Tomosvaryella biloba 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 biloba

description: Tomosvaryella biloba Földvari, Skevington & Motamedinia sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: EC8D2BD7-6D03-4296-BEB1-FE8E6837A070
Figs 12A–E, 110, 149E, 155F
Diagnosis: This species can be recognized by hind trochanter with a distinct keel and some dark bristles along the whole length (Fig. 149E); symmetrical, tiny, elongated surstyli in dorsal view (Fig. 12A); gonopods extended towards surstyli with two lobes on inner margin in ventral view (Fig. 12B); phallic guide with 3–4 dorso- dorsolateral spines; subepandrial sclerite with some small teeth dorsally in lateral view (Fig. 12D–E).
Description: MALE: Body length: 3.3–3.6 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 1.5–2 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 silvery pollinose and without bristles along distal edge. Dorsocentral bristles indistinct, dark, more visible in front part, a few pale bristles around postpronotum present. Halter, knob pale, stem brown. Legs. Mid coxa with four long dark bristles. Trochanters brown, femora black, shining ventrally, silvery pollinose posteriorly except shiny hind femur; knees and basal 1/5 of tibiae yellow (tibiae otherwise brown), tarsal segments dark brown dorsally, yellow ventrally, last segment darker. Hind trochanter with distinct keel and some dark bristles along the whole (14–16), evenly distributed (Fig. 149E); ventrobasal spines absent on fore and mid femur. Ventroapical row of spines on fore femur absent; 4–5 small, black spines on mid femur; hind femur without ventroapical spines, except 12–14 equally spaced bristles posteroventrally, longer on distal half, longest up to ½ times the width of hind tibia at distal end. Subapical (distal) spines on first four tibiae present (short). Hind metatarsus slightly flattened, as long as 2–4 combined and with strong dark bristles dorsally and dense scrub-like bristles ventrally (tarsomeres 1–2 only). Pulvilli shorter than last tarsal segment. Wing. Length: 3.2–3.3 mm. Fourth costal section 2–2.5 times as long as third costal section. Cross-vein r-m at 3/5 of discal cell (distal to middle). 4–5 distinct dark setulae on tegula. Abdomen. Viewed obliquely from front, tergites subshiny brown-black, tergite 1 silvery grey, silvery pollinose spots on tergites 4 and 5 (spot on tergite 5 larger). Dispersed strong dark bristles on all tergites present, longest on tergite 5 in length up to 1/4 the width of hind tibia at distal end. Lateral bristles on first tergite present, 4–6 short dark bristles up to 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 small to medium sized, round in dorsal view, brown and with a few distinct bristles, otherwise with velvet-like coverage; membranous rounded slit, mostly directed posteriorly; epandrium brown, surstyli yellow, short. Genitalia. Genital capsule in dorsal view: epandrium wider than long (MLE:MWE = 0.7). Surstyli short, elongated, symmetrical (Fig. 12A). Genital capsule in ventral view: both gonopods extended towards sternite, rounded at tips with two distinct lobes on inner margin; phallic guide with 3–4 dorso- dorsolateral spines, one spine longer than others, subepandrial sclerite distinct, rectangular-shaped (Fig. 12B); Genital capsule in lateral view: left surstylus straight in basal two thirds, bent towards sternite apically, right surstylus straight, moderately broadened to apex (not bent) subepandrial sclerite with some small teeth dorsally in basal half (Fig. 12D–E). Ejaculatory apodeme tube-like, bent, with a bulb in its middle (Fig. 12C).
FEMALE: Body length: 3.1–3.3 mm. As male except for the following characters. Frons, eyes separated, as wide as 1.1–1.2 times the width at antennae; completely silver-grey pollinose on lower 1/3, shiny black in front of ocellar triangle, smooth change in transition zone (at 1/4 from ocellar triangle) to shiny black, tiny ridge in the median line on upper 1/3 of frons. Enlarged ommatidia silvery shining. Pulvilli and claws about 1.5–2.5 times as long as last tarsal segment, smaller on metatarsi. Female abdomen with silver spots on sides of tergites 4–6. Ovipositor. Straight in ventral view, strongly curved towards sternite, hook-like in lateral view (yellow piercer, dark brown base), reaching distal end of 5th segment; base silvery pollinose with dispersed short dark bristles. LP:LB = 2.5. LDP:LPP = 3.3. (Fig. 155F).
Etymology: From the Latin bi, two and lobus, a rounded projection or protuberance, in reference to the two lobes on the gonopods.
