Niphta halteralis (Edwards)

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/B94E2F84-5170-5AEB-AE9F-01E1821A88BC
treatment provided by	ZooKeys by Pensoft
scientific name	Niphta halteralis (Edwards)
status

Treatment

Figs 2C View Figure 2 , 3C View Figure 3 , 4C View Figure 4 , 13C, D View Figure 13 , 24A View Figure 24 , 27F View Figure 27

Austrothaumalea halteralis Edwards, 1930: 114. Stuardo, 1946: 42 (catalogue); Stone, 1966: 1 (catalogue); Arnaud, 1977: 284 (distribution).

Niphta halteris (Edwards): Theischinger 1986: 316 (lapsis calami, new combination); McLellan, 1988: 563 (moved to genus Niphta by Theischinger (1986)).

Type material examined.

Holotype: ♂, minuten pinned with abdomen mounted in resin, labelled: "Casa Pangue./ 4-10.xii.1926."; " Austrothaumalea / Austrothaumalea halteralis Edw./ F.W. Edwards/ det. 1930."; "S. Chile:/ Llanquihue prov./ F. & M. Edwards./ B.M. 1927 - 63."; "HOLO-/ TYPE [white label with red margin]"; “NHMUK010210689”.

Recognition.

This species is recognised by its distinct hook-tipped paramere.

Redescription.

The redescriptions of N. halteralis differ from that of N. acus in the following regards:

Male. n = 44.

Length 1.3-2.0 mm.

Colouration (Fig. 4C View Figure 4 ). Head dull, dark brown to black; postpronotal lobe, prescutum and mesoscutum shiny, brown, middle of postscutum light brown; scutellum and mediotergite shiny, light brown; pteropleuron light brown with dispersed dark brown markings; base of halter light brown, knob creamy yellow; legs pale brown, tarsi darker; abdomen dark brown, hind margins of tergites whitish; terminalia light brown.

Head. Frons with two strong setae. Flagellomeres 1-3 subquadrate, slightly expanded, 0.25 × as wide as next segment, slightly shorter than 2 and 3 combined. Vertex with yellow setae of uniform length, with longer, black orbital setae.

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

Wing. Wing length: 2.0-2.9 mm. C and posterior wing margin with fringe of microtrichia; R2+3 distinct, situated slightly before middle of R1(+R2+3); M1 and M2 straight.

Abdomen. Sternites 3-7 rectangular, lacking distinct sclerites, setae restricted to posterior half; sternite 8 strongly arched into preceding segment, lacking setae.

Terminalia (Figs 2C View Figure 2 , 3C View Figure 3 ). Gonocoxite subquadrate; posterior inner margin produced into pointed projection; inner margin densely setose; outer margin without notch. Gonostylus short, about as long as cercus, widest at base, strongly tapered along outer margin with rounded apex; apex slightly flanged outward, appearing pointed in lateral view; distal half bearing setae along outer apical margin, a few setae on inner margin. Parameres fused at gonocoxal apodeme, widest medially, as wide as gonocoxite; extended past posterior margin of epandrium; lateral margins curved ventrally forming canal-like structure with median ‘wings’ projected posteriorly, margins feathered; apex with pointed hook-like projection, recurved and projected anteriorly to left. Gonocoxal plate well sclerotised; tongue-like plate extended anteroventrally; gonocoxal apodeme with secondary bridge connected with base of paramere. Cercus trapezoidal; projected posteroventrally.

Female. n = 6.

Similar to male except as follows: Abdomen. Tergite 9 noticeably more sclerotised than preceding tergites; sternite 8 well sclerotised.

Terminalia (Fig. 13C, D View Figure 13 ). Hypogynial valve with posterior margin deeply emarginated in ventral view, forming two triangular lobes. Tergite 9 oblong in lateral view, twice as wide as tergite 8. Sternite 9 (genital fork) slender, T-shaped; lateral arms not extended beyond hypogynial valve, Y-shaped; with ventral sclerite in hypogynial valve cleft. Two sclerotised, tube-like structures (perhaps spermathecal pumps) dorsal to base of lateral arms in lateral view; spermathecal receptacles and ducts not observed.

Immature stages.

Unknown.

Additional material examined.

Chile: Region X (Los Lagos): Camino de Penetracion @ Hwy. 7 sign, 16.xii.2013, 42°07'57.5"S 72°27'45.3"W, seep, sweeping veg., G.R. Curler (1♂, 1♀ *) GoogleMaps ; Camino de Penetracion @ km post 125.600, 16.xii.2013, 42°03'33.3"S 72°27'07.4"W, rock seep, G.R. Curler (1♂) GoogleMaps ; Casa Pangue, Llanquihue , 12.1926, R&E Shannon, USNMENT01115811 (1♂, USNM) ; Ensenada, nr. Banos de Petrohue , 12.i.1985, J.A. Downes (2♂, CNC; 1♂, USNM (USNMENT01115812)) ; Rte. 215, 12.xii.2016, 40°40'32.4"S 72°17'35.6"W, elev. 252 m, trickle falls, J.K. Moulton & R.J. Pivar (1♂) GoogleMaps ; Rte. U-99, 10.xii.2016, 41°08'09.6"S 72°35'43.3"W, elev. 81 m, roadside falls, J.K. Moulton & R.J. Pivar (15♂; 4♀ *) GoogleMaps ; Rte. U-99, 10.xii.2016, 41°08'28.2"S 72°35'16.8"W, elev. 101 m, roadside seeps/creek, J.K. Moulton & R.J. Pivar (11♂, 1♀ *) GoogleMaps ; Rte. V-69, 12.xii.2016, 41°26'37.7"S 72°17'42.2"W, elev. 34 m, cascading stream, J.K. Moulton & R.J. Pivar (1♂) GoogleMaps ; Rte. V-69, Puente El Salto , 12.xii.2016, 41°31'29.2"S 72°17'14.6"W, elev. 37 m, splash zone above falls, J.K. Moulton & R.J. Pivar (2♂) GoogleMaps ; Region XIV (Los Ríos): Antilhue, Rte. T-35, 9.xii.2016, 39°49'09.8"S 72°56'22.6"W, elev. 40 m, roadside creek, J.K. Moulton & R.J. Pivar (3♂) GoogleMaps ; Valdivia, Los Ulmos Rd. , 15.i.1985, J.A. Downes (5♂, CNC) .