Paracricotopus niger (Kieffer, 1913) sensu Saether (1980)

Figs. 4 & 7E

Material examined. 1 Male; Norway, Stor-Elvdal Silbakken, Malaisefelle, 380 m; 61.74614˚N, 10.74618˚E; 30.vi-07.vii.2008; leg. T. Hoffstad; det. E. Stur, 2015; No. AT 572; dep. NTNU. 1 Male; Norway, Trøndelag, Trondheim, Sommerlystvegen, 75 Moh, Malaise trap; 63.405˚N, 10.383˚E; 17.viii.2014; leg. E.Stur & T. Ekrem; det. E. Stur; NTNU-VM 182621; BOLD ID: BIOUG16478 -D12; dep. NTNU. 1 Female; Norway, Trøndelag, Trondheim, Sommerlystvegen, 75 Moh, Malaise trap; 63.405˚N, 10.383˚E; 20.vii.2014; leg. E.Stur & T. Ekrem; det. E. Stur; NTNU-VM 182620; BOLD ID: BIOUG15947 -C12; dep. NTNU.

Diagnostic characters. The adult male of P. niger can be separated from the closely related species by the combination of the following characteristics: AR 0.51–0.73; Haltere brown, 255–256 μm long; wing with costa extension 41–54 μm long; tergites I–VIII with 3 lateral setae; tergite I anterior basal setae, and posterior marginal setae arranged in 3 diagonal rows; tergites II – V anterior basal setae and posterior marginal setae in two diagonal rows; tergites VI – VII anterior basal setae and posterior marginal setae in straight rows; tergite VIII with 1 row of basal setae and 2 rows of marginal setae; anal point 32–55 μm long; inferior volsella a large lobe slightly curved; gonostylus with large preapical crista dorsalis; anal point bearing 8 lateral setae.

Redescription. Male (n = 2, unless otherwise stated).

Total length 2.1–2.4, 2.3 mm. Wing length 1.3–1.4 mm. Haltere 255–256 μm long.

Coloration. Head, including antenna and thorax, dark brown. Haltere brown. Wing greyish, pale. Legs light brown. Abdominal tergites brown, sternites whitish grey.

Head. Antenna with 13 flagellomere, last flagellomere with 11 sensilla chaetica (Fig. 4A), 2 nd –3 rd segments each with 2 sensilla chaetica, groove starts at 4 th segment, AR 0.67. Eyes hairy, without dorsomedial extension, temporal setae 4, including 2 frontals and 2 postoculars (n = 1). Tentorium narrow with tentorial pit close to the apex, tentorium 152–156, 154 μm long. Clypeus rectangular, 64–78, 71 μm long and 91–111, 101 μm wide, bearing 7–12, 10 setae, setae 73–84 μm long. Palpal segments lengths (in μm): 56–60, 58; 51; 68–75, 72; 108–112, 110; 141.

Thorax (Figs. 4B). Acrostichals 9; dorsocentrals 8; prealars 3; scutellars 7 in single row. Antepronotal lobes developed, with small gap and bearing 5 setae.

Wing (Fig. 4C). Brachiolum with 1 seta. Squama with 6–12, 9 setae. R with 4–6, 5 setae, other veins bare. Costa extension 41–54, 47 μm long. Anal lobe rounded. Microtrichia only visible at> 1000 x magnification.

Legs. Hind and mid femurs with keel. Pulvilli developed. Fore tibia spur 37–41, 39 μm long, mid tibia spurs 16–17 and 15–17 μm long, hind tibia spurs 36–38, 37 and 19 μm long, hind tibia comb with 12 spines. Lengths and proportions of legs as in Table 4.

Abdominal tergite setation (Figs. 4D, 7E). Tergite I with 3 lateral setae, anterior basal setae, and posterior marginal setae arranged in 3 diagonal rows in 2–3/2/3 format. Tergites II–VIII with 3 lateral setae. Tergites II–V anterior basal setae, and posterior marginal setae in two diagonal rows. Tergites VI–VII anterior basal setae and posterior marginal setae in straight rows. Tergite VIII with 1 row of basal setae and 2 rows of marginal setae.

Hypopygium (Fig. 4E). Anal point triangular with sharp apex, bearing 8 lateral setae, 32–55, 44 μm long and 13–19, 16 μm wide. Sternapodeme widely arched with well-reduced oral projections; sternapodeme 65–76, 71 μm long. Phallapodeme 40–54, 47 μm long. Inferior volsella, a large lobe slightly curved, located at the mid-section of gonocoxite. Gonocoxite 160–171, 166 μm long. Gonostylus with large preapical crista dorsalis; gonostylus 78–85, 81 μm long; megaseta 12 μm long. HR 1.9–2.2, 2.0, HV 2.5–3.0, 2.8.

Female (n = 1).

Description. As described by Saether 1980 with the following additions:

Abdominal tergites setation (Fig. 4F). Same as male.

Immatures. Pupa and larva as described by Saether (1980b) and Ghaderi et al. (2023).

Distribution. Palearctic: Widespread.