Niphta brunnea Pivar, 2021

Pivar, Robert J., Sinclair, Bradley J. & Moulton, John K., 2021, Revision of the genus Niphta (Diptera, Thaumaleidae) Theischinger of South America, with descriptions of nine new species and a new immature morphotype, ZooKeys 1063, pp. 49-104 : 49

publication ID	https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1063.71180
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:2792B13C-D577-416C-B83D-1C8043701C78
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/ED8B78EE-F799-4B34-B465-E47C578BC679
taxon LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:act:ED8B78EE-F799-4B34-B465-E47C578BC679
treatment provided by	ZooKeys by Pensoft
scientific name	Niphta brunnea Pivar
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Niphta brunnea Pivar sp. nov.

Type material.

Holotype: ♂, glued to point with abdomen in glycerine microvial pinned beneath, labelled: "Chile: Region IX ( Araucanía)/ Rte. 71, 15.xii.2016/ 38°14'20.6"S 71°53'46.6"W,/ elev. 953 m, roadside seeps,/ J.K. Moulton & R.J. Pivar"; "HOLOTYPE/ Niphta / Niphta brunnea / Pivar [red label]" (CNC). Paratypes: Chile: Region VIII ( Bío Bío): Rte. Q-61, 8.xii.2016, 37°49'14.2"S 71°40'34.1"W, elev. 366 m, creek, J.K. Moulton & R.J. Pivar (1♂); Rte. Q-61, Estero Agua Blanca 8.xii.2016, 37°46'30.8"S 71°42'03.9"W, elev. 552 m, vegetation near splash zones, J.K. Moulton & R.J. Pivar (1♂); Region IX ( Araucanía): same data as holotype (3♂); same data as holotype except, larvae/pupae on foliage in splash zone (6 larvae*, 5 pupae, 3 pupal exuviae).

Recognition.

This species is recognised by the cheliform gonostylus bearing non-bifurcate apices and the gonocoxite with three projections: two that are nearly equal in size and the third, much smaller and inconspicuous, situated at the base of the anterior one. It is darker in colouration compared to the closely related N. bispinosa , and the darkest of the N. nudipennis group.

Description.

The descriptions of N. brunnea differ from that of N. bifurcata in the following regards:

Male. n = 5.

Length 1.6-1.9 mm.

Colouration (Figs 9B View Figure 9 , 10B View Figure 10 ). Pronotum and postpronotum brown; remaining scutum shiny, brown, pleura light brown; scutellum shiny, brown; mediotergite shiny, anterior half light brown, posterior half dark brown; katepisternum mainly brown, lighter near anterior spiracle; remaining pteropleuron mainly brown with dispersed markings of dark/light brown; base of halter creamy, distal half of stalk and knob light brown; abdomen brown; terminalia light brown.

Head. Flagellomere 1 expanded, 1.5 × as wide as next segment, shorter in length than 2 and 3 combined.

Wing. Wing length: 1.9-2.2 mm.

Terminalia (Figs 6D View Figure 6 , 8D View Figure 8 ). Epandrium quadrate in ventral view, posterior margin rounded, with narrow medial cleft; long, extended beyond gonostyli; without lobes or projections. Gonocoxites oblong, longer than wide; anterior margin rounded, somewhat expanded dorsally, not closely approximated; with three spine-like projections; large anterior projection nearly equal in length to posterior projection, gradually tapered toward apex; smaller anterior projection positioned somewhat anterior to large tooth, may be small and inconspicuous in some specimens; posterior projection strongly tapered toward apex, some specimens with second basal tooth on outer margin of projection; margin around anterior projection with long, thin setae. Gonostylus cheliform, dorsoventrally flattened, margins concave creating bowl-like appearance; anterior apex with a few indistinct setae, posterior margin with strong setae. Parameres medially fused, attached basally to arms of gonocoxal plate; divided distally into dorsal parameral apodeme and ventral arm; ventral arm projected anteroventrally toward gonocoxal plate, knife-shaped, ventral margin serrate; when retracted, resting ventrally between dorsal arm of gonocoxal plate and inner margin of gonocoxite, apex reaching base of anterior gonocoxal projection. Gonocoxal plate broad, well sclerotised; anterior margin triangular, basal margin cleft; pair of dorsal arms connect to parameres; medial aedeagal guide projected ventrally between gonostyli, well sclerotised, consisting of two parts, anterior structure with five projections and posterior rounded plate bearing minute setulae. Cercus ovoid, only slightly visible in lateral view; projected anteroventrally; situated within epandrial indentation.

Female. Unknown.

Pupa. n = 6 (Figs 14A View Figure 14 , 15A View Figure 15 , 16A View Figure 16 , 22 View Figure 22 ).

Length 2.7-2.9 mm.

Colouration. Brown; sometimes with black spot above eyes in developing adult.

Head. Maxillary sheath short, posteromedially directed, gently tapered toward truncate apex, apices of palpi separated medially; devoid of tubercles and setae.

