title: 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).
abstract: An urban biodiversity study sampling primarily from private backyards in Los Angeles, California (USA), reveals the presence of fifty-six species of Megaselia within the first few months of sampling. Thirty of these are described as new to science: M. armstrongorum, M. bradyi, M. brejchaorum, M. carthayensis, M. ciancii, M. creasoni, M. defibaughorum, M. donahuei, M. francoae, M. fujiokai, M. hardingorum, M. heini, M. hentschkeae, M. hoffmanorum, M. hoggorum, M. hoguei, M. isaacmajorum, M. kelleri, M. lombardorum, M. marquezi, M. mikejohnsoni, M. oxboroughae, M. pisanoi, M. renwickorum, M. rodriguezorum, M. sacatelensis, M. seaverorum, M. sidneyae, M. steptoeae, and M. wiegmanae. M. largifrontalis is newly reported from the Nearctic Region. The implications these findings have for future taxonomic work in Megaselia, particularly in urban areas, are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, United States of America; Email: ehartop@nhm.org.
authors.forename: Emily A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Hartop
authors.affiliation: Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, United States of America; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Brian V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: R Henry L
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Disney
mesh_terms: D063147:Animal Distribution; D000825:Animal Structures / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size; D004175:Diptera / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D015141:Los Angeles; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size