Nephrocerus atrapilus Skevington, 2005, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Skevington, Jeffrey H.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2005
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Diptera
Pipunculidae
Nephrocerus
Nephrocerus atrapilus

description: Nephrocerus atrapilus sp. nov. (Figs 4 B, 5, 6A–D)
Type Material Examined: Holotype ♂: Allegheny Co., 2.4 km N Monroeville, W. Boyce Regional Park, 40°27'42" N, 79°45'26" W, 1375 m, reared from Tipula (Lunatipula) duplex Walker, emergence date 17.v.2004, host collection date 14.vii.2003, CMNH #356286, D.P. Koenig, C.W. Young (CMNH). Allotype Ψ: United States: Mississippi, Lafayette Co., Oxford, [34°22' N, 89°31' W], v.1940, JSS#11488, Frank M. Hull, Frank M. Hull collection CNC 1973, (CNC). Paratypes: Canada: Ontario: Gatineau Co., Masham T[o]w[nshi]p, near Duncan Lake, 45°40'53" N, 76°03'01" W, oak hilltop, 6.vii.1974, JSS#11498, D.M. Wood (CNC); Puslinch, [43°26' N, 80°05' W], Malaise trap, 18–20. vi.1983, 1 ♂, JSS#11432, 22. vi.1983, 1 ♂, JSS#11433 [2.5 legs removed for DNA extraction], Coote & Marshall, (DEBU); United States: Florida: Liberty Co., Torreya State P[ar]k, [30°35' N, 84°57' W], 17. v.1963, 1 ♂, JSS#13411, 14. v.1971, 1 Ψ, JSS#13412, insect flight trap, 19. v.1970, 1 Ψ, JSS#13413, H.V. Weems, Jr. (FSCA); Liberty Co., Torreya State P[ar]k, [30°35' N, 84°57' W], Malaise trap, 30.iv.–5. v.1973, 3 ΨΨ, JSS#13414– 6, 1Ψ, JSS#13417 [head removed for DNA extraction], 1♂, JSS#13418 [3 legs removed for DNA extraction], 1♂, JSS#13419, 1 ♂, JSS#13420, H.V. Weems, Jr., C.R. Artaud (FSCA); Liberty Co., Torreya State P[ar]k, [30°35' N, 84°57' W], 22. iv.1967, 1 Ψ, JSS#11471, W.W. Wirth (USNM); Georgia: Rabun Co., Pine Mountain, [34°57' N, 83°11' W], 1400', [427 m], 4. v.1957, 1 ♂, JSS#11495, J.R. Vockeroth (CNC); Lumpkin Co., 15 mi [les] NW Dahlonega, [34°32' N, 83°59' W], 16. vi.1973, 1 ♂, JSS#11451 [genitalia in poor condition, epandrium broken], A.G. Lavallee (USNM); Illinois: [McHenry Co.], Algonquin, 42.16556º N, 88.29417º W, 19. v.1896, 1 ♂, 19428 (INHS); Kansas: [Pottawatomie Co.], Onaga, [39°29' N, 96°10' W], 1♂, JSS#13386, H. Kahl Coll.’n, C.M. Acc. 12676, 751 (CMNH); [Pottawatomie Co., Onaga, 39°29' N, 96°10' W], 2♂♂, JSS#13387– 8, H. Kahl Coll.’n, C.M. Acc. 12676, 749–50 (CMNH); Maryland: Plummers I[slan]d, [38°58' N, 77°11' W], 29. vi.1913, 1 ♂, JSS#11453 [genitalia overcleared], R.C. Shannon (USNM); Michigan: Wayne Co., [42°15' N, 83°17' W], 11. vi.1961, 1 ♂, JSS#11452 [phallus broken], G. Steyskal (USNM); Wayne Co., Grosse Ile, [42°08' N, 83°09' W], 24. v.1951, 1 Ψ, JSS#11505, G. Steyskal (USNM); Mississippi: [Lafayette Co.], Oxford, [34°22' N, 89°31' W], v.1942, 1 Ψ, JSS#11474, Frank M. Hull collection CNC 1973 (CNC); Lafayette Co., Oxford, [34°22' N, 89°31' W], v.–vi.1945, 4 ΨΨ, JSS#11475, 11477­ 9, 1 ♂, JSS#11476, v.1940, 3 ΨΨ, JSS#11480–2, 1 ♂, JSS#11483, 1 ♂, JSS#11484, 2ΨΨ, JSS#11485, 11487, 1♂, JSS#11486, v.1945, 1 Ψ, JSS#11489, Frank M. Hull, Frank M. Hull collection CNC 1973 (CNC); Missouri: Boone Co., 5 mi [les] E Ashland, Ashland W[ildlife] A[rea], [38°45' N, 92°12' W], Malaise trap, forest, 28.v.