Nemopalpus similis Wagner & Stuckenberg, 2012

Wagner, Rüdiger & Stuckenberg, Brian R., 2012, New fossil and extant species of Nemopalpus Macquart (Diptera: Psychodidae: Bruchomyiinae), African Invertebrates 53 (1), pp. 355-355 : 363-365

Nemopalpus similis Wagner & Stuckenberg , sp. n.

Figs 21–23

Etymology: From Latin similis (similar), referring to the fact that the male terminalia of this species are morphologically similar to several other species.

Description:

Male.

Head: Typical of the genus. Eyes circular, distance between eyes ca 3 facet diameters. Relative lengths of four visible palpomeres: 16–20–24–60, distal segment striate. New- VWHDG VFDOHV DEVHQW.$QWHQQD ZLWK VFDSH, SHGLFHO DQG Ɨ4 ÀDJHOORPHUHV. 5HODWLYH OHQJWKV of antennomeres:11–10–64–45–44–44–44–43–39–37–35–33–32–28–23–22; apiculus RI GLVWDO ÀDJHOORPHUH ca 0.2× article length. A pair of mushroom-shaped ascoids on HDFK RI ÀDJHOORPHUHV 2±Ɨ4, SRVVLEO\ DOVR RQ ÀDJHOORPHUH Ɨ.

Thorax: Wing ( Fig. 21 ): Length 3.8 mm. Radial fork comparatively short; M 2 origina- WLQJ IURP GLVWDO SDUW RI GLVFRLGDO FHOO. /HJV HORQJDWH, ODFNLQJ VSHFL¿F IHDWXUHV.

Abdomen: With small lateral extensions on tergum 5, clothed in elongate, ornamental setulae. Terminalia: Gonocoxites close to one another medially, with inner distal prolongation ending shortly behind end of gonocoxite. With group of ca 8 elongate setae on inner margin medially and few additional strong setae distally. Gonostylus ca length of gonocoxite, distally bent inward, bipartite, dorsal tip longer than ventral, both covered with several setae. Opening of distal ductus shaped like a (morphologically) ventrally open pipe. Two thin sclerites with insertions of setae are positioned on either side (parameres). Tergum 9 ca length of gonocoxite, basally 2× as wide as distally. Cercus ca 0.25× length of tergum 9.

Notes: This species is a close relative of N. pilipes Tonnoir, 1922 ( Paraguay) , N. damp- ¿DQXV Alexander, 1940 (Mesoamerica) and of N. capixaba Biral Dos Santos, Falqueto & Alexander, 2009 ( Brazil, Espirito Santo). The terminalia of all are similar in the shape of the gonocoxite, with an inner appendage, and the typically bent, bipartite gonostylus.All four possess thinly sclerotised sheath-like parameres along both sides of the aedeagus. Tergite extensions with ornamental setulae occur in N. similis (segment 5), and N. capixaba (all segments), but not in 1. GDPS¿DQXV and N. pilipes . The close relationship of these species can be based on the shape of the terminalia and the characteristicallyshaped parameres. The presence or absence of tergite extensions and ornamental setulae on various segments are surely no features to assess relationships among Neotropical Nemopalpus species.

Figures

Figs 21–23. Nemopalpus similis Wagner & Stuckenberg, sp. n.: (21) wing; (22) terminaliaventral view; (23) WHUJXP 9 DQG FHUFL. ($OO ¿JXUHV E\ %6). 6FDOH EDUV:)LJ. 2Ɨ = Ɨ PP,)LJV 22, 2 = Ɵ.2 PP.