Neometrypus azevedoi n. sp.

(Figs 3, 4, 23; Table 1)

Etymology. Species named after Leonardo Gil Azevedo, dipterist (specialist in Simuliidae), and professor at the Departamento de Entomologia (Entomology Department) of the Museu Nacional – UFRJ.

Type locality. Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Itatiaia .

Type material. Holotype male. BR[azil], R[io de]J[aneiro], Parque Nac [ional] Itatiaia / Casa de Pedra / 06.XI.2018 / Souza-Dias. P.G.B. col. (handwritten) | LDC_152; MZSP . Paratype males. (1) Same data as for holotype; MZSP. (2) BR[asil], divisa entre M[inas]G[erais] e R[io de]J[aneiro]/ Parque Nacional Itatiaia/ 29–30.III.2014 / Acima de 2000m / Souza-Dias, P.G.B; Rocha, M.T.; Benetti, J. col. | LDC_005, LDC_006; MZSP. (2) Same data as for previous paratype; MNRJ .

Diagnosis. This species is separated from the other species of Neometrypus by the following characters: general coloration brownish orange, abdominal tergites crossed lengthwise by median and lateral bands dark brown. Male: median projection of metanotum triangular, burnt red. Male genitalia: anterior margin of pseudepiphallic sclerite sub-straight on median region; LLophi straight, inclined inwards.

Description. General morphology. Head. Fastigium as long as wide, pubescent (Fig. 3A). Lateral ocelli rounded, median ocellus absent (Fig. 3C); frons smooth (Fig. 3C). Antennal scape longer than wide, inner margin with bristles. Maxillary palpi articles 4 and 5 almost same-sized, article 3 slightly longer; article 5 slightly upcurved (Fig. 3B).

Thorax. DD as long as wide, covered by bristles. DD cephalic margin sub-straight, caudal margin straight (Fig. 3A). LL ventro-cephalic angle rounded; ventro-caudal angle gradually ascendant in lateral view (Fig. 3B). FWs surpassing posterior margin of metanotum (Fig. 3A).

Legs. TI with three apical spurs, two ventral, one dorsal. TII with three apical spurs, two ventral, one dorsal. TIII subapical spurs have two (sometimes one) spines between each spur, five or seven spines above subapical spurs on inner and outer sides. TIII inner apical spurs: iad>iam>iav; outer apical spurs: oam>oav>oad. Basitarsus dorsal spines 2/1 sometimes 2/2; outer and inner apical spurs same-sized.

Abdomen. Tergites pubescent (Fig. 3A); Supra anal plate posterior margin rounded (Fig. 3E).

Male. Median projection of metanotum triangular; anterior margin slightly rounded, posterior margin wider than anterior margin in dorsal view (Fig. 3D). Subgenital plate longer than wide, posterior margin almost straight (Fig. 3F).

Male genitalia (Fig. 4A–D). Pseudepiphallus: pseudepiphallic sclerite almost straight in lateral view; anterior margin sub-straight on median region, lateral region upcurved in lateral view (Fig. 4A). LLophi straight, inclined inwards, posterior margin rounded in dorsal and ventral views; inner margin membranous, outer margin sclerotized, thin (Fig. 4A, B). PsP almost same-sized as LLophi, posterior margin divided into two lobes, not surpassing posterior margin of pseudepiphallic sclerite in dorsal and ventral views (Fig. 4B); apex of dorsal lobe finger-shaped, inclined inwards; apex of ventral lobe truncated. r elongate, longer than pseudepiphallic sclerite, flattened laterally (Fig. 4A–C). Ectophallic invagination: EctAp longer than LLophi, straight, slightly inclined to outwards in dorsal and ventral views (Fig. 4A); arc not complete, curved posteriorly; ventral projections of ectophallic invagination shorter than arc.

Female. Unknown.

Coloration. Occiput, vertex, pronotum, and abdominal tergites brownish orange (Fig. 3A). Occiput with two median longitudinal reddish stripes (Fig. 3A); face yellowish-brown with stripes gray on ventral margin (Fig. 3C); antennal scape and antennomeres yellowish-brown. FWs slightly translucent, orange; median projection of metanotum burnt red, apex whitish (Fig. 3D); abdominal tergites crossed lengthwise by median and lateral bands dark brown (Fig. 3A); sternites dark brown, anterior and posterior margins light brown; supra anal plate dark brown, posterior margin grayish (Fig. 3E); subgenital plate dark brown (Fig. 3F); cerci light brown. FI and FII light brown, medium brown spotted, TI and TII light brown; FIII yellowish-brown to light brown, slightly striped, distal apex reddish-brown; TIII dark brown, proximal portion reddish-brown; spurs light brown with apex and basis medium brown; tarsomeres light brown (Fig. 3B).