New aquatic species of Megaselia Rondani from Bolivia (Diptera: Phoridae)

Abstract

Ten aquatic species of Megaselia Rondani (1856) are reported from the internodes of the large bamboo Guadua angustifolia var. chacoensis in Bolivia. Megaselia aquatica sp. n., and M. imitatrix Borgmeier (1969) are named and seven species given code letters as their males remain unknown. Five of these species closely resemble the distinctive M. imitatrix. The eggs of species C, in addition to a subterminal plastron, uniquely have the rest of the egg covered in fine hairs. Three additional Megaselia species reported from bamboo or other phytotelms in the Americas, Megaselia hansonix Disney (2009), M. rufipes (Meigen) (1804) and M. scalaris (Loew) (1866) are illustrated. A key for Megaselia from the Americas reported from aquatic situations is presented.

Keywords

• Neotropical
• new species
• aquatic
• phytotelms
• bamboo
• key.