Lasiopogon odontotus McKnight, 2020

Mcknight, Tristan A. & Cannings, Robert A., 2020, Molecular phylogeny of the genus Lasiopogon (Diptera: Asilidae) and a taxonomic revision of the bivittatus section, Zootaxa 4835 (1), pp. 1-115 : 69-71

Lasiopogon odontotus McKnight sp. nov.

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Diagnosis. ( Fig. 32 ) A medium-sized greyish brown species from the western and southern Sierra Nevada; mystax and most setae of head and thorax black; white setae on antennal scape; dorsocentral stripes brown on grey scutum; tergites with basal brown tomentum in broad bands or lateral spots, grey over apical 50–60% of each tergite and occasionally along midline. Epandrium moderately curved medially; phallus paramere sheath with prominent sharp ventral subapical tooth and long finger-like apical projection on dorsal carina parallel to aedeagal sheath. Ovipositor dark brown/black; acanthophorite spines black.

Description. Body length ♂ 8.6–11.4mm; ♀ 11.0– 11.6mm. Head. HW ♂ 2.00– 2.47mm; ♀ 2.33–2.55mm. FW ♂ 0.43–0.50mm; ♀ 0.50–0.53mm. VW ♂ 0.83–1.00mm; ♀ 1.03–1.04mm. VW/HW = ♂ 0.40–0.42; ♀ 0.41–0.45. FW/VW = ♂ 0.44–0.52; ♀ 0.49–0.51. VD/VW = ♂ 0.15–0.17; ♀ 0.13–0.20. GH/GL = ♂ 0.35–0.40; ♀ 0.43–0.53. Face and vertex silvery grey. Ventral setae (on beard, labium, palps) white; mystax and dorsal setae mostly black (a few white setae occasionally in orbital setae). Occipital macrosetae fine, gradually curved anteriorly, longest (to 0.8mm) posterior to frons; frontal and orbital setae long (reach basal quarter of postpedicel), dense; ocellar setae indistinct. Antennae. Dark brown, with thin grey tomentum. Setae on scape usually white (rarely mixed with black), on pedicel black, no setae on postpedicel. Postpedicel relatively short, widest at basal third with ventral margin curving but dorsal margin straight; stylus relatively long. WPP/LPP = ♂ 0.30–0.41; ♀ 0.35–0.37. LAS/LPP ♂ 0.61– 0.85; ♀ 0.61–0.76. Thorax. Prothorax grey, with white setae; postpronotal lobes grey, the lateral angle yellowish brown, setae white, rarely dark brown. Scutum tomentum grey; dorsocentral stripes brown, acrostichal stripes faint, rarely leaving a pale medial stripe. Macrosetae and fine setae of scutum black, rarely a few short white setae anteromedially. Anterior dorsocentral macrosetae 3–6 (to 0.9mm); posteriors 4–5; postalars 2–3, with several shorter setae; supra-alars 2–3; presuturals 2–3; posthumerals 1. Scutellar tomentum grey; rim slightly inflated, leaving a semi-circular line impressed inside the dorsal edge; apical macrosetae black, abundant (6–9 on each half), mixed with many finer setae; short vertical setae on uppermost edge of rim black. Pleural tomentum grey. Katatergite setae black, long, 6–8, with a few short white setae; katepisternal setae white, sparse; anepisternal setae 6–7, black (to 0.8mm), several short black setae along dorsal margin, a few white setae in posteroventral corner; anepimeron with 3–5 fine white setae. Legs. Cuticle dark brown/black, covered in grey tomentum except bare at femur joints. No coxal peg. Coxae with white setae; fine setae white on femur, tibia, and first tarsomere, black on tarsi 2–5; macrosetae all black except a few basally on femur. Ventral setae on femur as long as femur; dorsolateral macrosetae on profemur 6–7, black, fine amidst long setae; on mesofemur and metafemur shorter and more robust, 4–6 and 8–13 respectively. Protibia with ventral macrosetae about 2 times longer than tibial width; apicoventral patch of dense short setae on protibia pale yellow and indistinct, brown on metatibia. Claws chestnut over basal 60%, black apically.