Examined material: HOLOTYPE: AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 8 km E[ast of] Pebble Mouse Cr[eek] on Great Northern H[igh]w[a]y, 70 km E[ast of] J[un]ct[ion], Karijini Dr [ive], 23°06.3.4’S [sic], 118°59’E, 710m, dry wash, 23.IV–6.V.2003, M.E. Irwin & F.D. Parker, Malaise trap, JSS15891 (1♂, WAM); PARATYPES: AUSTRALIA: Northern Territory: Kakadu National Park, Mirrai Lookout, 12°52’S, 132°42’E, hilltop, 27.IX.1998, J.&A. Skevington, hand collected, JSS4115 (1♂, QM); Mary River National Park, 1.8 km Northwest of Bird Billabong Trail Carpark, west of Mary River bridge on Arnhem Highway, 12°52’S, 131°37’E, hilltop, 25.IX.1998, J.&A. Skevington, hand collected, JSS4081 (1♂, QM); Darwin, 12°27’S, 130°50’E, 8–9.XII.1963, J. Sedlacek, CNCD5573–4 (2♂, BPBM); Queensland: Ridgepole Waterhole, 24 km ESE of Musselbrook Resource Centre, Lawn Hill National Park, 18°40’S, 138°22’E, 180m, 12.V.1995, G. Daniels & M.A. Schneider, JSS8282 (1♂, QM); Carnarvon National Park, Mount Rugged Summit, 24°54’S, 147°60’E, 1130m, hilltop, 30.XI.1997, J. Skevington & C. Lambkin, hand collected, JSS2224 (1♂, QM); Western Australia: 12 miles S by E of Onslow, 21°41’S, 115°8’E, 18.X.1970, D.H. Colless, JSS8669–70; JSS8672 (3♂, ANIC); Walyunga National Park, 31°44’S, 116°4’E, 19– 29.XII.1999, J.&A. Skevington, C. Lambkin & P. Bouchard, Malaise trap, JSS7673 (1♂, QM); 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, JSS16407 (1♂, CNC); 47 km S Pardoo Road House on Shay Gap Road, 20°23’S, 120°1’E, 170m, dry wash near Spinifex, 1–14.V.2003, M.E. Irwin & F.D. Parker, Malaise trap, JSS15699–700 (1♂, CNC; 1♂, USNM); 67 km SW Pardoo Road House on Shay Gap Road, 20°28’S, 120°10’E, 177m, dry sandy ravine with flowers, 1–14.V.2003, M.E. Irwin & F.D. Parker, Malaise trap, JSS15662, JSS15664–6, JSS15668–71 (5♂, 2♀, CNC, 1♂ USNM); 8 km East of Pebble Mouse Creek on Great Northern Highway, 70 km East of Junction, Karijini Drive, 23°06.3.4’S [sic], 118°59’E, 710m, dry wash, 23.IV–6.V.2003, M.E. Irwin & F.D. Parker, Malaise trap, JSS15888–90 (1♂, 2♀, CNC); Cape Range National Park, Milyering Ranger House, 22°2’S, 113°56’E, 22m, below cliff near Ficus, 28.IV–11.V.2003, M.E. Irwin & F.D. Parker, Malaise trap, JSS15653 (1♂, CNC); Karijini National Park, Hamersley-Mount Bruce Road, 22°37’S, 118°19’E, 762m, open mallee with Spinifex, 14–19.V.2003, C. Lambkin, J. Recsei, Malaise trap, JSS15972 (1♂,ANIC); 22°34’S, 118°18’E, 757m, dry rocky creek bed, Eucalyptus grassland, 25.IV–14.V.2003, C. Lambkin & T. Weir, Malaise trap, JSS16116 (1♂, ANIC); Karijini National Park, Juna Downs Road, 22°42’S, 118°25’E; 789m, between drying pools in rocky Turee Creek, near rock outcrop, Eucalyptus Eremophila scrub, dry Turee Creek, grassy open Eucalyptus scrub, 14–19.V.2003, C. Lambkin & T. Weir, Malaise trap, Malaise trap, JSS16028, 19–25.IV.2003, JSS16167–8, JSS16170, JSS16174, 22°44’S, 118°25’E, 14–19.V.2003, JSS16108, JSS 16113, 798m, 25.IV–14.V.2003, JSS16086, JSS16091–2, 22°43’S, 118°25’E, 799m, 25.IV–14.V.2003, JSS16048 (9♂, 2♀, ANIC); Karijini National Park, Karijini Drive, 22°34’S, 118°18’E, 815m, across dry gully, Acacia scrub, 19–25.IV.2003, C. Lambkin & T. Weir, Malaise trap, JSS16156 (1♂, ANIC); Karijini National Park, Juna Downs Road (between drying pools in rocky Turee Creek), 22°42’S, 118°25’E, 789m, 25.IV– 14.V.2003, C. Lambkin & T. Weir, Malaise trap, CNCD3824, CNCD3840, CNCD3850, CNCD3866 (2♂, 2♀, CNC); Millstream-Chichester National Park, Snappy Gum Drive, 21°34’S, 117°4’E, 329m, over deep rocky gully, 2–11.V.2003, C. Lambkin, D. Yeates & J. Recsei, Malaise trap, JSS16180 (1♂, ANIC); Western Australia: Karijini National Park, Karijini Dr. 8km WNW, Great Northern Hwy, 22°37’S, 118°22’E, 750m, Dry wash, 22.IV.2003, F.D. Parker & M.E. Irwin, pan trap, CNCD6878 (1♂, CNC); Cape Range National Park; Milyering Ranger House, 22°2’S, 113°55’E, 22m, below cliff near Ficus, 28.IV–11.V.2003, M.E. Irwin & F.D. Parker, Malaise trap, JSS15654.
Distribution: Australia (Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia).
Notes: This species is found in the arid north central and northwestern parts of Australia. Many specimens were collected in dry washes and plant associates include Acacia, Eremophila, Eucalyptus and Spinifex. Some specimens have been captured hilltopping. Intraspecific genetic distance ranges from 0.0% to 2.4% (Supplementary file 3). The specimens JSS15888 and JSS15891 display 1.4–2.4% pairwise divergence from other specimens suggesting that this is a species complex that requires more investigation.
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 34-37, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5599.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/14970961