Tomosvaryella boomerang 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 boomerang

description: Tomosvaryella boomerang Földvari, Skevington & Motamedinia sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: B47F2893-5AD7-4B49-8EDD-6E24FB68951C
Figs 14A–D, 112, 158D
Diagnosis: This species can be recognized by the hind trochanter with a tuft of short spines ventrobasally in one group and a few bristles at the distal end; some long bristles on mid femur; surstyli constricted in basal fourth, widened in apical fourth in dorsal view (Fig. 14A); phallic guide with 5–6 dorso-dorsolateral spines, gonopods elongated towards surstyli (Fig. 14B); both surstyli boomerang-shaped, broadened in middle in lateral view (Fig. 14C–D).
Description: MALE: Body length: 2.9–3.0 mm. Head. Flagellum acuminate; yellow. Face silvery pollinose. Frons, upper part shining black, lower part distinctly silver pollinose; eyes touching for distance equal to 1–1.5 times the length of ocellar triangle. Occiput silvery pollinose, less so on upper 1/3. Thorax. Postpronotum pale, with 3–4 pale bristles. Mesonotum (viewed obliquely from front) brownish pollinose, anterior part more grey, grayish also from the side. Scutellum brownish pollinose and with 18–20 weak bristles along the distal edge. Dorsocentral bristles distinct, dark, somewhat longer along frontal edge, numerous long pale bristles around postpronotum. 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 ¼ of tibiae yellow (tibiae otherwise dark brown), tarsal segments yellow-brown, ventrally somewhat paler, last segment darker. Hind trochanter with a tuft of short, dark, longer spines (7–10) ventrobasally in one group: “echidna-like”; basal spines longer and a few bristles at the distal end; ventrobasal spines (2) present on fore and mid femora. Ventroapical row of spines on fore femur 5–6; 8–10 small, 3–8 long bristles on mid femur; hind femur without ventroapical spines, except 8–10 equally spaced bristles posteroventrally on the distal half, longest at 2/3 from the base, in length up to 1.5 the width of hind tibia at distal end. Subapical (distal) spines on first four tibiae present (short). Metatarsi moderately flattened, first tarsomere almost as long as 2–3 combined. Pulvilli as long as last tarsal segment. Hind metatarsus and second tarsomere widened apically. Wing. Length: 3.1–3.2 mm. Upper side of basal costal cell with one long dark bristle. Fourth costal section 2–2.5 times as long as third costal section. Cross-vein r-m distal to the middle of discal cell. 3–4 distinct brown setulae on tegula. Abdomen. Viewed obliquely from front tergites subshining black, tergite 1 and anterior half of tergite 2 silvery grey, sides silvery pollinose on tergites 4 and 5 (larger on tergite 5). Dispersed strong dark bristles on all tergites present, longest on tergite 5 up to 1.1–1.3 times the width of hind tibia at distal end. Lateral bristles on first tergite present, 5–6 pale bristles up to 1.5 times as long as hind femur’s width at base. Postabdomen in dorsal view: T6, S7 invisible; T5 1–1.2 times as long as ST8. Genitalia without dissection: ST8 medium sized square-shaped in dorsal view, brown and with the occasional distinct abdominal bristles, otherwise velvet-like coverage; membranous area elongated, widening dorsally; epandrium brown, surstyli yellow and bent towards abdomen, appear to be a yellow triangle in lateral view (the corner is square). Genitalia. Genital capsule in dorsal view: epandrium longer than wide (MLE:MWE = 1.1). Surstyli symmetrical, broadened in basal fourth and rather straight in apical, its medial margin widened, covered by dense light bristles (Fig. 14A). Genital capsule in ventral view: gonopods elongated towards surstyli, rather unequal in height, left is slightly longer than right one, subepandrial sclerite long, covered with transverse streaks (Fig. 14B). Genital capsule in lateral view: both surstyli boomerang-shaped, constricted at base, broadened at middle and bent by 90° towards sternite; phallic guide pointed at apex, with 5–6 lateral spines (the longest one twice as length as others) (Figs 14C–D).
FEMALE: Body length: 2.7 mm. As male except for the following characters. Frons, eyes separated, as wide as 1.5 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, gradually changing from pollinose to shiny black in the transition zone; frons depressed at the point where it is widest (a groove is visible in the middle line). Enlarged ommatidia silvery shining. Pulvilli and claws about 1.6–1.8 times as long as last tarsal segment, smaller on metatarsi. Female abdomen with silver spots on sides of all tergite. Ovipositor. Straight, reaching middle of 3rd segment; base silvery pollinose with dispersed bristles. LP:LB = 2.07. LDP:LPP = 3.3. (Fig. 158D).
Etymology: The name refers to the boomerang-shaped surstyli.
