Phthinia nepalensis Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald, Scott J., 2017, Phthinia Winnertz (Diptera: Mycetophilidae): new species and records from the Neotropical and Oriental regions, Zootaxa 4231 (1), pp. 107-113 : 111-112

Phthinia nepalensis Fitzgerald n. sp.

Figs. 5–6

Type material. Holotype: ♂, glued directly to side of pin [CNCI], “27°58’N. 85°00’E. Mal. tr. 1, 11,100’, 27 June 1967, Can. Nepal Exped.” / “ HOLOTYPE, Phthinia nepalensis Fitzgerald ” [red label], terminalia dissected . Paratypes: 1♂ [ SFC], same data as holotype except 2 June ; 1♂ [ CNCI], same data as holotype except 8–11 June ; 1♂ [ CNCI], same data as holotype except 12 June ; 1 sex unknown, abdomen missing [ CNCI], same data as holotype except 18 June ; 1♂ [ CNCI], same data as holotype except 22 June ; 1♂ [ CNCI], same data as holotype except 24 June ; 1♂ [ CNCI], same data as holotype except 25 June ; 1♂ 1♀ [ CNCI], same data as holotype except NEPAL, 18 June ; 2♂♂ [ CNCI], same data as holotype except NEPAL, 16 June .

Diagnosis. Phthinia nepalensis is distinguished from other Phthinia species by the following combination of characters: Gonocoxites ventromedially developed, shield-like, largely hiding remainder of terminalia from ventral view ( Fig. 6 ); gonostylus elongate, with elbow beyond half-way point, apically with minute spines ( Fig. 5 ); aedeagal complex elongate, apically hammer-claw-shaped, extending beyond apex of gonocoxites posteriorly ( Figs. 5–6 ).

Description. Male. Body length: 4.5–5.5, 5.1 [4.5] mm (n=5). Coloration. Light brown; abdomen darker brown, head and mesonotum sometimes with rusty tinge. Head. Three ocelli. Fourteen elongate flagellomeres; first flagellomere longer, approx. 1.4 times the length of flagellomere 2. Thorax. Laterotergite bare. Scutellum with numerous short setae and 2 longer, stronger setae apically. Legs. First tarsomere of foreleg approx. 2.0 times length of foretibia. Hind tibia with 5–7 minute anterior setae, 32–45 minute dorsal setae, and no minute posterior setae (n=4); Wings. 4.0–4.5, 4.1 [4.0] mm (n=5). Membrane with macrotrichia; microtrichia also present between more widely spaced macrotrichia. Sc not reaching level of base of Rs distally (though very close in a few specimens), but typically ending between base of Rs and base of r-m. C extending about 1/3 of the distance between Rs and M1; base of Rs about 1/4 length r-m; stem of M about 3/5 length of r-m. A1 diverging significantly from stem of CuA. Abdomen. Terminalia ( Figs. 5–6 ). Terminalia concolorous with abdomen. Cerci short, lobate, apically rounded, with small posteriorly-projecting setae, as well as stronger, black, ventrally-directed comb of setae arising from small tubercles on ventro-apical surface of cerci (latter setae best seen in lateral and posterior views). Hypoproct very short, medially divided, rounded, and densely setose apically. Gonocoxites with very long setae. Immediately ventral to articulation point of gonostylus, gonocoxites and parameres fused into a posteromedially-projecting, digitate, apically blackened lobe with an inner subapical spine and three minute apical spines ( Fig. 5 , Llgx). In lateral view, dorsal and ventral portions of gonocoxites demarcated by a U-shaped cleft extending about 1/3 length of genital capsule. Ventrally, gonocoxites strongly produced posteriorly, shield-like, hiding most structures from view, posteromedially bilobate ( Fig. 6 , Gx). Gonostylus elongate, with elbow beyond half way point; apical portion minutely spinose, apex with small bifurcation ( Fig. 5 , Gs). Aedeagal complex very elongate, strongly projecting posterodorsally, apically bifurcate, hammer-claw-like ( Figs. 5–6 , Ac). Epandrium (T9) constricted near apical 1/4; posterior margin with V-shaped cleft, posterior edge bilobate ( Fig. 5 , T9).

Female. Generally as in male, with the following notes. Body length 6.5 mm, wing length 5.5 mm (n=1). Sc reaching level of base of Rs. Abdominal tergites light brown basally, dark brown apically. Cerci two-segmented; apical segment rather elongate, subequal in length to basal segment and distinctly tapered to a narrowly rounded point apically.

Comments. The structure of the male terminalia of Phthinia nepalensis does not indicate a clear relationship to species previously described from the Palearctic region, but it is distinctive and is easily distinguished from congeners. Papp et al. (2006) reported specimens of either Phthinia or a new genus from Thailand, and Ševčík (2008) reported an unknown species of Phthinia from the Oriental region, but no species have yet been formally described from the Oriental region. Phthinia nepalensis is not conspecific with the species noted by Ševčík (2008) which had no macrotrichia on the wings (a character state unique to the genus). The single female specimen attributed to this species is associated with the males only by the fact that only one species (based on male terminalia) was found in the material from Nepal.

Figures

FIGURES 5 – 6. P. nepalensis n. sp., male terminalia [holotype male]; position and density of setae indicated by alveoli. 5. Dorsal view (left gonostylus removed to show lateral lobe of gonocoxite which is ventral to gonostylus). 6. Ventral view. Abbreviations: Ac, aedeagal complex, Gs, gonostylus; Gx, gonocoxites; Llgx, lateral lobe of gonocoxites (fused to parameres); T 9, tergite 9.