Wings. Veins pale brown; membrane hyaline but pale brown when viewed obliquely. DCI = 0.36–0.42. Halter knob cream, without spot, stem light brown. Abdomen. Male. Tergite cuticle dark brown/black; thin brown tomentum on tergite bases, bands of grey tomentum cover apical 50–60% of each tergite and extend anteriorly along lateral margins, tergites occasionally greyish along midline to divide brown into two lateral spots (especially in specimens from the south); segment 1 fully covered in grey. Tergite 1 with 3–8 black and 1–3 white lateral macrosetae; lateral setae on tergites white, on tergites 1–3 as long as halter, on tergites 4–7 as long as postpedicel; dorsal setulae black, short. Female. As in male, except brown tomentum usually in definite widely spaced spots; lateral setae on tergites 4–7 black, as long as scape, erect. Male genitalia. Epandrium and hypandrium/gonocoxite complex cuticle dark brown/black; covered in thick grey tomentum except thin medially on hypandrium; setae long, erect, black; setal brush dark brown. Epandrium elongate, in lateral view the width about 47% the length, widest in basal third, dorsal and ventral margins slightly sinuate, apex rounded with shallow ventral tooth. In dorsal view, epandrium appears tapered, wider at base than apex, medial margins of epandrium moderately curved, curvature starts about 41% from base, basal sclerite strong. Phallus paramere sheath dorsally about 48% the length of phallus; paramere sheath with prominent sharp subapical ventral tooth and weak ventral flange at base; dorsal carina flat, with a long finger-like apical projection parallel to aedeagal sheath, base of projection rejoins aedeagal tube well before gonopore leaving a wide, deep gap between equidistant apices. Ejaculatory apodeme in lateral view moderately to strongly bent dorsally, with broad dorsal carina along entire length. Subepandrial sclerite with triangular central unsclerotized area in basal 32% narrowing to a slender gap for another 40%; spines parallel-sided, blunt, moderately and evenly distributed.

Female genitalia. Undissected: Cuticle of tergite 8 polished dark brown/black; sternite 8 dark brown or reddish brown, especially near base of hypogynial valves, which are short and wide. Short fine erect setae abundant, white everywhere except occasionally on hypogynial valves; cerci with white setae, lateral lobes with black macrosetae; acanthophorite spines black.

Variation. Specimens from the southern Sierra Nevada (e.g., Kern and Tulare counties) tend to have more grey in the tergite tomentum, with the basal brown tomentum divided into spots or even indistinct, instead of the distinct banding seen in specimens from the north (e.g., Sacramento and Yosemite). The phallus dorsal carina in southern specimens is also more constricted, but we consider these differences minor given the comparable variation in tomentum patterns and phallus morphology in the closely related and similarly distributed species L. sierra sp. nov. and L. anaphlecter sp. nov.

Type Material. HOLOTYPE ♂ labelled: “[rectangular white label] Sacramento River Levee / Sacramento / Sac. Co. Calif. IV-29-1970 ”; “[rectangular beige label] ex open/ ground”; “[rectangular white label] M. Wasbauer / Collector”; “[rectangular white label] from/ collection of/ Larry G. Bezark ”; “[rectangular white label] Lasiopogon / drabicola/ Cole/ det. R.A. Cannings 1996 ”. Our type label “[red and black bordered label] HOLOTYPE / Lasiopogon / odontotus McKnight des. T.A. McKnight 2017” has been added. Deposited at the USNM.

