Nephochaetopteryx fuscipennis Lopes

(Fig. 13)

Nephochaetopteryx fuscipennis Lopes, 1941: 361 (description of male). Type locality: Brazil, Santa Catarina, Nova Teutônia. Other references: Dodge (1968a: 281; key); Lopes (1969: 28; catalog); Pape (1996: 260; catalog).

Redescription. [Based on images of the holotype and on the original description and figures provided by Lopes (1941).] Male. Length = 6 mm [obtained from Lopes (1941)].

Head. Fronto-orbital, parafacial plates and postocular strip with golden microtomentum. Frontal vitta reddishbrown. Seven frontal setae. Gena and postgena with golden microtomentum. Palpus yellow.

Thorax. Chaetotaxy: dorsocentrals 3+4 (first two weak); intra-alars 1+2; supra-alars 2+3, notopleurals 2 subprimaries; anepisternals 5; merals 5. Ctenidium consisting of four spines. Mid femur with two median setae and without a differentiated posteroventral seta. Wing hyaline; vein R 4+5 setulose dorsally to crossvein r-m.

Abdomen. Tergites brown with a band of grayish microtomentum on anterior 4/5 of dorsal and lateral surfaces.

Terminalia. Cercus short (shorter than epandrium) in lateral view, with distal portion slight curved posteriorly (Fig. 13A). Cercal base projected laterally and cercal prongs parallel (Fig. 13B). Surstylus narrow and elongate, almost as long as cercus, curved anteriorly and with a rounded apex (Fig. 13A). Pregonite longer than wide, with rounded apex and a small preapical pointed projection on anterior margin (Fig. 13A). Postgonite elongate, with pointed apex curved anteriorly and a strong median seta on anterior margin (Fig. 13A). Distiphallus with sinuous dorsal margin and apical margin with a concavity. Ventral margin serrated (Fig. 13A).

Female. Unknown.

Distribution. NEOTROPICAL—Brazil (Santa Catarina).

Remarks. The only known specimen of N. fuscipennis is the holotype male deposited in the Natural History Museum in London (United Kingdom), which was examined through a photo. Even if we had access to this specimen, we would have preferred not to dissect the terminalia, since it is the only known specimen of N. fuscipennis. However, based on the figures and description by Lopes (1941) and photos of the holotype, it is evident that N. fuscipennis is a valid species with many unique features.

Nephochaetopteryx fuscipennis differs from all the other known congeneric species in having surstylus narrow and elongate, almost as long as cercus. The distiphallus of N. limpidipennis is similar to that of N. fuscipennis in having apex with a prominent concavity and ventral margin serrated.