Niphta courtneyi Pivar sp. nov.

Figs 6B, 8B, 9C, H, 10C, 11B, 12B, 24B

Type material.

Holotype: ♂, glued to point with abdomen in glycerine microvial pinned beneath, labelled: "Chile, Region X (Los Lagos)/ East side Lago Llanquihue/ small falls on road (nr PN/ VPR) 41°08.47'S 72°35.28'W / ≈ 100 m 2.xii.2008 GW/ Courtney (CH08-30)"; "HOLOTYPE/ Niphta / Niphta courtneyi / Pivar [red label]" (CNC). Allotype: ♀*, same data as holotype (CNC). Paratypes: Chile: Region X (Los Lagos): 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 (1♀*).

Recognition.

This species is recognised by the bifurcate posterior apex of the cheliform gonostylus and the presence of three gonocoxal projections. It is lighter in colouration than the closely related N. bifurcata .

Description.

The descriptions of N. courtneyi differ from that of N. bifurcata in the following regards:

Male. n = 1.

Length 2.1-2.3 mm.

Colouration (Figs 9C, 10C). Head dull, brown; pronotum and postpronotum brown; postpronotal lobe and lateral margins of prescutum yellow; scutum shiny with three distinct dark brown stripes, pleura yellow; postscutum yellow, two lateral brown spots above scutoscutellar suture; scutellum shiny, yellow; mediotergite shiny, anterior half yellow, posterior half brown; katepisternum mainly pale brown, yellow near fore coxa; remaining pteropleuron mainly yellow with dispersed brown markings; halter creamy yellow; legs pale yellow, apex of tarsi darker; abdomen brown; terminalia yellow.

Head. Frons with three strong setae. Flagellomere 1 expanded, 1.5 × as wide as next segment, shorter in length than 2 and 3 combined.

Wing. Wing length: 1.9-2.2 mm. Lightly infuscate throughout.

Terminalia (Figs 6B, 8B). Epandrium quadrate in ventral view, posterior margin rounded, with narrow medial cleft; long, extended beyond gonostyli; without lobes or projections. Gonocoxites oblong, longer than wide; anterior margin rounded, somewhat expanded dorsally, not closely approximated; with three spine-like projections; two anterior projections, with inner projection shorter than outer; posterior projection long, slender, tapered to single apex, 3.5 × longer than shortest projection; margin around gonostylus with long, dense thin setae. Gonostylus cheliform, dorsoventrally flattened anteriorly, swollen posteriorly; anterior apex with a few setae; posterior apex bifurcate, setose. Parameres medially fused, attached basally to arms of gonocoxal plate; divided distally into dorsal parameral apodeme and ventral arm; ventral arm projected anteroventrally toward gonocoxal plate, strongly curved anteriorly, sickle-shaped, surface textured with tiny bumps, except for smooth apex; ventral arm, when retracted, rests ventrally between dorsal arm of gonocoxal plate and inner margin of gonocoxite. Gonocoxal plate broad, well sclerotised; anterior margin subquadrate, basal margin cleft; pair of dorsal arms connected to parameres; medial aedeagal guide projected ventrally between posterior margins of gonocoxites, well sclerotised, consisting of two parts: anterior Y-shaped structure and posterior triangular plate. Cercus ovoid, only slightly visible in lateral view; projected anteroventrally; situated within epandrial indentation.

Female. n = 2.

Similar to male except as follows: Terminalia (Figs 11B, 12B). Tergite 9 subquadrate in lateral view, 2 × as wide as tergite 8, lacking lateral projections.

Immature stages.

Unknown.

Additional material examined.

Known only from the type series.

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality, the East side of Lago Llanquihue in Southern Chile (Fig. 24B).

Etymology.

Niphta courtneyi is named in honour of its collector, Gregory W. Courtney (Iowa State University). Courtney collected three new species of Thaumaleidae from Chile ( A. fredericki Pivar, N. courtneyi, and N. mapuche), as well as immature material, prompting us to further investigate the Chilean fauna.