Figs 249–251

Liriomyza venegasiae Spencer 1981: 284. Spencer & Steyskal 1986: 129.

Wing length 1.6mm (♂). Length of ultimate section of vein CuA 1 divided by penultimate section approximately 3.0. Eye height divided by gena height approximately 5.0. Scutum shining.

Chaetotaxy: Two ori, two ors. Acrostichal setulae in four rows.

Colouration: Calypter margin and hairs brown. Head light yellow with first flagellomere yellow (base sometimes lighter), clypeus, ocellar triangle and back of head dark brown, and posterolateral corner of frons dark brown to base of outer vertical bristle and light brown to base of inner vertical bristle. Scutum with complete lateral yellow stripe; katatergite yellow; anatergite dark brown. Pleuron dark brown with dorsal 1/3 of anepisternum yellow with margin irregular (posterodorsal half yellow in Bidens reared specimen (Spencer, 1981)), anepimeron with extensive yellow mottling, dorsal 1/3 of meron yellow, dorsal margin of katepisternum yellow, including small emargination behind bristle. Legs yellow with base of fore coxa and basal ½ of mid coxa brown, hind coxa light brown with basal 2/3 brown, base of hind femur possibly with very small, almost indistinguishable infuscation (treated as entirely yellow in key), fore tibia light brown, mid and hind tibiae brown, and tarsi brown, becoming paler to base. Colour of abdomen unknown.

Variation: Female non-type differs as follows: length of ultimate section of vein CuA 1 divided by penultimate section: 2.2; eye height divided by gena height: 4.3; one ori on right side; calypter grey; base of first flagellomere paler; venter of katatergite brown; anepisternum with oblique clavate brown stripe; katepisternum yellow on dorsal ¼, including area around base of bristle; base of femora brown and tibiae brown with base paler; abdominal tergites narrowly yellow laterally.

Genitalia: Figs 249–251. Surstylus with one pair of relatively long subapical spines. Paraphallus dark and elongate-triangular with ill-defined base. Hypophallus long, not haired. Distiphallus and mesophallus with complete ventral suture; mesophallus short, slightly compressed laterally, and darkest along lateral and posterodorsal surfaces. Distiphallus with dark, short basal stem and broad, subspherical apical chamber enclosing one pair of fringed processes. Ejaculatory apodeme well-developed with dark submarginal band.

Hosts. Asteraceae — Bidens pilosa, Venegasia carpesioides.

Range. USA. California [Los Angeles, Riverside, Ventura].

Type material. Holotype, USA. California: Los Angeles Co., Malibu Creek S.P., on Venegasia carpesioides, 4.v.1977, K.A. Spencer (1♂, USNM).

Tentatively identified material: USA. California: Ventura Co., mouth of Ventura River, 24.iv.1966, J. Powell (1♀, EMEC).

Comments. The non-type female described under the variation section is most similar in appearance to Liriomyza venegasiae, but differs enough so as to only be tentatively included in the species, and as such is not used in the above key.