Nigripeza obscura (Hennig)

Marshall, Stephen A., 2022, Amapeza and Nigripeza, new genera of Neotropical micropezid flies (Diptera, Micropezidae, Taeniapterinae), Zootaxa 5092 (3), pp. 251-272 : 267-268

Nigripeza obscura (Hennig)

Figures 8A–8F

Grallipeza obscura Hennig, 1934:300 .

Description: Colour: Body mostly black, frontal vitta orange anterior to ocelli, slightly darker behind; mid femur reddish with a short indistinct dark subbasal band; hind femur with a short, incomplete subbasal band, a slightly darkened distomedian area, and a very weak and easily overlooked preapical band. Tergites black, oviscape pale brown with a darker preapical ring and a pale apex.

Head: Frontal vitta almost parallel-sided behind ocelli, expanded and strongly elevated in front of ocelli, hardly tapered anteriorly and thus broad at anterior margin. Orbital plate finely striate and thus slightly dulled relative to bare and shiny epicephalon. Clypeus sparsely microsetulose anteriorly and posterolaterally but extent of microsetulosity variable.

Thorax: One dorsocentral bristle. Thoracic pleuron with dense silvery microsetulosity except on anterior half of anepisternum. Notum uniformly, sparsely and indistinctly microsetulose, with a barely distinguishable underlying pattern of narrow vittae.

Abdomen: Upper halves of P1 and P3 white, elongate oval patch on P2 very dark, remainder of pleuron slightly darkened.

Female abdomen: Major (paired) spermathecal duct elongate and almost parallel-sided, gradually expanded to a slightly swollen apex from which very long, transversely striate, and strongly convoluted stems lead to 2 funnelshaped spermathecae. Spermathecae with distinct outpocketings at base and broad distal invaginations. Minor (single) duct much smaller but similar in shape, single spermatheca small.

Male abdomen. Genital fork shallowly cleft at base, each arm short and broad, slightly incurved at apex, with 10–11 short stout bristles on mesal surface, mostly clustered at apex. Distiphallus short and broad, ending in a broad phallic bulb. Ejaculatory apodeme larger than epandrium.

Type material: Holotype (female, antennae missing, SMTD, examined): BOLIVIA. Mapiri 21.03, S. Carlos, 800m.

Other material examined: BOLIVIA. La Paz. Rio Merke , 3 km NW Mapiri, 15°18'48"S 68°14'25" W, disturbed secondary forest, 8.Apr.2001, S.A. Marshall (2♀, DEBU) ; Guanay , 38 km S, roadside stream, 12.Apr.2001, S.A. Marshall (1♀, 1♂, DEBU) . BRAZIL. Rio Negro, downstream Uaupes, last right tributary of Rio Curicunari , 5.Mar.1994, M. von Tschirnhaus (2♀, DEBU) ; Rondonia, Nova Mamore, Parque Estadual de Guajara = Mirim , Rio Formoso , 20–27.x.1995, Vidal and Aquino, Malaise (1♂, 1♀, INPA) . COLOMBIA. Putumayo. PNN La Pay Cabana Viviano, Varzea , 320m, 15–30.Oct.2001, Malaise, R. Cobete, M 2438 (1♂, 1♀, IAVH) . ECUADOR. Napo. Jatun Sacha Reserve, 6 km E Misahualli, 450m, Apr. 6–8.May.2002, S.A. Marshall (1♂, 2♀, DEBU) , as previous but dung pans, M. Buck (1♂, DEBU) ; Tiputini Biological Station , viii.1999, M. Kotrba (2♂, DEBU) ; Loreto, Narupayacu Biological Station , 00°43ʹ30ʺ S, 77°46ʹ2.8ʺ W; 1138 m., 10.v.2019, S.A. Marshall (1♀, photographed in the field) . FRENCH GUIANA. Mitaraka , MIT-A-RBF 2, 287m, on vegetation along muddy trail and swamp, 28.ii.2015, M. Pollett (1♂, NMHN) . GUYANA. Mazaruni-Potaro District, Takutu Mtns , 18.Dec.1983, Earthwatch expedition, W. Steiner (1♀, USNM) . PERU. Madre de Dios, Rio Pini Pini and Rio Amalia confluence nr. Manu N.P., 17.Apr.2004, M. von Tschirnhaus (1♂, DEBU) . Quincemil , Cuzco, viii, 1962, 740m, L. Pena (2♀, 1♂, CNCI) ; Avispas , Madre de Dios, 1–15X. 1962, 400m, L. Pena (1♀, 1♂, CNCI) .

Comments: Nigripeza obscura is recognized by its distinctive spermathecal complex, characteristically shaped genital fork, broad and mostly orange frontal vitta, and the broad and well-defined basal dark band on its hind femur. One specimen, a male from French Guiana, lacks postocellar bristles. Nigripeza obscura seems to be widespread in South American lowland rainforests.

Figures

FIGURES 8A–8F. Nigripeza obscura (Hennig).A, living male, Ecuador; B, male sternite 5 and genital fork; C, male terminalia, left lateral, with sperm pump and ejaculatory apodeme detached; D, spermatheca and associated structures; E, type female; F, living female, Ecuador.