Nostima negramaculata, Edmiston, James F. & Mathis, Wayne N., 2007

Edmiston, James F. & Mathis, Wayne N., 2007, New Zealand species of the shore-fly genus Nostima Coquillett (Diptera: Ephydridae), Zootaxa 1661, pp. 1-16 : 9-13

Nostima negramaculata , sp. nov.

( Figs. 9–14, 17 , 20–21 )

Diagnosis.This species is distinguished from other congeners by the following combination of characters: crossveins r-m and dm-cu brown surrounded with dark spots; dark spots variable: 1–4 across r1 cell, 3–4 across r2+3 cell, 4–5 in r4+5 cell, 2–3 distad to dm-cu, 2–3 in cua1; thorax with dense silvery gray microtomentum on postpronotum; tergites completely covered with dense silvery bluish gray microtomentum.

Description. Adults, small shore flies, body length 1.04–1.36 mm; yellowish brown to brown with silvery gray and yellowish silver microtomentum.

Head. Frons yellowish brown with silvery gray microtomentum, anterior semicircle with yellowish silver microtomentum. Occiput yellowish brown silvery gray microtomentum. Lateral vertical seta 3/4 length of medial vertical seta; paravertical seta absent. Scape brown; basal flagellomere brown; arista filamentose. Facial background yellowish brown with yellowish silver microtomentum; band of silvery gray microtomentum along eye margin from antennal bases, along parafacial, and extending to the gena. Gena and postgena covered with silvery gray microtomentum; postgena ventrally shiny, brown. Maxillary palpus dark yellowish brown; prementum brown.

Thorax. ( Fig. 17 ). Scutal length 0.36–0.47 mm; scutellar length 0.16–0.21. Mesonotum yellowish-brown with yellowish silver and silvery bluish gray microtomentum, silvery gray vittae medially and along dorsocentral line; silvery gray microtomentose vitta along dorsocentral line with silvery gray microtomentum sparse between dorsocentral setae and dense posteriorly and anteriorly of dorsocentral setae covering postpronotum and postalar region; scutellum yellowish-brown with yellowish silver microtomentum, laterally with dense silvery gray microtomentum contiguous with silvery gray dorsocentral vitta on mesonotum; anepisternum brown with bluish silvery gray microtomentum; katepisternum brown with silvery bluish gray microtomentum; anatergite brown silvery gray microtomentum. Chaetotaxy: anterior dorsocentral seta 3/4 length of posterior seta; anterior notopleural seta 3/4 length of posterior seta; lateral scutellar seta 3/4 length of apical seta, apical setae convergent and on some specimens crossed. Wing ( Fig. 20–21 ): length 0.94–1.23 mm; width 0.48–0.63 mm; costa-vein ratio 0.38–0.42; M-vein ration 0.19–0.31; background amber, maculate with brown spots, veins brown to dark brown; crossveins r-m and dm-cu brown surrounded with dark spots; dark spots variable: 1 to 4 across r1 cell, 3 or 4 across r2+3 cell, 4 or 5 in r4+5 cell, 2 or 3 in distally to dm-cu, 2 or 3 in cua1. Halter yellowish white. Legs brown with silvery bluish gray microtomentum

Abdomen. ( Figs. 10–11 ). Background brown; tergites covered with silvery bluish gray microtomentum. Male terminalia. ( Figs. 12–14 ). Epandrium-cerci-surstyli complex fused; epandrium a narrow U-shaped dorsal band; cercus crescent-shaped and bearing several long setulae, separated dorsally from epandrium by narrow V-shaped space; surstylus fused dorsally with epandrium, with long posteroventral setae on a broadly rounded ventral projection; phallapodeme triangular in lateral view, posterior projection spatulate, anterior projections broadly rounded; aedeagus heavily sclerotized with anterior oval-shaped opening, small posteroventral indentation, broad anterodorsal projection and rounded anteroventral projection; gonite and hypandrium broadly fused anteriorly, with broadly rounded posteroventral projection with small pit-shaped structure, prominent ventromedial setula, and broadly rounded ventral projection; hypandrium rounded anteriorly.

Type specimen. The holotype male is labeled “ NEW ZEALAND. SL: TeWaewae Lagoon (46°12.3'S, 167°38.1'E) 19 Jan 2004, W.N. Mathis [white]/ USNM ENT 0 0 0 26912 [white with barcode mounted upside down on pin]/HOLOYPE ɗ Nostima negramaculata Edmiston & Mathis NZAC [red].” The holotype is double mounted with the minuten through the center of the right thorax (minuten in a small rectangular block of silicone), is in excellent condition, and is deposited in the NZAC.

Other specimens examined. NEW ZEALAND. NORTH ISLAND. AK: Auckland, Mt. Albert, Mt. Albert Road (36°53.6'S, 174°43.2'E), 29 Feb 1976, T. K. Crosby (1Ψ; NZAC). ND: Sandy Bay (35°33.4'S, 174°28.5'E; beach), 6 Oct 2002, D. and W. N. Mathis (2ɗ, 1Ψ; USNM); Whananaki South (mangrove and beach; 35°31.1'S, 174°27.2'E), 6–8 Oct 2002, D. and W. N. Mathis (1Ψ; USNM); TO: Tokaanu (37°58.2'S, 175°46.2'E), 3–5 Jan 2004, W. N. Mathis (2ɗ; USNM).

SOUTH ISLAND. FD: Monowai (45°46.5'S, 167°37'E; 120 m), 20 Jan 2004, W. N. Mathis (1ɗ, 3Ψ; USNM). NC: Arthur's Pass, Andrews stream (42°58.7'S, 171°47.9'E), 30 Nov 1977, E. Schlinger (1ɗ, 1Ψ; NZAC). SL: TeWaewae Lagoon (46°12.3'S, 167°38.1'E), 19 Jan 2004, W. N. Mathis (26ɗ, 19Ψ; USNM).

Distribution. ( Fig. 9). Australasian/Oceanian: New Zealand (AK, FD, NC, ND, SL, TO).

Etymology. The species epithet is derived from a description of the black spots on the wing, especially the black spots over the crossveins.

Remarks. Variation in the wing maculation patterns can be seen even on the same specimen between the left and right wings.

Figures

FIGURES 15 – 17. Dorsal view of microtomentose patterns on mesonotum: 15. Nostima duoseta Cresson (male). 16. N. kiwistriata sp. nov. (female). 17. N. negramaculata sp. nov. (male). Scale bar = 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 18 – 21. Right wing, dorsal view: 18. Nostima duoseta Cresson (male). 19. N. kiwistriata sp. nov. (female). 20. N. negramaculata sp. nov. (male). 21. N. negramaculata sp. nov. (male). Scale bar = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 10 – 14. Nostima negramaculata sp. nov. (male). 10. Abdominal tergites, microtomentose patterns, dorsal view (scale bar = 0.25 mm). 11. Same, lateral view (scale bar = 0.25 mm). 12. Male terminalia (epandrium, cercus, fused surstylus), lateral view (scale bar = 0.1 mm). 13. Internal male terminalia, ventral view (scale bar = 0.1 mm. 14. Same, lateral view (scale bar = 0.1 mm).