Thorax. 1.5 × wider than abdomen at widest point. Foreleg sheath projected straight and slightly beyond wing sheaths, reaching hind margin of sternite 2; anterior half of midleg visible anterior to wing sheath, then hidden behind foreleg, not projected beyond wing sheath; hindleg concealed beneath wing sheath, only small triangular apex visible between apex of foreleg and wing sheath, not extended beyond wing sheath. Wing sheath extended to posterior margin of abdominal sternite 2. Respiratory organ slightly shorter than maxillary sheath, broadest subapically; ovate, slightly arched medially, tapered toward apex; spiracular openings encircling apex; stalk thin, emerging from small tubercle. Tubercle situated posterodorsally to respiratory organ, rounded, projected laterally; apex nearly touching or touching respiratory organ. Thorax devoid of setae.

Abdomen. Subcylindrical, evenly tapered toward caudal segment. Spiracles well developed, distinct on segments 3-7, projected anterodorsolaterally; all bearing minute spine-like setulae. Segment 8 with short lateral projection, less than half length of preceding spiracles, projected dorsolaterally. Tergites 1-8 quadrate, devoid of setae, with pair of dorsolateral ridges and faint medial transverse groove, groove not meeting dorsolateral ridges. Tergite 9 rounded, posterior margin emarginated, laterally compressed compared to preceding segments; small, rounded projection pointing posteriorly in lateral view. Sternites 3-8 rectangular, with row of faint setulae along anterior margin, not connecting to lateral margin; lateral margins crenulate, lacking setae. Sternites 3 and 4 bearing pair of small lateral adhesive structures, sternite 5 bearing pair of large lateral adhesive structures on lateral margin. Caudal sternite triangular, with medial sclerotised groove and pair of medial rounded, posteromedially projected lobes; posterior margin with medial longitudinal ridge; without distinct caudal hooks.

Larva. n = 6 (Figs 17A View Figure 17 , 18A View Figure 18 , 19A View Figure 19 , 21A, B View Figure 21 , 23 View Figure 23 ).

Length of final instar 4.8-5.1 mm.

Colouration. Head capsule pale brown, anterolateral margin of ecdysial line black. Body creamy brown.

Head capsule (Fig. 28A, B). Two large, circular eye spots, elevated on tubercle; antenna with three finger-like processes, elevated on largest tubercle; with five pairs of smaller tubercles outside of ecdysial lines (not including antennal and ocular tubercle); single tubercle between ecdysial lines, about same size as ocular tubercle; 15 pairs of unbranched setae; six sensory pits (13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21), sensory pit 13 above antennal tubercle.

Thorax. Prothorax with single pair of protuberances bearing single spiracle; spiracular protuberance bearing one pair of dorsal setae anterior to spiracle and single dorsolateral seta; three mid-lateral setae, two long, one short and fine; two closely approximated setae near base of prothoracic leg ( Keilin’s organ). Mesothorax and metathorax with pair of small dorsolateral protuberances and pair of large lateral protuberances; mesothoracic dorsolateral protuberance bearing single thickened seta, metathoracic lateral protuberance bearing pair of closely approximated setae, anterior seta thickened and longer than posterior seta; lateral protuberance on both segments bearing three setae, two short, one long; single long seta slightly ventral to lateral protuberance; one pair of mid-ventrolateral setae. Prothorax bearing proleg, posterior half with rectangular adhesive structure; meso- and metathoracic sternites with rectangular adhesive structure.

Abdomen. Sternites 1-7 modified into circular, suction cup-like adhesive structure; sternite 8 with quadrate adhesive structure; sternite 9 smooth, bearing anal proleg. Segments 1-7 lacking distinct protuberances, at most, pair of dorsolateral swellings bearing single or paired short, thin setae; single seta situated anterolaterally; lateral adhesive structure swelling bearing numerous setae, two anterolateral, two midlateral, four basalateral. Segment 8 with small dorsolateral protuberance on either side of posterior spiracular plate, each bearing pair of small setae; lateral protuberance with single seta; single short ventrolateral seta; ventral sternite bearing pair of setae. Posterior spiracular plate with sclerite encircling procerci; procercus shorter than length of spiracular plate, bearing four setae, two thick, two slender; without cone-like protuberance on either side of procerci. Terminal segment with pair of protuberances, no setae; pair of dorsolateral setae; five lateral setae; two pairs of long setae on posterior margin, above pair of anal papillae; ventral sternite lacking setae.

Additional material examined.

Known only from the type series.

Distribution.

Known only from two localities in the Andes of southern Chile (Fig. 24B View Figure 24 ).

Etymology.

Niphta brunnea is from the Latin brunneus (brown) in allusion to its brown colouration, the darkest of the N. nudipennis group.

Bionomics.

The larvae and pupae both possess the ventral adhesive structures seen in other known immature stages of South American Niphta . Immatures were collected from wetted vegetation in the splash zones, never from rocks (Fig. 26A-C View Figure 26 ). Vegetation included both living and dead plant material, including smooth leaves and herbaceous stems. The vegetation was not in the direct flow of water, but rather lightly splashed by water droplets that maintained enough moisture for the immatures to survive.