Niphta downesi 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/11210E93-FC16-4315-BD7A-8974A93E782C
taxon LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:act:11210E93-FC16-4315-BD7A-8974A93E782C
treatment provided by	ZooKeys by Pensoft
scientific name	Niphta downesi Pivar
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Niphta downesi Pivar sp. nov.

Figs 2B View Figure 2 , 3B View Figure 3 , 4B View Figure 4 , 24A View Figure 24 , 27A View Figure 27

Type material.

Holotype: ♂, glued to point with abdomen in glycerine microvial pinned beneath, labelled: "Chile: Region XIV (Los Ríos)/ Rte. T-85, 13.xii.2016/ 40°19'58.6"S 72°16'56.1"W / elev. 95 m, roadcut seep, J.K./ Moulton & R.J. Pivar"; "HOLOTYPE/ Niphta / Niphta downesi / Pivar [red label]" (CNC). Paratypes: Chile: Region X (Los Lagos): Ensenada, nr. Baños de Petrohué, 12.i.1985, J.A. Downes (1♂, CNC); Region XIV (Los Ríos): same data as holotype (1♂); Rte. T-85, 13.xii.2016, 40°19'58.7"S 72°16'54.8"W, elev. 145 m, foliage around waterfalls, J.K. Moulton & R.J. Pivar (12 ♂).

Recognition.

This species is recognised by both filaments of the paramere and the aedeagal guide being easily visible in lateral view, giving it a tri-filamentous appearance. Also, the bend in the gonostylus is slightly stronger than that of N. mapuche .

Description.

The description of N. downesi differs from that of N. acus in the following regards:

Male. n = 3.

Length 1.9-2.4 mm.

Colouration (Fig. 4B View Figure 4 ). Head dull, black; pronotum and postpronotum black; postpronotal lobe, prescutum and mesoscutum shiny, blackish brown, lateral face of postpronotal lobe brown, creamy around anterior spiracle; scutellum blackish brown dorsally, light brown ventrally; mediotergite shiny, blackish brown; pteropleuron mainly brown with dispersed markings of black and dark brown; base of halter blackish, knob creamy yellow; abdomen blackish brown.

Head. Frons with two strong setae. Flagellomeres 1-3 subquadrate, expanded, 1.5 × as wide as next segment, as long as 2 and 3 combined.

Thorax. Antealar ridge bearing single pronounced, medial seta flanked by two smaller setae.

Wing. Wing length: 2.2-2.4 mm. C and posterior wing margin with fringe of microtrichia.

Abdomen. Sternites 3-7 with setae restricted to posterior two-thirds and laterad; sternite 8 strongly arched into preceding segment, lacking setae.

Terminalia (Figs 2B View Figure 2 , 3B View Figure 3 ). Gonocoxite subquadrate, posterior inner margin produced into pointed projection, outer margin notched. Gonostylus short, slightly more than half-length of cercus, strongly arched outwards; apex pointed. Parameres distally fused, widest medially, as wide as gonocoxite; extended past posterior margin of epandrium; lateral margins curved ventrally, canal-like medially in ventral view, then tapered rapidly to filamentous, pointed apex projected posterodorsally, extended beyond epandrium; medial structure cradled within canal, protruded ventrally; in lateral view ending at halfway point of longest filament. Gonocoxal apodeme with secondary structure comprising single filament, running along interior of paramere canal, projected ventrally at apex. Cercus trapezoidal; projected posteroventrally; situated within epandrial indentation.

Female. Unknown.

Immature stages.

Unknown.

Additional material examined.

Known only from the type series.

Distribution.

Known from the foothills of the southern Andes in Chile (Fig. 24A View Figure 24 ).

Etymology.

Niphta downesi is named in honour of veterinary and medical entomologist J.A. Downes, who collected the first specimen of this species in 1985.