–4. vi.1992, 1 ♂, JSS#13376 [3 legs removed for DNA extraction], R.S. Gagne (UMRM); New Jersey: [Bergen Co.], Ramsey, [41°03' N, 74°08' W], 23. vi.1935, 1 ♂, JSS#13393 (AMNH); Pennsylvania: Allegheny Co., 2.4 km N Monroeville, W. Boyce Regional Park, 40°27'42" N, 79°45'26" W, 1375 m, reared from Tipula (Lunatipula) duplex Walker, emergence date 14.v.2004, host collection date 14. vii.2003, 1 ♂, CMNH #354180, 1Ψ, CMNH #352853, emergence date 15.v.2004, host collection date 5. vii.2003, 1 ♂, JSS#15202, emergence date 15.v.2004, host collection date 14. vii.2003, 1 Ψ, CMNH #352701, emergence date 17.v.2004, host collection date 5. vii.2003, 2 ♂♂, CMNH #353341, 354670, emergence date 17.v.2004, host collection date 8. vii.2003, 1 ♂, CMNH #358101, emergence date 17.v.2004, host collection date 14. vii.2003, 1 ♂, CMNH #356286, emergence date 19.v.2004, host collection date 14. vii.2003, 1 ♂, CMNH #355821, emergence date 19.v.2004, host collection date 26. vii.2003, 1 ♂, CMNH #353893, emergence date 20.v.2004, host collection date 14. vii.2003, 1 Ψ, CMNH #356305, emergence date 21.v.2004, host collection date 8. vii.2003, 1 Ψ, CMNH #358340, emergence date 22.v.2004, host collection date 14. vii.2003, 1 ♂, CMNH #357825, emergence date 23.v.2004, host collection date 5. vii.2003, 1 Ψ, CMNH #358422, emergence date 24.v.2004, host collection date 14. vii.2003, 1 ♂, CMNH #352932, 1Ψ, CMNH #354570, emergence date 26.v.2004, host collection date 14. vii.2003, 1 Ψ, CMNH #352881, emergence date 27.v.2004, host collection date 14. vii.2003, 1 Ψ, CMNH #353444, emergence date 29.v.2004, host collection date 14. vii.2003, 1 Ψ, CMNH #353236, emergence date 31.v.2004, host collection date 14. vii.2003, 1 Ψ, CMNH #353388, emergence date 2.vi.2004, host collection date 14. vii.2003, 1 Ψ, CMNH #354178, emergence date 17.vi.2004, host collection date 26. vii.2003, 1 Ψ, CMNH #356930, emergence date 17.vi.2004, host collection date 10. viii.2003, 1 ♂, CMNH #356395, reared from Tipula (Lunatipula) mallochi Alexander, emergence date 15.v.2004, host collection date 5. vii.2003, 1 Ψ, JSS#15207, D.P. Koenig, C.W. Young (CMNH); Texas: Brazos Co., College Station, Lick Creek Park, [30°38' N, 96°20' W], Malaise trap, 9–23. iv.1988, 1 ♂, JSS#13395, 4ΨΨ, JSS#13396­7, 13402­3, 4♂♂, JSS#13398­9, 13401, 13404, 1 ♂, JSS#13400, Wharton, Praetorius (TAMU); Brazos Co., College Station, [30°38' N, 96°20' W], Malaise trap, 16.iii.–19. iv.1988, 1 ♂, JSS#13405, R. Wharton (TAMU); Brazos Co., College Station, Lick Creek P[ar]k, [30°33' N, 96°14' W], 2200', [671 m], Malaise trap, bottomland forest n[ea]r creek, 28–30. iii.2000, 1 ♂, JSS#11442, debu 0 0 109691, M. Buck (DEBU); Brazos Co., College Station, Lick Creek P[ar]k, [30°33' N, 96°14' W], 2200', [671 m], Malaise trap, post oak savanna by creek, 28– 30. iii.2000, 1 ♂, JSS#11443, debu 0 0 117703, 1 ♂, JSS#11444, debu 0 0 113829 [3 legs removed for DNA extraction], 30.iii.–5. iv.2000, 1 Ψ, JSS#11445, debu 0 0 114314, 5– 9. iv.2000, 1 Ψ, JSS#11446, debu 0 0 114350 [3 legs removed for DNA extraction], 1Ψ, JSS#11447, debu 0 0 117650, 1 ♂, JSS#11448, debu 0 0 117621, M. Buck (DEBU); Montgomery Co., [W.G.] Jones State Forest, 8 mi [les] S Conroe, [30°13' N, 95°29' W], 13– 19. iv.1987, 1 ♂, JSS#13406, 27.iv.–3. v.1987, 2 ΨΨ, JSS#13407­8, 2♂♂, JSS#13409, 13410 [3 legs removed for DNA extraction], Wharton, Wang, Praetorius (TAMU); Washington: Walla Walla, [46°04' N, 118°20' W], 18. viii.1923, 1 ♂, JSS#11454 [genitalia in poor condition, epandrium broken], A.L. Melander, A.L. Melander collection 1961 (USNM).
