916 ( USNM ); Los Angeles County: Exposition Park, University Park, Los Feliz, Silverlake, Leimert Park, Glendale, Elysian Park, Larchmont, Burbank, Atwater Village, Eagle Rock, Pico-Union, Mid-Wilshire, Glassell Park, Highland Park, Mount Washington, 205 ♂ , I–V.2014 , Malaise traps ( LACM , MCZC , USNM ); San Mateo County, 2 ♂ , 23.VIII.1951 ( USNM ). NEW MEXICO : Jemez Springs, 2 ♂ , 4.VII.1953 ( USNM ). WASHINGTON DC: 2 ♂ , 28–29.I.1912 ( USNM ).