Tomosvaryella angelikae Foldvari, Skevington & Motamedinia 2023, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Motamedinia, Behnam
name: Földvari, Mihaly
name: Skevington, Jeffrey H.
name: Kelso, Scott
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Diptera
Pipunculidae
Tomosvaryella
Tomosvaryella angelikae

description: Tomosvaryella angelikae Földvari, Skevington & Motamedinia sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 2E244487-2FD2-41A1-B3F1-981FF89C481A
Figs 5A–F, 108, 148B, 154C
Diagnosis: This species can be recognized by the hind trochanter with a few dark, short spines in a group ventrobasally and the flat ventral side with shorter and fewer spines (Fig. 148B); elongated surstyli in dorsal view (Fig. 5A); phallic guide with some dorso-dorsolateral spines (Fig. 5F); elongated gonopods with two inwards projections (Fig. 5B); hypandrium with two hairy membranous sheaths (Fig. 5D–F); subepandrial sclerite with a small fin-shaped protuberance (Fig. 5B); one of ejaculatory ducts with some small spines at base (Fig. 5D–F).
Description: MALE: Body length: 3.1–3.3 mm. Head. Flagellum short acuminate; yellow-brown. Face silvery pollinose. Frons, upper part shining black; lower part distinctly silver pollinose; eyes touching for distance equal to 1.5–2 times the length of ocellar triangle. Occiput silvery pollinose, less so on upper 1/3. Thorax. Postpronotum pale, with 5–7 pale bristles. Mesonotum (viewed obliquely from front) brownish pollinose, anterior part more grey, grayish also from the side. Scutellum brownish pollinose and with 6–8 bristles along the distal edge. Dorsocentral bristles distinct, dark, somewhat longer along frontal edge, dark bristles around postpronotum present. Halter, knob pale, stem brown. Legs. Mid coxa with 3–4 long dark bristles. Trochanters and femora dark brown, shining ventrally, silvery pollinose posteriorly except shiny hind femur; knees and basal 1/6 of tibiae yellow (tibiae otherwise black), tarsal segments dark brown, ventrally yellowish, last segment darker. Hind trochanter with few dark short spines (3– 8) in a group at the base ventrally and with a flat ventral side (a few spines are possible on the flat part as well) (Fig. 148B); ventrobasal spines (1) present on fore femur. Hind tibia slightly bent in posterior view. Ventroapical row of spines on fore femur 4–5; 4–5 small, black spines on mid femur; hind femur without ventroapical spines, except 6–8 equally spaced bristles posteroventrally on distal half, longest up to 2/3 the width of hind tibia at distal end. Subapical (distal) spines on first four tibiae present (short). Hind tarsomeres extensively flattened, hind metatarsus almost as long as 2–5 combined and with scrub-like bristles ventrally (tarsi 1–3). Pulvilli shorter than last tarsal segment. Wing. Length: 3.0– 3.1 mm. Upper side of basal costal cell with one long dark bristle and 2–3 short brown bristles. Fourth costal section 2–2.5 times as long as third costal section. Cross-vein r-m at middle of discal cell. 2–3 distinct brown setulae on tegula. Abdomen. Viewed obliquely from front tergites shining brown, tergite 1 silvery grey, silvery pollinose spots on tergites 4 and 5 (larger on t5). Dispersed strong dark bristles on all tergites present, longest on tergite 5 up to the width of hind tibia at distal end. Lateral bristles on first tergite present, 5–6 dark bristles up to 1.2–1.4 times as long as hind femur’s width at base. Postabdomen in dorsal view: T6, S7 invisible; T5 1.2–1.4 times as long as ST8. Genitalia without dissection: ST8 medium sized rounded in dorsal view, brown and with distinct bristles, otherwise velvet-like coverage; membranous area with narrow part narrowing epandrium and rounded part mostly directed dorsally; epandrium brown, surstyli yellow, long and slim, often visible completely in lateral view (nothing is blocking the view). Genitalia. Genital capsule in dorsal view: epandrium longer than wide (MLE:MWE = 1.3). Surstyli rather symmetrical, widened at base, elongated with rounded tips, right surstylus smaller than left one, pointed at inner margin before apex (Fig. 5A). Genital capsule in ventral view: phallic guide straight with 3–4 dorso-dorsolateral spines (one is longer), gonopods equal in height, elongated towards surstyli with two small inward projections before apex, hypandrium with two hairy membranous sheaths extended towards gonopods; subepandrial sclerite rather wide with a small fin-shaped protuberance in its center; phallus with three ejaculatory ductus, one with four small spines (Fig. 5B). Genital capsule in lateral view: both surstyli straight, abruptly bent in 90° in apical fourth, left is longer than right one (Fig. 5D–E). Ejaculatory apodeme tube-like, bent, with a bulb in its middle (Fig. 5C).