Examined material: HOLOTYPE: AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: Heinsmen Rock, Mt Ragged Track, 30°7’S, 123°28’E, 145m, woodland near drying pools, 30.x–18.xi.2003, C. Lambkin & J. Recsei, Malaise trap, JSS16242 (1♂, WAM); PARATYPES: AUSTRALIA: Australian Capital Territory: Canberra, Black Mountain, 35°16’S, 149°6’E, 11–19.i.1999, G. Gibson, sweeping, CNCD4464, CNCD4470 (2 ♂, CNC); New South Wales: Mount Boppy near Cobar, 31°33’S, 146°17’E, hilltop, 16.i.1999, C. Lambkin, N. Power & P. Bouchard, 10:00 AM, JSS8902 (1♂, QM); Yathong Nature Reserve near 8 Mile Tank, 32°38’S, 145°41’E, ~ 205m, field of flowers:open woodland, 3–25.x.2003, C. Lambkin & N. Starick, Malaise trap, CNCD3623, CNCD3627, CNCD3631, JSS50566 (3♂, QM, 1♂, ANIC); Tinderry Natl Res; Round Flat Fire Trail 11.2 Km E Michelago, 35°43’S, 149°17’E, 1186m, Revegetation Site, 26.II–19.III.2005, C.Lambkin & N.Starick, Malaise trap, Bulk Sample 2711, JSS50565 (1♂, ANIC); Queensland: Culgoa Floodplain National Park, 11.8km North of Headquarters (CG2 AM), 28°54’S, 147°8’E, 151m, Brigalow, Black box, 17.xii.2009 – 20.i.2010, C. Kelly & A. Coward, Malaise trap, CNC574518 (1♂, CNC); 36m, 15–22.viii.2007, J. Stanisic, Malaise trap, 15036, CNCD159453 (1♀, CNC); Culgoa Floodplain National Park Headquarters, 11.8km N, 28°55’S, 147°8’E, 150m, Brigalow, 9. XII.2007– 16.I.2008, N. Starick, C. Lambkin & R. Raven, Malaise trap, CNC591838 (1♂, QM); Culgoa Floodplain National Park, 7km NNW Toulby Gate (CG4 AM), 28°56’S, 146°55’E, 160m, Gidgee, 17. XII.2009– 20.I.2010, Kelly & Coward, Malaise trap, CNC591825 (1♂, QM); Culgoa Floodplain National Park, 7km WNW Toulby Gate (TOLB6 M), 28°57’S, 146°52’E, 138m, Callitris, 19.III–20. V.2010, C. Kelly, A. Coward, Malaise trap, CNC575020, CNC575022–3 (3♂, QM); Proserpine, Airport Drive, 20°29’S, 148°34’E, 514m, 10–16.ii.2007, C. Lambkin & N. Starick, 15002, CNCD159303 (1♂, CNC); Fanning River Homestead, 3.2km Southeast, 19°45’S, 146°27’E, 330m, vinescrub, 9. XII.2006– 10.II.2007, S. Wright, Malaise trap, CNC575198 (1♂, QM); South Australia: Flinder’s Ranges National Park, Love Range, Mine Road, 31°24’S, 138°47’E, in dry creek bed, 8–9.x.1997, S. Winterton, J.&A. Skevington & C. Lambkin, Malaise trap, JSS8407 (1♂, 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, JSS8346, JSS8349-50, JSS8358, JSS8360, JSS8362 (6♂, QM); Mount Lofty, 35°0’S, 138°44’E, 2.I.1974, 10th Australian Boy Scout Jamboree, Malaise trap, JSS8719 (1♂, SAM); Wyperfeld NP, East Lookout, 35°36’S, 142°7’E, 22.X.2014, J.H., A.W., & A.M. Skevington, A.D. Young, A. Wyatt, & S. Namek, CNC373402, CNC373424 (2♂, CNC); Victoria: Hattah-Kulkyne NP, Warepil Lookout, 34°43’S, 142°18’E, 18.x.2014, J.H., A.W., & A.M. Skevington, A.D. Young, A. Wyatt, & S. Namek, CNC373150– 1, CNC373172 (3♂, CNC); 12 km SE Merrijig, Howqua River, 37°12’S, 146°22’E, 30.XI.1971, Neboiss, JSS8809 (1♂, MVMA); Northern Territory: Entire Creek, 155 km NE by E of Alice Springs, 22°50’S, 135°16’E, 7.X.1978, D.H. Colless, JSS9253 (1♂, ANIC).
Distribution: Australia (Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Victoria) (Fig. 112).
Notes: This is a widespread species throughout the outback of Australia. The two specimens from NE Queensland (CNCD159303 and CNC575198) are the exception and found in mesic habitats. The DNA sequence of CNCD159303 specimen is identical with all other specimens and genitalia features of both specimens are similar to others. The specimen CNC575198 doesn’t have all legs and the color is lighter due to preservation conditions. Despite the apparent ecological differences, support is strong that these outliers are the same species. A few specimens have been collected hilltopping. Intraspecific genetic distance ranges from 0.0% to 1.4%. This species is genetically most similar to T. dissidens sp. nov. (1.3–1.5% 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 39-41, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5599.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/14970961