PARATYPES (73 specimens designated): U.S.A.: CALIFORNIA: El Dorado Co., Coloma, Little American River S Fork @ Hwy 43 bridge, 38.8069 -120.9028, 23.v.1993, R.A. Cannings, H. Nadel, E. Fisher (1♂ 1♀ RBCM, RBCM ENT 010-002810 ) ; Fresno Co., Dinkey Creek at N Fork Kings River [36.906 -119.125], 26.iv.1977, D. Wilder (1♂ FISH) ; Hume Lake [36.787 -118.901], 2.vi.1963, L.G. Bock (1♂ WSUC) ; Lost Lake [37.204 -118.945], 16.iii.1961, J. Gordon (1♀ CAS) ; Kern Co., [no loc] (1♀ OSUC, OSUC 194360 ) , [no date, but presumably 1880] H.K. Morrison (1♂ 2♀ FISH) ; Miracle Springs [35.576 -118.534], 29.iv.1964, C.A. Toschi (3♂ 1♀ FISH) ; Mariposa Co., Merced River, Indian Flat [37.662 -119.847], 15.v.1963, J. Wilcox (1♂ 1♀ CAS) ; Merced River , near Yosemite, 28.iv.1984, D. Jamieson (1♂ 1♀ BEZA) ; Yosemite, 8.vi.[1876], Osten Sacken (1♂ MCZ) ; Yosemite Valley [37.7236 -119.6254], 16.v.1921, E.C. Van Dyke (1♂ 1♀ FISH) , 24.v.1921, E.C. Van Dyke (1♂ FISH) , 29.v.1921, E.C. Van Dyke (1♂ RBCM) , 13.vi.1921, E.C. Van Dyke (1♀ FISH) , 3.v.1968, R.E. Fontaine (1♂ BEZA) ; Yosemite , 3880–4000’ [37.724 -119.625], 16.v.1938, R.M. Bohart, (1♀ FSCA) , 19.v.1938, J.R. Warren (1♀ FISH) , K. Snyder (1♀ FISH) , 25.v.1938, F.C. Zabaldano (1♂ 1♀ CSUC) ; Napa Co., Samuel Springs [38.605 -122.311], 16.v.1954, R.M. Bohart (1♀ FSCA) ; Sacramento Co., Sacramento , 13.v.1950, H.T. Robinson (1♀ CNC) , 29.v.1956, W.H. Lange (1♂ FISH) , 4.iv.1956, H.R. Moffitt (1♀ FISH) , 24.v.1962, M. Wasbauer (1♂ FISH) , 6.iv.1964, A.S. Menke (1♂ 1♀ FISH) ; Sacramento, Sacramento River levee [38.595 -121.509], 31.iii.1966, M.S. Wasbauer, F.G. Andrews (1♂ FISH) , 1.iv.1966, M.S. Wasbauer, F.G. Andrews (1♀ FISH) , 29.iv.1970, M. Wasbauer (3♂ 3♀ BEZA, 2♂ 2♀ FISH, 2♀ LACM, LACM ENT 334020 – LACM ENT 334021 , 1♀ TAM), 15.v.1970, M.S. Wasbauer, F.G. Andrews (1♀ FISH) ; Tulare Co., Fairview [35.9299 -118.4909], 27.iv.1964, C.A. Toschi (1♀ FISH) , P. Rude (1♂ 1♀ [1 pr in cop] FISH) , R.L. Langston (2♀ FISH) ; Fish Creek, Troy Meadows, 12 mi E of Kennedy Meadows General Store, Sequoia NF, 2464 m [36.070 -118.236], 25.vi.1994, J. Cole (1♀ LACM, LACM ENT 334075 ) ; Johnsondale [35.972 -118.539], 23.v.1965, E.M. Fisher (4♂ 1♀ FISH, 1♂ RBCM, 1♂ TAM) ; Porterville [36.054 -119.003], 16.iv.1961, E. Ball (2♀ FSCA) ; S Fork Kern River , 6.vi.1945, C. Henne (1♀ CAS) ; Yolo Co., Elkhorn Ferry [38.673 -121.625], 12.v.1951, R.C. Bechtel (1♂ 1♀ [1 pr in cop] FISH) ; W Sacramento , 11.iv.1961, M.E. Irwin (1♂ BEZA) ; W Sacramento, 4 mi S [38.519 -121.526], 27.v.1962, M. Wasbauer (1♀ FISH) ; W Sacramento, River [38.598 -121.512], 26.iii.1988, E.M. Fisher (1♂ FISH) .

Taxonomic Notes. Specimens from this new species have often been misidentified as L. californicus (see Fig. 248k in Cannings 2002, or Cole 1969) or L. sierra .

Etymology. From the Greek οδοντωτός, odontotus, meaning toothed; adjective; refers to the prominent teeth around the phallus tip, and obliquely to its close relationship with L. sierra and range along the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada.

Distribution ( Fig. 38 ) Nearctic; California, western and southern slopes of Sierra Nevada. Type locality: U.S.A., California, Sacramento Co., Sacramento, Sacramento River levee.

Phylogenetic Relationships. Member of the bivittatus section, drabicolum group, likely closely related to L. sierra .

Natural History. Habitat: mountain and lowland riverbanks. Perches recorded on open ground or downed cottonwood ( Populus fremontii S. Watson ) logs (likely similar to 7b). Dates collected range from 16 March to 25 June, with most in April; earlier dates were generally from lower elevations or the southern part of the range.

Figures

FIGURE 32. Matrix key of Lasiopogon morphology for species revised in this publication, indicating details of tergite tomentum, major setation, and dissected male genitalia. Taxa are grouped on pages with closely related and visually similar species. L. drabicolum, L. esau sp. nov. (32) L. anaphlecter sp. nov.

FIGURES 37–40. Distribution maps of georeferenced records for Lasiopogon species revised in this publication, part 1 of 2. Each map corresponds to one page of the morphology tabular key.