Notholimnophila exclusa Alexander 1922

Notholimnophila exclusa (Alexander, 1922)

(Figures 1–16)

Notholimnophila exclusa (Alexander, 1922). Type species: Limnophila exclusa Alexander, 1922a: 517 –518 (original description); Alexander, 1924: 369 (taxonomy); Ribeiro, 2008: figs. 85, 159 (illustrations of male genitalia); Oosterbroek, 2011 (catalogue citation).

Redescription. Coloration (male and female): Head and appendages brownish grey, little darker than thorax. Thorax brownish, darker dorsally, gradually turning to pale brown-yellowish toward coxae. Scutum with distinct dark brown markings: an anteromedial band plus two posterolateral strips. Wings with a brownish tinge, darker along cell c. Darker brown areas at base of Rs, along the cord, pterostigma and distal parts of wing. Male abdomen including genitalia brownish. Female abdomen brownish. Ovipositor yellowish. Legs pale brown-yellowish, with darker areas at tips of femora and tibiae. Tarsi dark brown.

Dimensions. Head length, ca. 1.0 mm; Head width, ca. 1.0 mm; thorax length, 2.8–2.9 mm; thorax height ca. 2.5 mm; wing length, 10.0– 11.3 mm; wing width, 2.2–2.3 mm; gonocoxite length, ca. 0.63 mm; gonocoxite width ca. 0.32 mm.

Morphology. Head (Figs 2, 3). Flagellum 14-segmented; first 3–4 flagellomeres sub globular, conspicuously stouter than remaining, bearing stout dorsal verticils; remaining flagellomeres more ovoid, bearing longer verticils; Scape ca. 1.86x longer than wide and ca. 2.7x longer than pedicel; palpus 4-segmented, all segments tubular in shape, subequal in length; eyes separated dorsally by a distance virtually equal to the length of scape, and ventrally by a much narrower space. Wing (Figs 5, 12). Vein h situated at the level of midlength between origin and bifurcation of M+Cu; tip of Sc at the level of first bifurcation of M; Sc-r oblique, little longer than tip of Sc; R1 somewhat sinuous between r-r and sc-r, straight and pointed upwards after contact with r-r; Rs with or without spur at its base, mostly straight; r-r situated at level of bifurcation of R2+3; R2 parallel with longitudinal axis of wing; R3 more oblique in position, pointed downwards; cell r2 about as long as its petiole; r-m subequal in length or little longer than basal section of M1+2+3; only three branches of M reaching wing margin; discal cell large, almost as long as cel r2; m-cu situated at midpoint of discal cell; tip of vein A1 at the level of vein Sc; tip of vein A2 at the level of origin of Rs; Thorax (Figs 4, 13). Thoracic sclerites as in Figure 13; tibial spurs present and distinct; tibial spur formula 1:2:2; Tarsal claws simple and smooth. Male genitalia (Figs 6–9, 14–16). Posterior margin of tergite 9 forming extensions longer than wide. Gonocoxite cone-shaped, ca. 2.5x longer than wide; gonostylus terminal; lobe of gonostylus ca. 3.4x longer than wide, gradually narrowed toward tip; clasper of gonostylus ca. 3.3x longer than wide, glabrous, simple, strongly serrated; aedeagus relatively short, reaching the level the tips of the interbasis; aedeagal sheath lacking processes or extensions; interbase blade-like, little serrated at apex, fused medially but with no conspicuous lateral extensions articulating with paramere. Female terminalia (Figures 10, 11): tergite 10 ovoid, ca. 2x longer than wide; hypogynial valve well sclerotized; apex of hypogynial valve reaching midlength of cercus.

Material examined. Holotype. Male. Charteris Bay, Canterbury, N.Z. [ca. 43°38’S 172°42’ E], alt. 200–300 ft. [70–92m], Nov. 12, 1921, J.W.Campbell.

Preservation. The male holotype is pinned and in virtual perfect condition, with only the left flagellum missing. The specimen was not dissected.

Paratype. Female. Ohakune, N.Z. [ca. 39°25’S 175°23’ E], Alt. 2060 ft. [628m], Nov. 12, 1921, T.R.Harris. | Allotype.

1 male and 1 female. Ohakune, N.Z. [ca. 39°25’S 175°23’ E], alt. 2060 ft. [628m], Dec. 10, 1922, T.R.Harris | Limnophila exclusa Al., Det. C.P.Alexander, 1923.

1 male. New Zealand: S. Is., Kumara [42°37’S 171°11’E], 23 february 1929, J.W.Campbell | Notholimnophila exclusa Alexander. Det. G.C.Ribeiro, 2011.

Remarks. The two specimens mentioned in the original description – one male and one female – were designated as holotype and allotype, respectively. The study of Ribeiro (2008) indicated Bergrothomyia, a genus including three species in Australia (Victoria, New South Wales) and Tasmania, as the closest relative of Notholimnophila. Bergrothomyia differs from Notholimnophila mostly by having a rostrum as long as the head and the vein M bifurcated into M1 and M2.