Other Material Examined: Canada: Ontario: Puslinch, [43°26' N, 80°05' W], Malaise trap, 1. vii.1983, 1 Ψ, JSS#11430, Coote & Marshall (DEBU); Puslinch, [43°26' N, 80°05' W], dry Malaise head, 28. vi.1983, 1 Ψ, JSS#11431, Coote & Marshall (DEBU); Cambridge, Cambridge Research Station, [43°23' N, 80°19' W], Malaise trap, forest edge, 30.vi.–5. vii.1992, 1 Ψ, JSS#11423, J. Skevington (DEBU); United States: District of Columbia: Washington, [38°54' N, 77°02' W], 19. vi.1944, 1 Ψ, JSS#11506, G. Steyskal (USNM); Maryland: Plummers Isl[and], [38°58' N, 77°11' W], 30. vi.1960, 1 Ψ, JSS#11502, 6. vi.1959, 1 Ψ, JSS#11503, K.V. Krombein (USNM); Plummers Isl[and], [38°58' N, 77°11' W], 8–20. vii.1968, 1 Ψ, JSS#11504, P. Spangler (USNM); North Carolina: Jackson Co., Cullowhee, Cane C[ree]k, [35°20' N, 83°11' W], 2200', [671 m], Malaise trap, 8. vi.1984, 1 Ψ, JSS#11437, 9. vi.1984, 1 Ψ, JSS#11438, 15. vi.1984, 1 Ψ, JSS#11439, 26–27. vi.1984, 2 ΨΨ, JSS#11440­1, Marshall (DEBU); Virginia: Clarke County, 5 miles] E Berryville, [39°09' N, 77°59' W], black light, 18. vii.1976, 1 Ψ, JSS#11510, G.F. Hevel (USNM); Montg[omery] Co., 8 km NW Blacksburg, [37°14' N, 80°25' W], 1000 m, 9. vi.1987, 1 Ψ, JSS#11462, BRC Hym. Team (CNC).
Etymology: From the Latin atra for ‘black’ and pilus for ‘hair’; in reference to the black hairs on the abdomen of this species.
Description: Male: Body length 5.7–8.9 mm. Head: Holoptic, eyes joined for approximately two to four times the length of ocellar triangle, H:O 2.19–4.40:1. Arista black with yellow base. 1st flagellomere yellow. Pedicel yellow with 14–21 bristles along distal margin. Scape yellow with 3–11 dorsal bristles. Labellum and palps yellow. Occiput silver­pubescent with multiple rows of white hairs. Thorax: Proepisternum with a fan of 6–8 bristles. Postpronotal lobe yellow with 4–7 yellow hairs on posterior edge. Scutum usually black dorsally, yellow laterally, with sharply defined boundaries between the colours (cf. Fig. 1 C); with dorsocentral and intra­alar rows of hairs, dorsocentrals longer and increasing in size posteriorly, terminating in 2–4 strong setae. Notopleuron with 2 setae and numerous smaller hairs. 1 posterior supra­alar seta. Postalar callus with 2 setae and 6–7 other moderately strong bristles. Scutellum yellow; with 2–3 pairs of strong posterior setae and numerous small black bristles over entire surface. Pleuron mostly yellow, black on basal four fifths of katepisternum and meron, anterior anepisternum, small sclerite below wing base and subscutellum; anepimeron brown in some Texas, Florida and Mississippi specimens. Halter yellow. Legs: long and slender, entirely yellow; hairs and sockets on coxae brown to black; hairs on trochanters and femora predominantly to entirely brown to black, sometimes yellow on base of femora; tibiae and tarsi with brown to black hairs with black sockets. Fore and mid­tibiae slender and slightly arched dorsoventrally; hind tibia narrow on basal third, broader towards tip, laterally arched in apical half (in dorsal view); apex with circlet of stiff yellow bristles all about the same length (cf. Fig. 1 C). Trochanters with 3–6 dorsomedial bristles and a row of shorter ventral bristles, most prominent on rear trochanter. Wings: Length: 6.1–8.1 mm; fourth costal section about 2–3 times as long as third, C4:C3 2.0–3.0:1; R­M situated between basal one­third to nearly middle of discal medial cell (dm), S3:S2 2.1–3.0:1. Cell r1 bare basally; Sc entirely bare to microtrichose in distal corner only; cell bm entirely bare to microtrichose along distal edge only. Tegula with 9–13 black bristles. Abdomen: Tergite 1 brown with a yellow anterolateral patch; with 9–15 large black bristles. Tergites 2–3 brown with yellow along posterior edge and laterally. Tergite 4 