Niphta bispinosa Pivar and Sinclair, 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/9A9B5605-3AD0-4019-8019-BF8C47828DA5
taxon LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:act:9A9B5605-3AD0-4019-8019-BF8C47828DA5
treatment provided by	ZooKeys by Pensoft
scientific name	Niphta bispinosa Pivar and Sinclair
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Niphta bispinosa Pivar and Sinclair sp. nov.

Figs 6C View Figure 6 , 8C View Figure 8 , 9F View Figure 9 , 10F View Figure 10 , 11C View Figure 11 , 12C View Figure 12 , 24B View Figure 24 , 27B, D View Figure 27

Type material.

Holotype: ♂, glued to point with abdomen in glycerine microvial pinned beneath, labelled: "Chile: Region VII (Maule)/ Los Queñes, Rte. J-25,/ 6.xii.2016, 34°59'46.7"S 70°49'19.2"W / elev. 679 m, cascading creek,/ J.K. Moulton & R.J. Pivar"; "HOLOTYPE/ Niphta / Niphta bispinosa / Pivar & Sinclair [red label]" (CNC). Allotype: ♀*, same data as holotype (CNC). Paratype: Chile: Region VII (Maule): Los Queñes, Rte. J-25, 6.xii.2016, 34°59'48.8"S 70°48'37.0"W, elev. 684 m, seep, J.K. Moulton & R.J. Pivar (1♀*).

Recognition.

This species is recognised by the cheliform gonostylus with non-bifurcate apices and the gonocoxite with two projections, the anterior one long and bifurcate, the posterior one small, tooth-like. It is lighter in colouration than the closely related N. brunnea .

Description.

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

Male. n = 1.

Length 1.9-2.4 mm.

Colouration (Figs 9F View Figure 9 , 10F View Figure 10 ). Pronotum and postpronotum brown; postpronotal lobe and lateral margins of prescutum pale yellow; remaining scutum shiny, brown, pleura yellow; postscutum with medial brown spot above scutoscutellar suture, encircled by yellowish brown margin; scutellum shiny, yellow; mediotergite shiny, dark brown except anterior margin yellow; katepisternum mainly brown, lighter near anterior spiracle; remaining pteropleuron mainly pale yellow with dispersed brown markings; base of halter yellow, distal half of stalk and knob grey; legs pale yellow, apex of tarsi darker; terminalia light brown.

Head. Frons with three strong setae. Flagellomere 1 expanded, 1.5 × as wide as next segment, equal in length to 2 and 3 combined.

Wing. Wing length: 2.0-2.4 mm. Lightly infuscate throughout; bend in R4+5 gentle.

Terminalia (Figs 6C View Figure 6 , 8C View Figure 8 ). Posterior margin of epandrium rounded, with narrow medial cleft. Gonocoxites oblong, wider than long; anterior margin rounded, somewhat expanded dorsally behind gonocoxal plate, not closely approximated; with two spine-like projections; anterior projection bifurcate, projected posteriorly, 3 × longer than posterior projection; posterior projection short, tooth-like; margin around gonostylus setose. Gonostylus cheliform, dorsoventrally flattened, margins concave creating bowl-like appearance; anterior apex with a few indistinct setae, posterior apex 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, strongly curved anteriorly, blade-like, ventral margin serrate; ventral arm extended posteroventrally presumably to aid in copulation; when retracted, rests 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 subquadrate, basal margin cleft; pair of dorsal arms connected to parameres; medial aedeagal guide projected ventrally between gonostyli, well sclerotised, comprising two parts: anterior Y-shaped structure and posterior triangular plate. Cercus prominent, ovoid.

Female. n = 2.

Similar to male except as follows: Terminalia (Figs 11C View Figure 11 , 12C View Figure 12 ). Posterior margin of hypogynial valve deeply cleft in ventral view, forming two quadrate lobes. Tergite 9 twice as wide as tergite 8. Sternite 9 (genital fork) slender, Y-shaped at both ends; lateral arms forming complex of highly modified structures: medial heavily sclerotised circular opening, dorsal to posterior opening of hypogynial valve, with pair of lateral sclerotised triangular expansions. Spermathecae not observed.

Immature stages.

Unknown.

Additional material examined.

Known only from the type series.

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality in central Chile (Fig. 24B View Figure 24 ).

Etymology.

Niphta bispinosa is named in reference to the two projections from the gonocoxite.