Nymphomyia levanidovae Rohdendorf et Kalugina, 1974

Makarchenko, Eugenyi A., Semenchenko, Alexander A., Krasheninnikov, Andrey B., Yanygina, Lubov V. & Yavorskaya, Nadezhda M., 2024, Review of archaic nymphomyiids (Diptera, Nymphomyiidae) of the Russian Far East and bordering territories, with describing of new taxa and DNA barcoding of known species, Zootaxa 5448 (2), pp. 183-211 : 203-205

Nymphomyia levanidovae Rohdendorf et Kalugina

( Figs. 43–45 )

Nymphomyia levanidovae Rohdendorf et Kalugina, 1974: 687 ; Makarchenko & Makarchenko 1983: 92; Makarchenko et al. 1989: 15; Courtney 1994:15; Makarchenko 1996: 23, 2006: 739; Makarchenko & Gunderina 2019: 75.

Material examined. RUSSIA: 58 adult males , 46 females, Primorye Territory , Khasansk District , Kedrovaya Pad Nature Reserve, Kedrovaya River, 43.097900 N, 131.556867 E, 27. VIII.1986, leg. T. Arefina ; 14 adult males, 12 females, the same data except 3. VI.2012, leg. Makarchenko; 23 adult males, 16 females, the same data except 26. VIII.2013, leg. E. Makarchenko; 1 adult male, Primorye Territory , Pozharskyi District , Antonovskyi Spring , tributary Zeva River, (Bikin River basin), 46.740729 N, 137.387804 E, 24. VII.1995, leg. T. Tiunova .

Adult male (n=10). Pale gray, slightly chitinized. Total length 2.0– 2.6 mm; total length/ wing length 1.09– 1.45.

Head 180–213 µm long and 136–148 µm wide, 1.3–1.4 times longer than wide, gradually narrower anteriorly and ends with a rostrum, which is not expanded distally, its anterior edge is straight or slightly rounded, as in the previous species when viewed from the side, it is slightly curved ventrally in the form of a beak; rostrum dorsally with 7 pairs of setae. The compound eyes on the dorsal side of the head are widely spaced, the distance between them is 2.5–2.6 times the width of the rostrum end; on the ventral side the compound eyes are not fused with each other. Antenna 154–172 µm long, length of 1 st segment 28–40 µm, 2 nd —20–22 µm; 3 rd segment 86–92 µm long, widening towards the apex, with a terminal sensilla consisting of three rod-shaped structures, the largest of which is 14 µm long; antenna 0.78–0.81 times shorter than the head. Labium with a rounded anterior edge, as in the previous species.

Thorax 0.61–0.62 mm long; wing 1.7–1.8 mm long, maximum width 0.26–0.31 mm, boomerang-shaped, with reduced venation, along the margin with long whip-like setae 0.28–0.39 mm long; halteres 0.19–0.22 mm long.

Terminalia ( Fig. 43 ). Abdomen length 1.32–1.82 mm. Segment VIII with a pair of unsclerotized, wide and short internal paratergal projections, equipped at the base with 2–3 close rounded sclerotized tubercles, as well as a pair of sclerotized bare and long (112–116 µm), weakly curved and rounded lateral paratergal projections at the apex, with large basal tubercles 24–32 µm long and protruding to the sides ( Fig. 43 ). Cerci triangular, pubescent, 92–96 µm long; gonocoxite is arcuate, 140–160 µm long, 1.7–2.0 times longer than gonostylus; gonostylus 72–84 µm long, slightly curved, wider and pubescent basally, glabrous and narrow distally; aedeagus 20–24 µm long, 32–36 µm wide, with a rounded apex ( Fig. 43 ).

Adult female (n=8) is generally similar to the male. Total length 2.2–2.8 mm; total length/ wing length 1.25– 1.77.

Head 197–205 µm long and 140 µm wide. The distance between the compound eyes dorsally 3.5–4.0 times the width of end of rostrum. Antenna, like that of a male, 110–116 µm long, 0.75–0.80 times shorter than head.

Thorax 0.57–0.64 mm long. Wing length 1.56–1.76 mm, maximum width 0.20–0.24 mm.

Terminalia ( Figs. 44–45 ). Abdomen length 1.52–1.61 mm. Segment VIII distally with a pair of paratergal nasal projections, 26–28 μm long, and pair of wide and long lateral lobe-shaped projections, 68–70 μm long, directed posteriorly ( Figs. 44–45 ). The median process of sternite IX is elongated, with rounded apex, along the edge of which there are 4 short setae (µm) ( Figs. 44–45 ). The last segment of the abdomen bears elongated triangular cerci with rounded apices, 84–88 µm long, with sparse setae.

Ecology and biology. As a result of hydrobiological research in Southern Primorye N. levanidovae was found in the Kedrovaya River of Kedrovaya Pad Nature Reserve in Khasansk District ( Fig. 55 ), in connection with which it was possible to study its biology. Quantitative collections and observations of N. levanidovae were carried out in the Kedrovaya River from May to October 1978, from June 1979 to August 1980 and in June 1981. It turned out that N. levanidovae has a bivoltine life cycle. Mass emergence of adults of the first generation occurs from the end of May to the beginning of July at a water temperature of 10.2–19 °C, of the second generation—from early September to early November at a water temperature of 8.5–13.8 °C. Adults are also found during the period between mass flights. After emergence, nymphomyiids swarm above the water at a height of about 2 m, here they copulate in the air, then the copulating pairs descend onto damp stones in a watercourse or the surface of the water, lose their wings, plunge into the water and for some time (at least a few hours) live at the bottom of the river. At this time the female lays eggs. Swarming of nymphomyids occurs during sunset. The larvae lead an active lifestyle, moving along the stones with the help of abdominal pseudopods. The larvae feed on microscopic algae, which they scrape from the surface of stones. Pupae and adult insects do not feed ( Makarchenko & Makarchenko 1983).

Distribution. N. levanidovae is known only from South Primorye of the Russian Far East and upper stream of Bikin River (Amur River basin) ( Fig. 2 ).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Map of nymphomyiid localities in the Russian Far East and bordering territories.

FIGURES 43–45. Adult male (43) and female (44–45) terminalia of Nymphomyia levanidovae Rohdendorf et Kalugina, in ventral view. For abbreviations see Figs. 11–16, 30–42. Scale bars—50 μm.

FIGURES 52–57. Localities of Nymphomyia alba Tokunaga (52–53), N. kaluginae Makarchenko (54), N. levanidovae Rohdendorf et Kalugina (55), and N. kannasatoi Makarchenko et Gunderina (56–57). 52, Monobe River, Honshu, Japan (photo by S. Sato); 53, Prozrachnyi Stream, Kunashir Island, Russia (photo by M. Astakhov); 54, Bolshoi Garmakan River, Zeya River basin (photo by E. Makarchenko); 55, Kedrovaya River, South Primorye (photo by E. Makarchenko); 56, Kanna River, Honshu, Japan (photo by S. Sato); 57, Belaya River, South Sakhalin (photo by E. Makarchenko).