New records and new species of Metopina Macquart ( Diptera : Phoridae ) from Tasmania

INTRODUCTION While on a visit to Fern Tree in Tasmania in 2002 Phoridae were collected in a garden in Grays Road. Among the specimens obtained were numbers of Metopina Macquart, whose species recognition is based on females in the first instance. Apart from two previously known species, the females of three species proved to be new and are described below. Males of two species caught on the same occasions are given code letters only until they can be linked to their females. In the key to Australasian species (Disney 2003) it should be noted that at couplet 11 lead 1 should be directed to couplet 12 (not 11) and lead 2 to couplet 13 (not 12).


INTRODUCTION
While on a visit to Fern Tree in Tasmania in 2002 Phoridae were collected in a garden in Grays Road.Among the specimens obtained were numbers of Metopina Macquart, whose species recognition is based on females in the first instance.Apart from two previously known species, the females of three species proved to be new and are described below.Males of two species caught on the same occasions are given code letters only until they can be linked to their females.In the key to Australasian species (Disney 2003) it should be noted that at couplet 11 lead 1 should be directed to couplet 12 (not 11) and lead 2 to couplet 13 (not 12).

MATERIAL AND METHODS
The specimens were collected in water traps and preserved in 70% ethanol and were subsequently slide mounted in Berlese Fluid (Disney 2001).Holotypes are deposited in the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery in Hobart (TMH) and paratypes in the University of Cambridge Museum of Zoology (UCMZ).

Metopina glandula sp. n.
(Figs 1-5) Female.Head as Fig. 1.Thorax brown with a pale propleuron and sternopleuron.Anterior hairs of scutellum about as strong as those at rear of scutum.Abdominal tergites and venter as Figs 2-4.Legs with brown femora and tibiae but those of front legs paler as well as distal half of front coxa.All tarsi dusky yellow.Hind leg as Fig. 5. Wings 1.2-1.3mm long.Costal index 0.51.Vein 3 subequal to slightly thicker than costa.Membrane lightly tinged brown.Haltere knob dark brown.
Etymolo gy.The name refers to the protuberances of dense microtichia at the posterolateral regions of abdominal segment 5 that indicate the presence of a pair of small glands.
Re co gnitio n.In the key to Australasian Metopina (Disney 2003) it runs to couplet 9, lead 1, but its tergites 4-6 are clearly different.
Materia l e xa mined. 2 males, TASMANIA, Fern Tree, Grays Road, 2-3 March 2002.Previously known from Western Australia.This is possibly the male of Metopina lacrimula.

Metopina Tas A (Figs 15-18)
Male.Head as Fig. 15.Thorax brown dorsally but mainly pale on sides.Anterior hairs of scutellum at most as strong as those at rear of scutum.Apart from darker hind femur and tibia the legs are dusky yellow with paler tarsi.Front tarsus as Fig. 16.Hind femur as Fig. 17.Wings 0.7 mm and basal half as Fig. 18.Costal index 0.35.Haltere knob brown.
Re co gnitio n.In the key to Australasian Metopina (Disney, 2003) it runs to couplet 20 lead 1, but species AQ has six bristles on the frons between the upper supra-antennals and anterior ocellus and its legs are much darker.