FEMALE: Body length: 3.2 mm. As male except for the following characters. Frons with eyes separated, as wide as 1.6–1.8 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, no transition zone; frons depressed along upper 2/3 with a groove in the median line. Enlarged ommatidia silvery, shining. Pulvilli and claws about 1.5–2 times as long as last tarsal segment, smaller on metatarsi. Female abdomen with silver spots on sides of tergites 3–6. Ovipositor. Base of ovipositor brownish pollinose with dispersed small bristles, piercer straight, thin and reaching distal end of 1 st segment. LP:LB = 2.3. LDP:LPP = 2.5. (Fig. 154C).
Etymology: This species is named in honour of Angelika (Angela) Skevington who collected or helped collect 35% of the species and 17% of the specimens used in this revision and several of the specimens of this species (Supplementary file 2).
Examined material: HOLOTYPE: AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: Karijini National Park, Juna Downs Road, 22°44’S, 118°25’E, 798m, dry Turee Creek, grassy open Eucalyptus scrub, 14–19.v.2003, C. Lambkin & T. Weir, Malaise trap, ANIC [Bulk Sample] 2145, JSS16110 (1♂, ANIC); PARATYPES: AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: Warrumbungle National Park, 31°16’S, 149°0’E, in creek bed [in Eucalyptus forest], 17–22.xii.1998, J.&A. Skevington & S. Winterton, Malaise trap, JSS5064 (1♀, QM); Northern Territory: Litchfield, 4WD camping area; about 300 m in on 4WD map, 13°2’S, 130°55’E, xii.1997 – i.1998, A. Zwick, JSS8846 (1♂, QM); Queensland: 2 km S of Horseshoe lookout, Blackdown land, 23°50’S, 149°3’E, 23–24.IV.1981, D.H. Colless, JSS8613 (1♂, ANIC); 3 km NE of Mount Webb, 15°3’S, 145°9’E, 30.IV.1981, D.H. Colless, Malaise trap, JSS8610 (1♂, ANIC); Culgoa Floodplain National Park, 11.8km North of Headquarters (CG2AM), 28°54’S, 147°8’E, 151m, Brigalow Black Box, 17.XII.2009 – 20.I.2010, C. Kelly, A. Coward, Malaise trap, 19263, CNC574521, CNC576695–7, CNC576679 (4♂, CNC, 1♂ USNM); 91.2 km west Windorah, 25°22’S, 141°47’E, Malaise in dry creek bed, 31.viii–5.ix.1997, S. Winterton, J.&A. Skevington, JSS8396 (1♂, QM); Brisbane, Mount Coot-tha, 27°29’S, 152°57’E, 170m, hilltop, 15.v.1999, J.&A. Skevington, hand collected, JSS5773 (1♂, QM);; Kumbia-Bunya Mountains Road, 26°48’S, 151°34’E, hilltop, 17.I.1998, C. Lambkin, JSS8848 (1♂, QM); South Australia: Flinder’s Ranges National Park, Brachina Gorge, Heysen Hilltop, 31°20’S, 138°33’E, hilltop, 9.x.1997, J.