Tomosvaryella nyctias ( Perkins, 1905 )

Motamedinia, Behnam, Földvari, Mihaly, Skevington, Jeffrey H. & Kelso, Scott, 2023, Revision of Australian Tomosvaryella Aczél (Diptera: Pipunculidae) with description of 100 new species, Zootaxa 5599 (1), pp. 1-271 : 157-160

Tomosvaryella nyctias ( Perkins, 1905)

Figs: 71A–E, 133, 154B

Pipunculus nyctias Perkins, 1905

Diagnosis: This species can be recognized by short surstyli curved towards each other in dorsal view ( Fig. 71A ); long subepandrial sclerite; elongated gonopods, right one with a triangular projection; distinct hypandrial apodeme in ventral view ( Fig. 71B ); phallic guide with dense hairs dorsomedially in lateral view ( Fig. 71D–E ).

Redescription: MALE: Body length: 2.5–2.8 mm. Head. Flagellum acuminate; yellow-brown. Face silvery pollinose. Frons, upper part shining black, longer than usual; lower part distinctly silver pollinose, shorter than usual; eyes touching for distance equal to 1–1.5 times the length of ocellar triangle. Occiput silvery pollinose, less so on upper 1/3. Thorax. Postpronotum pale, with 3–4 pale bristles. Mesonotum (viewed obliquely from front) shiny brown, without greyish pollinosity. Scutellum shiny with 4–6 weak bristles along the distal edge. Dorsocentral bristles distinct, pale, somewhat longer along frontal edge, pale bristles around postpronotum absent. Halter, knob pale with dark brown spot at tip, stem brown. Legs. Mid coxa with 3 long dark bristles (one is shorter). Trochanters pale brown with some yellow distally, femora dark brown, shining ventrally, silvery pollinose posteriorly except shiny hind femur; knees and basal ¼ of tibiae yellow (tibiae otherwise brown), tarsal segments yellow-brown, ventrally somewhat paler, last segment darker. Hind trochanter with no special features, in posterior view it looks like a half circle, straight on dorsal side; ventrobasal spines absent on fore and mid femur. Ventroapical row of spines on fore femur 3–4; 6–7 small, black spines on mid femur; hind femur without ventroapical spines, except 20–22 equally spaced bristles posteroventrally, longer on the distal half, longest at 2/3 from the base, in length up to the width of hind tibia at distal end. Subapical (distal) spines on first four tibiae present (short). Hind tibia slightly bent in posterior view. Hind metatarsus slightly flattened and almost as long as 2–5 combined and with scrub-like bristles ventrally. Pulvilli shorter than last tarsal segment. Wing. Length: 2.5–2.6 mm. Upper side of basal costal cell with one long brown bristle. Fourth costal section 1.5–1.7 times as long as third costal section (fourth section appears to be very short). Cross-vein r-m at proximal 1/3 of discal cell, sometimes more proximal. 2–3 distinct brown setulae on tegula. Abdomen. Viewed obliquely from front tergites shining brown, tergite 1 silvery grey, no silvery pollinose on tergites. Dispersed strong dark bristles on all tergites present, longest on tergite 5 up to 0.5 times the width of hind tibia at distal end. Lateral bristles on first tergite present, 2–3 weak bristles up to 0.4–0.5 times as long as width of hind femur at base. Postabdomen in dorsal view: T6, S7 invisible; T5 1.8–2.2 times as long as ST8. Genitalia without dissection: ST8 medium sized rounded in dorsal view, brown and with the occasional distinct bristles, otherwise velvet-like coverage; membranous area round, directed posteriorly; epandrium brown (sometimes yellow distally), surstyli pale brown and short. Genitalia. Genital capsule in dorsal view: epandrium longer than wide (MLE:MWE = 1.7). Surstyli symmetrical and short, widened at base, moderately narrowed in middle, both surstyli inclined together ( Fig. 71A ). Genital capsule in ventral view: phallic guide straight and slender, gonopods equal in height, elongated towards surstyli, right one with a triangular projection, subepandrial sclerite long, widened at base; hypandrial apodeme distinct ( Fig. 71B ). Genital capsule in lateral view: right surstylus straight, bent towards sternite in apical fourth; left surstylus straight in ventral margin; both surstyli more broadened at middle; phallic guide pointed at apex with dense hairs dorsomedially ( Fig. 71D–E ). Ejaculatory apodeme tube-like, bent, with a bulb in its middle ( Fig. 71C ).

