Nilobezzia Kieffer
Creators: name: Borkent, Art
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2014
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Diptera
Ceratopogonidae
Nilobezzia

description: Nilobezzia Kieffer
(Figs. 21H–I, 27D, 30Q, 33H, 39C, 45O–P, 52B, 67A, 76G)
DIAGNOSIS: Only pupa of Ceratopogonidae with the metathorax with only one campaniform sensillum (M-3-T) situated at least ⅓ the length of the metathorax from its anterior margin (Fig. 52B), thorax with D-5-T a peg-like seta (as in Fig. 30P) (or a short, stout seta, only in N. curticornis, then on a well-developed tubercle, Fig. 30Q), and abdominal segment 1 with D-2-I and D-3-I closely approximated (Fig. 52B).
DESCRIPTION: Total length = 3.22–7.16 mm. Without larval exuviae retained on abdomen. Exuviae with flagellum appressed against lateral margin of midleg, wing (as in Figs. 16B, 33H). Ecdysial tear around base of antenna, along lateral margin of face to palpus (as in Figs. 17C, 79H). Head: Dorsal apotome (Figs. 21H–I), with ventral line of weakness, without dorsomedial tubercle, without central dome; dorsolateral cephalic sclerite (as in Fig. 13H) fused to scutum, each side separated medially by dorsal apotome in whole pupa; mouthparts (Fig. 27D) with mandible well-developed, lacinia absent; palpus extending posterior to posterolateral margin of labium; labium separated medially by labrum, hypopharynx; apex of antenna (Fig. 39C) anterior to posterior extent of midlength portion of midleg (portion lateral to mesosternum), narrowed posteriorly; sensilla: dorsal apotomals (Figs. 21H–I)—1 elongate seta, 1 campaniform sensillum; dorsolateral cephalic sclerite sensilla—1 seta, 1 campaniform sensillum; clypeal-labrals (Fig. 27D)—0–1 slender or 2 thick setae; oculars (Fig. 27D)—2 setae, 1 campaniform sensillum. Thorax: Prothoracic extension (Fig. 27D) wide, well-developed but narrow dorsolaterally, extending from palpus to antenna; mesonotum with very short tubercles, not extending posteromedially, not dividing metathorax medially (Fig. 52B); respiratory organ (Figs. 45O–P) length/width = 2.61–3.56, elongate, moderately slender, somewhat flattened apically, with pores closely abutting at apex of respiratory organ, arranged in single row, outer surface with a few to numbers of wrinkles, with short, wide pedicel, base with short posteromedial apodeme, membranous base of respiratory organ moderately elongate, annulated, tracheal tube straight to slightly curved along length, with spirals restricted to base, wrinkles to half length; wing (Fig. 39C) without apical tubercle or angle, separated medially by fore-, midlegs; halter apex and hind leg (Fig. 33H) broadly abutting; halter apex abutting anterolateral knob-like extension of tergite 2 or past tergite 2; legs (Fig. 39C) with lateral margin of foreleg near midlength of wing evenly curved; hind leg visible at lateral margin of wing (Fig. 33H); with apex of foreleg moderately anterior to apex of midleg; apex of hind leg abutting apex of midleg laterally; sensilla: anteromedials—1 short peg, 1 elongate seta (as in Fig. 31N); anterolaterals—1 moderately long seta; dorsal setae (Fig. 30Q)—D-1-T, D-2-T peg-like or setae, D-4-T seta, D-5-T peg-like seta, D-3-T campaniform sensillum, D-3-T lateral to slightly posterolateral to D-4-T; supraalar 2—campaniform sensillum; metathoracics (Fig. 52B)—1 campaniform sensillum; M-3-T distant from margin of metathorax (at least 1/3 length of metathorax). Abdomen: pigmentation light to dark brown, with tergite 1 with 3 medial spots, tergites 2–7 with medial area with stripe, 2 anterolateral spots, 2 pairs on tergite 8 in some, sternites not pigmented or sternites 3–4 or sternites 3–7 (5–7 membranous and with single medial spot), 2 spots on sternite 8 in some, segment 2 as wide or slightly wider than segment 3, segments with undivided, thin to thick setae, with rounded to pointed, short to moderately elongate tubercles, tergites or sternites entire, not membranous or with sternites 5–7 each with membranous disc; segment 9 (Fig. 76G) not strongly modified, terminal processes closely approximated basally, each projecting posterodorsolaterally, tapering to pointed apex; apex of male genital lobe anterior or to level of base of terminal process (as in Figs. 78I–J), except for N. schwarzii where it extends to about half length of base of terminal process (as in Fig. 78E); sensilla: tergite 1 (Fig. 52B) with 8 setae, 2 campaniform sensilla, including 4 lateral sensilla, D-2-I, D-3-I closely approximated, D-7-I situated anterolaterally near L-1-I; segment 4 (Fig. 67A)—D-2-IV, D-3-IV short to moderately elongate setae on short tubercles; D-5-IV, D-8-IV, D-9-IV short to moderately elongate setae; D-5-IV on single tubercle, D-8-IV, D-9-IV on separate but closely approximated tubercles, posterior dorsal sensilla in transverse row, arranged medially to laterally: D-5-IV, D-4-IV, D-8-IV, D-9- IV; D-7-IV, if present, near D-3-IV; L-1-IV short seta on rounded tubercle, near L-3-IV; L-2-IV, L-3-IV, L-4-IV short setae on pointed tubercles, V-5-IV, V-6-IV, V-7-IV short setae on short tubercles, all closely approximated; segment 8 without D-3-VIII, without L-1-VIII; segment 9 (Fig. 76G)—with D-5-IX, D-6-IX campaniform sensilla.
DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT: The genus Nilobezzia is known from 74 species from every Region worldwide (Borkent 2014; additional species below). Immatures are present in lakes, grassy wetlands, ponds, salt marshes (Knausenberger 1987), reservoirs, creeks, and rivers.
TAXONOMIC DISCUSSION: There are 17 species of Nilobezzia known as pupae (Tables 2–3). Only two species, N. schwarzii and N. mallochi, have abdominal membranous discs (see character 50). Nearly all male pupae have short genital lobes, not extending posteriorly past the base of the terminal processes, reflecting the short, modified male adult genitalia; only those of N. schwarzii have more elongate genital lobes (even though the male adult genitalia doesn't seem disproportionally longer).
Nilobezzia theileri (de Meillon & Wirth) was originally described as a Sphaeromias (de Meillon & Wirth 1981) but is here considered a member of Nilobezzia as a new combination as follows:
Nilobezzia theileri (de Meillon & Wirth), 1981:552 (Sphaeromias). new combination.
The pupa has the diagnostic features of this genus and reexamination of the adult holotype shows that the basal tooth of the claws of the adult female are actually outer and not inner, as described and inaccurately illustrated by de Meillon & Wirth (1981). The adult actually keys to Nilobezzia in the key to the Afrotropical fauna by de Meillon & Wirth (1991).
Elson-Harris (1987) keyed the pupae of six Australian species. Elson-Harris (1990) used the position of L-3-IV ventral to L-1-IV (her lpm ii "in line with" lasm) to distinguish Australian Nilobezzia from Australian Hebetula and Lanatomyia and this feature does indeed work for known Australian taxa.
MATERIAL EXAMINED: N. aranea: 1 pupal exuviae (of holotype), 1 pupal exuviae (of allotype), Breakfast Creek, Spencer, New South Wales, Australia, 4-II-1965 (ANIC); 1 pupal exuviae (of paratype), as previous locality, 3-III-1969 (ANIC); 1 pupal exuviae, McCarrs Creek, New South Wales, Australia, 22-I-1969 (ANIC); 1 pupal exuviae, Oystershell Road, New South Wales, Australia, 4-II-1965 (ANIC). N. basispinigera: 1 pupal exuviae, Warregor, Engonia, New South Wales, Australia, 11-XII-1963 (ANIC). N. brevicornis: 1 pupal exuviae, Ft. Summer #1, DeBaca County, New Mexico, USA, 21-VIII-1967 (USNM); 2 pupal exuviae, Bitter Lakes, Chaues County, New Mexico, USA, 17-VIII-1967 (USNM). N. curticornis (as N. triquetrinotata): 1 pupal exuviae (of holotype of N. triquetrinotata), Griffith, New South Wales, Australia, 15-XI-1956 (ANIC); 1 pupal exuviae (of allotype of N. triquetrinotata), 6 pupal exuviae (of paratypes of N. triquetrinotata), previous locality (ANIC). N. formosa: 1 pupal exuviae, Kozennyi Torets river, Raigorodok, Donetsk Province, Ukraine, 19–30-V-1970 (ZIN); 2 pupal, as previous locality, 1-IV-1970 (ZIN). N. fuscitarsus: 1 pupal exuviae, Darban, Western Australia, Australia, 28-X-1985 (ANIC); 2 pupal exuviae, Humpty Doo, Northern Territory, Australia, 5-XII-1958 (ANIC). N. neotropica: 1 pupal exuviae, Lago Monte Aleque, Sao Paulo State, Brazil, 5-VII-2000 (CNCI). N. robusta: 1 pupal exuviae; Douglas, Cape Province, South Africa, 23-I-1974 (NMSA); 1 pupal exuviae (of paratype), Berg River, Piquetberg, South Africa, 16-III-1953 (SAIM). N. schwarzii: 3 pupal exuviae, Lake Providence, Louisiana, USA, VII-1953 (USNM); 3 pupal exuviae, Sanibel Island, Lee County, Florida, USA, 11-V-1973 (USNM); 1 pupal exuviae, Lake Munson, Leon County, Florida, USA, 17-VIII-1987 (JHEC); 1 pupal exuviae, 3 km N of Caldera, Costa Rica, 17-XII-1993 (CNCI). N. theileri: 1 pupal exuviae (of holotype; with adult female), Loutpan, Transvaal, South Africa, 10-I-1974 (NMSA). N. virago: 2 pupal exuviae, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, 7-VI-1958 (ANIC); 1 pupal exuviae, 1 pupal exuviae (of allotype), Gove, Northern Territory, Australia, II-1970 (ANIC). N. whartoni: 1 pupal exuviae, Spencer, New South Wales, Australia, 4-II-1965 (ANIC); 8 pupal exuviae, Breakfast Creek, Spencer, New South Wales, Australia, 4-II-1965 (ANIC); 1 pupal exuviae, Oystershell Road., New South Wales, Australia, 4-II-1965 (ANIC). N. sp.: 1 pupal exuviae, Constance Bay, Ontario, Canada, 8-VI-1979 (CNCI); 1 pupal exuviae (in glycerin), Kruger National Park, South Africa (ANIC); 9 pupal exuviae, Bindoon, Western Australia, Australia, 27-X-1985 (ANIC).
description: Published as part of Borkent, Art, 2014, The Pupae of the Biting Midges of the World (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), With a Generic Key and Analysis of the Phylogenetic Relationships Between Genera, pp. 1-327 in Zootaxa 3879 (1) on pages 88-90, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3879.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/4949051