Tomosvaryella collessi 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 collessi

description: Tomosvaryella collessi Földvari, Skevington & Motamedinia sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 0398D378-9CB5-4F79-B2E2-57CA78FECEB6
Figs 24A–E, 117, 148D, 154E
Diagnosis: This species can be recognized by the hind trochanter with few dark tiny spines in one group ventrobasally (Fig. 148D); elongated surstyli in dorsal view (Fig. 24A); elongated gonopods fused with subepandrial sclerite, with two inward projections (Fig. 24B); hypandrium with two hairy membranous sheaths (Fig. 24B); subepandrial sclerite with a small fin-shaped protrusion (Fig. 24B); one ejaculatory duct with some spines (Fig. 24D–E); phallic guide with some dorso- dorsolateral spines in lateral view (Fig. 24D–E).
Description: MALE: Body length: 2.6–2.9 mm. Head. Flagellum acuminate; yellow-brown. Face silvery pollinose. Frons, upper part shining black; lower part distinctly silver pollinose; eyes touching for distance equal to the length of ocellar triangle. Occiput silvery pollinose, less so on upper 1/3. Thorax. Postpronotum pale, with 2–3 pale bristles. Mesonotum (viewed obliquely from front) brownish pollinose, anterior part more grey, grayish also from the side. Scutellum silvery pollinose and with 6–8 bristles along the distal edge. Dorsocentral bristles distinct, dark, somewhat longer along frontal edge, numerous dark bristles around postpronotum present. Halter, knob pale with brownish tinge, stem brown. Legs. Mid coxa with 2–3 long brown 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 brown), tarsal segments brown, ventrally yellow-brown, last segment darker. Hind trochanter with few dark tiny spines in one group ventrobasally (“echidna”-like), elongated troch with flat ventral part (Fig. 148D); ventrobasal spines (1 or 2) present on fore and present on mid femur. Ventroapical row of spines on fore femur 5–7; 6–8 small, black spines on mid femur; hind femur without ventroapical spines, except 14–16 equally spaced bristles posteroventrally, longer on distal half, longest up to 1/3 the width of hind tibia at distal end. Subapical (distal) spines on first four tibiae present. Hind tarsomeres flattened, hind metatarsus almost as long as 2–5 combined. Pulvilli shorter than last tarsal segment. Wing. Length: 3.0 mm. Upper side of basal costal cell with one long dark bristle and three short light brown bristles. Fourth costal section 2–2.5 times as long as third costal section. Cross-vein r-m slightly distal to middle of discal cell. 2–3 distinct brown setulae on tegula. Abdomen. Viewed obliquely from front tergites brownish pollinose, tergite 1 silvery grey, silvery pollinose spots on tergites 4 and 5 (similar size). Dispersed strong dark bristles on all tergites present, longest on tergite 5 up to ½ the width of hind tibia at distal end. Lateral bristles on first tergite present, 4–5 dark bristles up to 1.1–1.3 times as long as hind femur’s width at base. Postabdomen in dorsal view: T6, S7 invisible; T5 0.8–1.0 times as long as ST8. Genitalia without dissection: ST8 large, broad, round in dorsal view, brown and with distinct bristles, otherwise velvet-like coverage; membranous area with narrow part approaching epandrium and rounded part mostly directed dorsally; epandrium brown, surstyli yellow, long. Genitalia. Genital capsule in dorsal view: epandrium wider than long (MLE:MWE = 0.7). Surstyli symmetrical, elongated, right surstylus smaller than left one, right one with a small protrusion at inner margin before apex (Fig. 24A). Genital capsule in ventral view: gonopods equal in height, elongated towards surstyli and fused with subepandrial sclerite, with two small inward projection before apex, subepandrial sclerite rather wide with a small fin-shaped protrusion in its center; hypandrium with two hairy membranous sheaths extended towards phallus (Fig. 24B). Genital capsule in lateral view: both surstyli curved towards sternite, phallus with three short ejaculatory ducts, one with three small spines, phallic guide with 6–7 dorso-dorsolateral spines (one is longer) (Fig. 24D–E); Ejaculatory apodeme tube-like, bent, with a bulb in its middle (Fig. 24C).
FEMALE: Body length: 2.5–2.6 mm. As male except for the following characters. Frons, eyes separated, as wide as 1.7–1.9 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 4–6. Ovipositor. Piercer straight in ventral view, straight and robust in lateral view, reaching distal end of 2 nd segment; base brownish pollinose with occasional bristles. LP:LB = 2.0. LDP:LPP = 2.0. (Fig. 154E).
Etymology: This species is named after Don Colless, who collected the holotype and several other specimens. Don collected 8% of the specimens used in this revision and 28% of the species (Supplementary file 2).