FEMALE: Body length: 2.5 mm. As male except for the following characters. Frons, eyes separated, as wide as 1.5 times the width at antennae; completely silver-grey pollinose until up to 1/3 of the lower frons, shiny black in front of ocellar triangle, in the transition zone, pollinose area grades to shiny black; frons slightly depressed at the point where it is widest. Enlarged ommatidia silvery shining. Pulvilli and claws about 2–2.5 times as long as last tarsal segment, smaller on metatarsi. Female abdomen with no silver spots on sides of tergites. Ovipositor. Base of ovipositor dark brown with some scattered short dark bristles, piercer straight. LP:LB = 3.3. LDP:LPP = 3.5. ( Fig. 154B ).

Examined material: Type material examined: LECTOTYPE [HERE DESIGNATED]: AUSTRALIA: Queensland: Bundaberg, 24°52’S, 152°21’E, vi.1904, CNCD5532, (1♂, BPBM); PARALECTOTYPES: AUSTRALIA: same data as lectotype, BMNH(E)964034, CNCD5531, CNCD5533 (1♂, BMNH; 1♂, 1♀, BPBM); North Queensland, 16°54’S, 145°45’E, JSS4168 (1♂, ZMAN); Other material examined: AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: Cabbage Tree Creek, Clyde Mountain, 35°35’S, 150°1’E, 1.II.1973, D.H. Colless, JSS8553 (1♂, ANIC); Coocumbac Island Nature Reserve, Taree, 31°54’S, 152°27’E, ex. floodplain, rainforest, 21–30.XI.1994, G. & T. Williams, [specimen badly faded], JSS15984 (1♂, QM); Bruxner Park, 30°14’S, 153°6’E, 19.IV.1970, D.H. Colless, “site (1) & (2) see field notes”, JSS8673 (1♂, ANIC); Brunswick Heads, 28°32’S, 153°33’E, 22.v.1966, Z. Liepa, JSS9208 (1♂, ANIC); Coocumbac Island Nature Reserve, Taree, 31°55’S, 152°27’E, floodplain rainforest, 24–25.x.1994, G.&T. Williams, JSS8730 (1♂, AMS); Nelligen (tidal flat), 35°38’S, 150°8’E, 1.ii.1973, D.H. Colless, JSS8498 (1♂, ANIC); Pisgah Ridge near Glenbrook, Blue Mountains National Park, 33°50’S, 150°33’E, 210m, 5.ii–25.iii.1988, G.R. Brown, Malaise trap, JSS8747 (1♀, ASCU); Royal National Park, E waterfall rail. stat., 34°9’S, 151°1’E, diff. types forest, 12.x.2002, leg. B. Merz/10, JSS14362 (1♂, MHNG); Sydney, Centennial Park, 33°53’S, 151°13’E, ex. eucalypt forest, 9.x.1994, B.J. Sinclair, [badly eaten out by dermestids], JSS9686–7 (2♂, CNC); Toukley, 33°16’S, 151°32’E, 18.i.1963, Z. Liepa, JSS9233 (1♂, ANIC); Northern Territory: 5 km NNW of Cahills Crossing, East Alligator River, 12°5’S, 132°35’E, 9.VI.1973, D.H. Colless, JSS8658 (1♂, ANIC); 22 km WSW Borroloola, 16°8’S, 136°7’E, 17.iv.1976, D.H. Colless, at light, JSS9212 (1♂, ANIC); Barramundi Creek, 13°19’S, 132°26’E, woodland, 13.v.1998, R. Lynch, Malaise trap, JSS7750 (1♂, QM); woodland, 14.v.1998, R. Lynch, Non-Riparian Zone; Malaise trap 3, JSS7904 (1♂, QM); Koolpin Crossing, [South Alligator River], 13°33’S, 132°33’E, riparian zone, 20.v.1998, R. Lynch, Malaise trap 3, JSS7906 (1♂, QM); Queensland: 1 km N of Eclectus, Iron Range, 12°46’S, 143°17’E, 20m, 10.VII.1997, G. and A. Daniels, JSS50571 (1♂, QM); 2 km East Almaden, 17°20’S, 144°41’E, 22.IV.1983, J.F. Donaldson & J.F. Grimshaw, D.vac, JSS8958 (1♂, QDPC); 2 km SE Drillham, 26°38’S, 150°0’E, along creek, 8.X.1974, I.D. Galloway, JSS8940 (1♂, QDPC); 20 km E Mareeba, 17°0’S, 145°26’E, 15.IV.1980, G.F. Hevel & J.A. Fortin, JSS10522 (1♂, USNM); 3 km NE of Mount Webb, 15°3’S, 145°9’E, 30.IV.1981, D.H. Colless, Malaise trap, JSS8609 (1♂, ANIC); Acacia Ridge , 27°35’S, 153°1’E, 23.IX.1962, E.B.Teh, JSS103 (1♂, QM); Birthday Creek trail near Paluma, 18°59’S, 146°9’E, 774m, 22.XI.2014, J.H., A.M. & A.W. Skevington, CNC374674 (1♂, CNC); Camp Mountain, SE Queensland, 27°24’S, 152°53’E, open sclerophyll gully, 27.XI–7.XII.1979, Marks, Malaise trap, JSS8930 (1♂, QDPC); Carnarvon Station (CN2M1), 24°49’S, 147°45’E, 757m, brigalow on grassy hillside, 24.XI–13.XII.2010, C. Zwick, Malaise trap, CNC575279 (1♂, QM); Maroochy Horticulture Research Station, Nambour, SE Queensland, 26°37’S, 152°57’E, 15–22.III.1985, Malaise trap, JSS8949–50 (2♂, QDPC); Prince of Wales Island, Torres Strait, 10°41’S, 142°11’E, 29.V.1969, Neboiss, JSS8784 (1♂, MVMA); Connor’s