Scipopus (Phaeopterina) narupa, Lindsay & Marshall, 2023

Lindsay, Kate & Marshall, Stephen A., 2023, A revision of Scipopus Enderlein including the subgenera Scipopus s. str., Phaeopterina Frey and Parascipopus subgen. nov. (Diptera, Micropezidae, Taeniapterinae), European Journal of Taxonomy 904, pp. 1-189 : 142-144

Scipopus (Phaeopterina) narupa sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:5034DA1D-9B72-4D92-A75F-8455C572AE1D

Figs 62–63

Differential diagnosis

Scipopus (Phaeopterina) narupa sp. nov. is easily distinguished from consubgeners by the blue-black, wide epicephalon and the primarily dark brown or black body with dark brown or black legs.

Etymology

The species name is a noun in apposition inspired by the type locality.

Type material examined

Holotype

ECUADOR • 1 ♀; Napo, Narupayacu ; 0°43′30″ N, 77°46′02″ W; 1100 m a.s.l.; 3 May 2019; K. Lindsay leg.; QCAZ (photographed, Fig. 62A, C–D ).

Paratypes

ECUADOR • 1 ♂, 11 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; QCAZ .

Other material examined

ECUADOR • 2 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; DEBU (♂, ♀ dissected and photographed, Fig. 62B, E–F ) • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; debu0399728/MYCRO810-20 sequenced for CO1–5′; DEBU • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; debu0399675/MYCRO811-20 sequenced for CO1–5′; DEBU • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; debu00399732/MYCRO816-20 sequenced for CO1–5′; DEBU .

Description

LENGTH. 11–12 mm.

HEAD. Palpus orange, pale microtrichose and black setulose, narrow (length 4.5× height). Clypeus orange, width ~2.0 × height, entirely silvery microtrichose. Frontal vitta dull, orange, microtrichose, posteriorly tapered. Epicephalon black, shiny, bare, wide (width ⅔ or more of upper frontal vittal width at inner verticals), clearly delineated from upper frontal vitta. One of the two usual lower fronto-orbital setae absent, postocellar seta present or absent, all other head chaetotaxy well-developed.

THORAX. Scutum black with a wide, silvery-blue median sheen. Female cervical sclerite relatively flat. Postpronotal lobe black, with dense tuft of setulae on anterior corner. Notopleuron black with silvery-blue microtrichia outlining anterior notopleural seta and extending onto ventral margin. Thorax black with blue sheen, entirely silvery microtrichose. Legs black; fore and hind tarsomere 1 black with ventral golden fringe. Wing evenly black-brown infuscate.

ABDOMEN (J+ ♀). T1 with fine, long, white setae.

FEMALE ABDOMEN. Pleuron pale grey, dorsal and ventral third of P2–5 dark brown or grey, leaving an indistinct pale convex median line on pleuron ( Fig. 62G ). T1+2 ~1.8 × length of T3; posterior margin of T2 ~1.4× as wide as T1. Oviscape black, medium-length black setulose and white microtrichose on anterior ½, ~3.0× length of T6. Spermathecal ducts arising independently from bursa copulatrix. Paired spermathecal duct short (4.0 × length of paired spermathecae), narrow basally, swollen distally. Paired spermathecal stems long, narrow, inornate. Paired spermathecae nearly crescent-shaped, tapered apically. Single spermathecal duct narrow, same diameter as paired duct at base, same length as paired duct, swollen apically. Single spermatheca large (larger than paired), elongate, cup-shaped, with sparse tubercles.

MALE ABDOMEN. Pleuron pale grey, dorsal half of P2–5 dark brown. T1+2 ~2.0 × length of T3. Genital fork 2.5× as long as T6, arms converging; inner basal process ¹/6 the length of arm. Epandrium stout, length ~1.5× height, posteroventral margin short setose. Basiphallus frame-like. Basal distiphallus long (≈ length of epandrium). Phallic bulb large, elongate (length 3.0× height), irregular and complex, with multiple chambers, either terminating in a tube-like opening or a very short, wide distal distiphallus. Phallapodeme very broad and expanded apically. Anterior hypandrium broad and expanded.

Remarks

We observed S. (Ph.) narupa sp. nov. feeding at a dung bait in Narupayacu, Ecuador in a characteristic posture previously noted in S. (Ph.) stigmatica , with the abdomen almost perpendicular to the feeding surface ( Fig. 63B ). A female of this species has been photographed with an associated pseudoscorpion (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31649795).

Distribution

Ecuador.

Figures

Fig. 62. Scipopus (Phaeopterina) narupa sp. nov. A. Head, ♀, anterolateral view, Ecuador, holotype (QCAZ). B. Female spermathecae and associated structures, Ecuador, non-type (DEBU). C. Head and thorax, dorsal view, holotype (QCAZ). D. Habitus, holotype (QCAZ). E. Male terminalia, lateral view, Ecuador, non-type (DEBU).F. Male genital fork, ventral view, Ecuador, non-type (DEBU).G. Living,♀, Ecuador. Abbreviations: bdp = basal distiphallus; e = epandrium; h = hypandrium; p =phallapodeme; pb = phallic bulb; pd= paired spermathecal duct; ps = paired spermatheca; pss = paired spermathecal stem; sd = single spermathecal duct; ss = single spermatheca.

Fig. 63. Scipopus (Phaeopterina) narupa sp. nov. A. Living, ♀, Ecuador. B. Feeding, with abdomen upright, ♀, Ecuador (photo: K. Lindsay).