Examined material: HOLOTYPE: AUSTRALIA: Queensland: 14 km W by N Hope Vale Mission, 15°16’S, 144°59’E, 8.V.1981, D.H. Colless, Malaise trap, JSS8561 (1♂, ANIC); PARATYPES: AUSTRALIA: Queensland: 1 km North of Eclectus ‚ Iron Range, 12°46’S, 143°17’E, 5. VII.1997 20m, G. & A. Daniels, JSS8925 (1♂, QM); 14 km W by N Hope Vale Mission, 15°16’S, 144°59’E, 9. V.1981, D.H. Colless, Malaise trap, JSS8559-60, JSS8562 (3♂, ANIC); Cooloola National Park, East Mullen hilltop, 26°0’S, 152°59’E, dry sclerophyll forest, 15.XI.2014, J.H., A.M. & A.W. Skevington, CNC374117–8, CNC384971 (3♂, CNC); Cape York, Stewart Range, 14°4’S, 143°41’E, 500m, 29.IX–3. V.1961, L.&M. Gressitt, CNCD5551 (1♂, BPBM); Mount Cook National Park, 15°29’S, 145°16’E, 10. V.1981, D.H. Colless, Malaise trap, JSS183 (1♂, ANIC); Proserpine, near Kelsey Substation, XY19, 20°23’S, 148°32’E, 21m, closed forest, 3–10. V.2007, E.J. Stanisic, Malaise trap, CNCD160423–34 (12♂, QM); Buderim, SE Queensland, 26°41’S, 153°3’E, 14–22.III.1985, G.K. Waite, Malaise trap, JSS8948 (1♂, QDPC); Carnarvon National Park, Consuelo land, Race Course Spring, 24°56’S, 148°5’E, Vegetation, 12.X.2002, S. Boucher, sweeping, LEM _ 0016156–7 (2♂, LEM); Cooloola National Park, East Mullen hilltop, 26°0’S, 152°59’E, dry sclerophyll forest, 15.XI.2014, J.H., A.M. & A.W. Skevington, CNC374119 (1♂, CNC); Northern Territory: Barramundi Creek, 13°19’S, 132°26’E, 14. V.1998, R. Lynch, Malaise trap, JSS7905 (1♀, QM); Fogg Dam area, 12°38’S, 131°15’E, 9.IV.1980, G.F. Hevel, J.A. Fortin, JSS10533 (1♂, USNM); Queensland: Carnarvon National Park, Mount Moffatt section, 25°4’S, 148°2’E, 27–28.XI.1997, [dry sclerophyll, along permanent creek], J. Skevington & C. Lambkin, Malaise trap, JSS2293 (1♂, QM); Gunshot Creek, 13 km NW Heathlands Homestead, 11°42’S, 142°26’E, 23.III.1992, G. Daniels, M.A. Schneider, JSS8270 (1♂, QM); Mount Cook National Park, 15°29’S, 145°16’E, 10. V.1981, D.H. Colless, Malaise trap, JSS8557 (1♂, ANIC); Mica Creek, Mount Isa, 20°49’S, 139°27’E, 17–22.III. 2001, 360m, D. C. Darling, Malaise trap, JSS19188 (1♂, QM); 20 km E Mareeba, 17°0’S, 145°26’E, 15.IV.1980, G.F. Hevel & J.A. Fortin, JSS10523, JSS10532 (2♂, USNM); Gordonvale, 17°5’S, 145°47’E, VII.1918, JSS10512 (1♂, USNM); New South Wales: Warrumbungle National Park, 31°16’S, 149°0’E, 17–22. XII.1998, in creek bed [in Eucalyptus forest], J.&A. Skevington & S. Winterton, Malaise trap, JSS5063 (1♂, QM); Arnhem Land, Maningrida, 12°3’S, 134°13’E, 5m, 20–21.III.1961, L.&M. Gressitt, CNCD5562 (1♂, BPBM); Darwin, 12°27’S, 130°50’E, 8–9. XII.1963, J. Sedlacek, CNCD5572 (1♂, ANIC); Victoria: Dartmouth Survey, Dart-Mitta River Junction, Locality L, 36°31’S, 147°27’E, 4.III.1973, JSS8772 (1♂, MVMA); Dartmouth Survey, Mitta Mitta River, Loc. EA, 36°31’S, 147°27’E, 9.II.1973, JSS8768–9 (2♂, MVMA); 12 km SE Merrijig, Howqua River, 37°12’S, 146°22’E, 30.XI.1971, Neboiss, JSS8781 (1♂, MVMA); Dartmouth Survey, Dart-Mitta River Junction, Locality L, 36°31’S, 147°27’E, 4.III.1973, JSS8754–5, JSS8766, JSS8773, JSS8777 (5♂, MVMA); South Australia: Mount Lofty, 35°0’S, 138°44’E, 28. XII. 0– 6.I.1974, 10th Australian Boy Scout Jamboree, JSS8718 (1♂, SAM).
Non-type material examined: Australia: Queensland: Sybella Creek, 20°53’S, 139°27’E, 17–22.III.2001, Malaise trap, JSS50563 (1♂, QM); Western Australia: 158 km S Newman, 9 km N Kumarina Road House, 24°38’S, 117°37’E, 638m, in wide sandy wash, 18–21. V.2003, M.E. Irwin, F.D. Parker, Malaise trap, JSS16415 (1♂, CNC).
Distribution: Australia (New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia; Victoria, Western Australia) (Fig. 117).
Notes: This is a coastal forest species found from Darwin to Adelaide in the eastern half of the country. The two specimens from Western Australia and western Queensland that are found in arid regions break this pattern and were not included in the type series. These two specimens, JSS50563 and JSS16415, are similar to the holotype but there is a little difference in the shape of the gonopods and subepandrial sclerites in ventral view. The left gonopod is a little longer and the subepandrial sclerite is missing the two small lobes in the middle of outer margin. This is suggestive that these specimens should be treated as a distinct new species but as these characters vary in some other Tomosvaryella species we have chosen to treat them as part of T. collessi sp. nov. for now. We need fresh samples to allow us to compare DNA sequence data and to see if these characters hold up across more specimens. Intraspecific genetic distance ranges from 0.0% to 3.7%. Specimen JSS8562 shows the same morphological features as genetically divergent specimens (pairwise distance 1.9–3.7%). This could be another species complex so more specimens and molecular work are needed. This species is genetically most similar to T. biflocca sp. nov. (3.2–5.8% pairwise divergence) (Supplementary file 3).
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 60-61, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5599.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/14970961