River, 99.7 km SWS Sarina, 22°41’S, 149°7’E, 5.vii.1971, Z. Liepa, JSS9161 (1♂, ANIC); Mount Coot-tha foothills, 27°29’S, 152°57’E, 26.vi.1985, Z. Liepa, JSS9203–4 (2♂, QM); Mount Glorious, Scrub Creek Road, Brisbane Forest Park, 27°25’S, 152°50’E, 9–16.i.1998, N. Power, Malaise trap, JSS7778 (1♂, QM); Pine Mountain, summit, central Queensland, 21°45’S, 148°50’E, 600m, vine scrub, 5–6.x.1999, C.J. Burwell, S.G. Evans, Malaise trap, JSS9145 (1♂, QM); Proserpine, Lilly pool Site:XY18, 16°52’S, 179°53’W, 30m, 15–22.viii.2007, J. Stanisic, Malaise trap, 15048, CNCD159558 (1♀, CNC); West Burleigh, 28°6’S, 153°26’E, 4.v.1970, Z. Liepa, JSS9175–6 (2♂, ANIC); 4 km up Black Mountain Road via Kuranda, 16°49’S, 145°38’E, 14.IX–12.X.1982, Malaise trap, JSS8968 (1♂, QDPC); Brisbane Forest Park, Enoggera Creek at Scrub Road Crossing, 27°26’S, 152°50’E, 200m, 6–9.XI.1995, M.E. Irwin, CNCD147459 (1♂, CNC); Kuranda, 15 km NW Cairns, 16°49’S, 145°38’E, tropical rainforest and riverine habitat, 9.X.1983, E.I. Schlinger & M.E. Irwin, JSS3944 (1♂, INHS); Brisbane Forest Park, Scrub Creek, 27°26’S, 152°50’E, 28.IX– 15.X.2002, J. Skevington, J.M. Cumming, Malaise trap, JSM564, JSS13115 (1♂, CNC); Lamington National Park, 28°12’S, 153°10’E, 25.V.1962, J. Cribb, JSS8250 (1♂, QM); Mareeba Shire, Kuranda, Russet Park, North Queensland, 16°49’S, 145°38’E, 460m, 22.X.1987; 28.X.1987; 30.X.1987, Thomas W. Davies, flight interception trap, Thomas W. Davies Collection donated to California Academy of Sciences 1987, JSS8465, JSS8467, JSS8471, JSS8473 (4♂, CAS); Nairana National Park (NR2M), 21°34’S, 146°55’E, 196m, closed Acacia woodland, 10.XI– 7.XII.2010, R. Raven, H. & D. Hanrahan, Malaise trap, CNC576499, CNC576504 (2♂, QM); near Teddington Weir S of Maryborough, 25°39’S, 152°40’E, 25.IX.1994, G. & A. Daniels & C.J. Burwell, JSS5139 (1♂, QM); Australian Capital Territory: Black Mountain, 35°16’S, 149°6’E, sclerophyll gully, 20–31.III.1980, B.K. Cantrell, Malaise trap, JSS8945 (1♂, QDPC); Victoria: Dartmouth Survey, Dart-Mitta River Junction, Locality L, 36°31’S, 147°27’E, 4.III.1973, JSS8765 (1♂, MVMA); INDONESIA: West Java: Bogor Botanical Gardens (Kebon Raja) [Kebun Raya], 6°36’S, 106°48’E, 3.VIII.1964; 4.VIII.1964, M. Delfinado, CNCD5526–27 (1♂, 1♀, BPBM); Bogor, West Java, 6°35’S, 106°48’E, 22.VIII.1964, J.L. Gressitt, CNCD5525 (1♂, BPBM); Mussau, Boliu, 1°32’S, 149°39’E, 3.VI.1962, Noona Dan Expedition 61–62, CNCD5529 (1♂, BPBM); Mussau, Schadel Bay, 1°30’S, 149°40’E, 3.VI.1962, Noona Dan Expedition 61–62, CNCD5530 (1♂, BPBM); Yalom, 4°25’S, 151°45’E, 1000m, 20.V.1962, Malaise trap, Noona Dan Expedition 61–62, CNCD5528 (1♂, BPBM); MALAYSIA: Sarawak: SW of Tapuh, Borneo, 1°18’N, 110°25’E, 4–9.VII.1958, T.C. Maa, CNCD5523–5524; JSS8478 (3♀, BPBM); Sadong, Kampong, Tapuh, Borneo, 1°10’N, 110°34’E, 450m, 4–9.VII.1958, T.C. Maa, CNCD5522; JSS8477 (2♂, BPBM); NEW CALEDONIA: Noumea, 22°16’S, 166°26’E, 22–23.XI.1963, R. Straatman, CNCD5607 (1♂, BPBM); Tao, 20°34’S, 164°48’E, 10.II.1963; 8–10.II.1963, C. Yoshimoto and N. Krauss, Malaise trap, CNCD253913; CNCD5611 (2♂, BPBM); Yahoue, 22°11’S, 166°30’E, 20.II.1963, C. Yoshimoto and N. Krauss, Malaise trap, CNCD5615 (1♂, BPBM); PAPUA NEW GUINEA: East New Britain: Bainings Mountains: Raunsepna, 4°26’S, 151°47’E, 19–26.V.1999, C. Mitparingi, Malaise trap, CNCD29005; CNCD28999; CNCD29004; CNCD29007 (4♂, CNC); West New Britain: Lindenhafen, S coast, 6°15’S, 150°28’E, 2m, Cocoa grove, 23.IV.1956, J. L. Gressitt, JSS5521 (1♀, BPBM); Maprik, 3°38’S, 143°3’E, 21.III.1964, D.H. Colless, JSS9266 (1♂, ANIC); Woitape, Wharton Range, 19.X.1963, D.K. McAlpine, JSS8732 (1♂, AMS); PHILIPPINES: Palawan: Mantalingajan, Pinigisan, 8°49’N, 117°40’E, 600m, outside forest, 9.IX.1961, G.A. Samuelson, Malaise trap, Noona Dan Expedition 61–62, JSS5520 (1♂, BPBM); THAILAND: Chanthaburi: Prew, 12°37’N, 102°8’E, 25–30.IV.1958, T. C. Maa, CNCD5517 (1♂, BPBM); Trang: Khaophappha, Khaochang, 7°32’N, 99°36’E, 200 to 400m, 2.I.1964, G.A. Samuelson, light trap, JSS5518–19 (2♂, BPBM).