similar but with less yellow. Tergites 5–7 brown to black, usually with very narrow yellow posterior and lateral edges. Sternites 1–5 brown. Syntergosternite 8 brown dorsally, yellow ventrally. All hairs black. Genitalia: Epandrium and terminalia usually light brown, occasionally yellowish brown, phallus black. Epandrium one and a third to about one and a half times as wide as long, WE:LE 1.3–1.6:1. Surstyli asymmetrical; with upper lobes short, triangular (Fig. 6 C); middle lobe of right surstylus stubby, pointed, with no similar structure on left surstylus (Fig. 6 C, D). Distiphallus with numerous, robust spines starting before first loop (Fig. 6 C). Female: As male except: Ovipositor short, upcurved, 0.77–1.15 mm (Fig. 4 B). OL:PL 1.25–1.36:1; BL:OL 6.21–7.79:1; B:PL 0.28–0.42:1.
Distribution: Mostly an eastern North American distribution. Known from 104 specimens distributed from southwestern Quebec and New Jersey south to northern Florida, west to eastern Texas and eastern Kansas (Fig. 5). One additional specimen was collected in SE Washington (see below).
Comments: This is one of the most common species of Nephrocerus. It has been recorded from a variety of habitats including: bottomland forest near a creek, post oak savanna near a creek and an oak hilltop. The latter specimen from Masham Township in Quebec was hilltopping (see discussion of this behaviour under N. acanthostylus).
The primary flight period for Nephrocerus atrapilus in the north is from mid­June to the end of the first week of July. In the deep south (Texas to Florida), it occurs from late March to mid­May. In the mid­eastern USA, it occurs from mid­May to mid­July, but is most common from mid­May to mid­June. There is one outlying record from August 8th 1923. This record suggests that the species may have a partial 2nd generation; however, because this specimen is the only western specimen (from Walla Walla, Washington), the situation may be more complex. The flight time in the west could be different from that of eastern populations (and in fact from all known Nephrocerus species) or this specimen may be entirely mislabeled (location and date both could be wrong).
Within the daeckei group, females of N. atrapilus and N. daeckei are very similar and females of N. woodi are unknown. As a result, only females of N. atrapilus that are associated with males are designated as paratypes.
Just before sending this manuscript off to press, Chen Young (CMNH) announced that David Koenig and he reared Nephrocerus in 2004 (pers. comm.). The specimens that they reared were obtained and all are N. atrapilus. Twenty­three of the 24 reared specimens were reared from the adult crane fly, Tipula (Lunatipula) duplex Walker (Diptera, Tipulidae). The other specimen was reared from adult Tipula (Lunatipula) mallochi Alexander. This is the first time that any species of Nephrocerus has been reared and the host is a radical departure from other known pipunculid hosts. All pipunculids previously associated with hosts were reared from leafhoppers, planthoppers and their relatives (Auchenorrhyncha). These hosts are typically parasitized as 2nd instar larvae (Skevington & Marshall 1998). Only Verrallia and Jassidophaga break this pattern and attack spittlebugs (Cercopidae) just as the newly moulted adults emerge from their spittle masses (Linnane & Osgood 1977). Therefore, not only does Nephrocerus attack flies, they also are unconventional in attacking adults. This remarkable discovery will be detailed in an upcoming paper by Koenig & Young (2005).
description: Published as part of Skevington, Jeffrey H., 2005, Revision of Nearctic Nephrocerus Zetterstedt (Diptera: Pipunculidae), pp. 1-36 in Zootaxa 977 on pages 12-18, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.171339