&A. Skevington & C. Lambkin, JSS8383, JSS8386 (2♂, QM); Gammon Ranges National Park, south end of Weetootla Gorge, 30°29’S, 139°16’E; ~ 537m, hilltop, 11.x.1997, J. Skevington & C. Lambkin, JSS8351, JSS8359, JSS8365 (3♂, QM); Western Australia: 82 km S junction Karijini Drive on Great Northern Highway, 23°7’S, 119°6’E, 694m, wash with pools, 23.iv–6.v.2003, M.E. Irwin & F.D. Parker, Malaise trap, JSS15673 (1♂, CNC); Karijini National Park, Juna Downs Road, 22°44’S, 118°25’E, 798m, dry Turee Creek, grassy open Eucalyptus scrub, 14–19.v.2003, C. Lambkin & T. Weir, Malaise trap, ANIC [Bulk Sample] 2145, JSS16105 (1♂, ANIC); Karijini National Park, Juna Downs Road, 22°42’S, 118°25’E; 789m; between drying pools in rocky Turee Creek; near rocky outcrop, Eucalyptus Eremophila scrub, 19–25.iv.2003, C. Lambkin & T. Weir, Malaise trap, ANIC [Bulk Sample] 2059; JSS16254, (1♂, ANIC); Karijini National Park, Juna Downs Road, 22°43’S, 118°25’E, 799m, ANIC [Bulk Sample] 2039, JSS16179 (1♀, ANIC); Karijini National Park, Juna Downs Road, 22°44’S, 118°25’E, 798m, dry Turee Creek, grassy open Eucalyptus scrub, 25.iv–14.v.2003, C. Lambkin & T. Weir, Malaise trap, ANIC [Bulk Sample] 2044, JSS16085, JSS16098, JSS16100 (1♂, 2♀, ANIC); Mount Augustus National Park; south slope on Saddle Trail, 24°18’S, 116°48’E, 400m, small dry wooded wash, 25.iv–7.v.2003, M.E. Irwin & F.D. Parker, Malaise trap, JSS15885 (1♀, CNC); Martin’s Well, West Kimberley, 16°34’S, 122°51’E, 28.IV.1977, D.H. Colless, Malaise trap, JSS9258 (1♂, ANIC); Northern Territory: Litchfield National Park, 13°30’S, 130°36’E, 20.I.1998, A. Zwick, debu265568 (1♀, DEBU); Tasmania: Mount William National Park, 40°53’S, 148°13’E, across dry creek bed, 23.XII.0– 10.I.1999, J.&A. Skevington, Malaise trap, JSS5073 (1♂, QM); Western Australia: Cape Borda to Pender, West Kimberley, 16°0’S, 126°0’E, 24.IV.1977, D.H. Colless, JSS9172 (1♂, ANIC); Karijini National Park, Weano Gorge Road, 22°22’S, 118°15’E, 775m, on hilltop, open Eucalyptus, 25.IV–14.V.2003, C. Lambkin & T. Weir, Malaise trap, JSS16139 (1♂, ANIC).
Distribution: Australia (New South Wales, Northern Territory, Tasmania, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia) (Fig. 108).
Notes: This species is found throughout most of Australia in a variety of habitat types, from Eucalyptus - dominated to extremely arid, Acacia -dominated areas. Some specimens have been found hilltopping. This species is genetically closest to T. pterygia sp. nov., differing by 2.5–2.7% (pairwise divergence). Intraspecific genetic distance ranges from 0.0% to 2.0% (Supplementary file 3). This may be a species complex with two taxa including JSS8365, JSS8386 (species group 1) collected from South Australia and the rest of the specimens along with JSS8351 from SA (species group 2) (Supplementary Fig. 5). As morphological features, particularly genitalia features are similar, more molecular work and specimens are needed to shed light on this.
description: Published as part of Motamedinia, Behnam, Földvari, Mihaly, Skevington, Jeffrey H. & Kelso, Scott, 2023, Revision of Australian Tomosvaryella Aczél (Diptera: Pipunculidae) with description of 100 new species, pp. 1-271 in Zootaxa 5599 (1) on pages 19-20, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5599.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/14970961