Distribution: Australia (Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Victoria), Indonesia (Java), Malaysia ( Sarawak), New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea (New Britain), Philippines (Palawan), Thailand) ( Fig. 133 ).

Notes: Based on terminalia characters, some specimens from Thailand (CNCD5517, JSS5518–19), Philippines (JSS5520), Malaysia (CNCD5522–4, JSS8477–8), Indonesia (CNCD5525–30), New Caledonia (CNCD5607, CNCD5611, CNCD5615, CNCD253913) and New Guinea (JSS5521, CNCD28999, CNCD29004–5, CNCD29007, JSS9266) are very close to Australian T. nyctias . Among New Guinea specimens, the specimen JSS8732 appears identical to the lectotype whereas Indonesian specimens are the most different. The latter present a few differential genitalia features, including the shape of surstyli in dorsal view, left surstylus in lateral view and the shape of gonopods. As these specimens from outside of Australia are too old to easily sequence, we leave them as T. nyctias until further study provides fresh specimens for DNA sequencing. Specimen CNCD5532 is hereby nominated as the lectotype to fix and ensure consistent interpretation of the name. Tomosvaryella nyctias is genetically most similar to T. luma sp. nov. (8.7–11.1% pairwise divergence) (Supplementary file 3).

Figures

FIGURE 71. Male genitalia of Tomosvaryella nyctias (JSS7904, QM) A) dorsal view, B) ventral view, C) ejaculatory apodeme, D, E) lateral view.

FIGURE 133. Distribution of Tomosvaryella nyctias in Australia.

FIGURE 154. Ovipositor of Tomosvaryella species in lateral view A) T. paxilla sp. nov., paratype (JSS16127, ANIC), B) T. nyctias (CNCD159558, CNC), C) T. angelikae sp. nov., paratype (CNCD16179, CNC), D) T. velutina sp. nov., paratype (CNCD136754, CNC), E) T. collessi sp. nov., paratype (JSS7905, QM), F) T. powerae sp. nov., paratype (JSS13934, QM).