Revision of the genus Niphta (Diptera, Thaumaleidae) Theischinger of South America, with descriptions of nine new species and a new immature morphotype Author Pivar, Robert J. The University of Tennessee, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, 2505 E. J. Chapman Drive, 370 Plant Biotechnology Building, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37996, USA Author Sinclair, Bradley J. Canadian National Collection of Insects and Canadian Food Inspection Agency, K. W. Neatby Building, C. E. F., 960 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K 1 A 0 C 6 Author Moulton, John K. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8760-3274 The University of Tennessee, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, 2505 E. J. Chapman Drive, 370 Plant Biotechnology Building, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37996, USA johnkmoulton@gmail.com text ZooKeys 2021 2021-10-19 1063 49 104 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1063.71180 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1063.71180 1313-2970-1063-49 2792B13CD577416CB83D1C8043701C78 5298538BD85C59A69A5D81E54E499167 Niphta halteralis (Edwards) Figs 2C , 3C , 4C , 13C, D , 24A , 27F 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 ). 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 x 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 , 3C ). 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 ). 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♀ *) ; 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♂ ) ; 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♂ ) ; 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♀ *) ; 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♀ *) ; 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♂ ) ; 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♂ ) ; Region XIV ( Los Rios ): 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♂ ) ; Valdivia , Los Ulmos Rd. , 15.i.1985 , J.A. Downes ( 5♂ , CNC) . Distribution. Known from both the Andes and Chilean Coastal Range in southern Chile (Fig. 24A ). Bionomics. This species appears restricted predominantly to low elevations in the Valdivian temperate rain forest.