title: The Megophthalmidia (Diptera, Mycetophilidae) of North America including eight new species.
abstract: Megophthalmidia Dziedzicki is a small leiine genus (Mycetophilidae) with seven species described from the Neotropics and ten species from the Palearctic region. Two species of Megophthalmidia have been reported for North America. Recent collecting of Mycetophilidae in California and Arizona, however, shows current North American diversity of Megophthalmidia is at least on par to other regions of the world. Eight new species of Megophthalmidia are described here, increasing the number of Nearctic Megophthalmidia species to nine. Included is a particularly atypical member of the genus, M. saskia sp. n., which expands the genus concept of Megophthalmidia. Of the two species previously recorded for North America, only one actually belongs in the genus. Megophthalmidia occidentalis Johannsen, is fully described and illustrated. The other named species, M. marceda (Sherman) is illustrated and transferred to the genus Ectrepesthoneura Enderlein. A lectotype is designated for this species. A key to the species of Megophthalmidia of North America is provided. The biology of these flies is not yet known. Three of the new Megophthalmidia species - M. lenimenta, M. misericordia, and M. radiata - are only known to occur within small protected areas within the California State Park and UC Natural Reserve systems.
authors.affiliation: California State Collection of Arthropods, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 3294 Meadowview Rd., Sacramento, CA, 95832-1448 USA.
authors.forename: Peter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Kerr
keywords: Annadel State Park; Calaveras Big Trees State Park; California State Parks; Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge; Indian Grinding Rock State Historical Park; Leiinae; Point Reyes National Seashore; Prairie Creek State Park; Systematics; University of California Donald and Sylvia McLaughlin Reserve; University of California Kenneth S. Norris Rancho Marino Reserve; University of California Sedgwick Reserve; University of California Whitaker Forest; biodiversity hotspot; fungus gnats; new species