Amiota oviraptor, Jones & Grimaldi, 2022

Jones, Lance E. & Grimaldi, David A., 2022, Revision Of The Nearctic Species Of The Genus Amiota Loew (Diptera: Drosophilidae), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2022 (458), pp. 1-181 : 106-107

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.1206/0003-0090.458.1.1
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7504657
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/3C6787ED-FF9E-FFC7-6323-FA97FC21FC84
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Amiota oviraptor
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Amiota oviraptor View in CoL , sp. nov.

Figures 52C–D View FIG , 53F–G View FIG , 58 View FIG , 92B View FIG

DIAGNOSIS: Large fly (ThL 1.56–1.66 mm), dark brown to black; outer paraphysis heavily sclerotized, in lateral view strongly sinuate, anterior portion curving dorsally, posterodorsal portion with 2 posterior facing spines, posteroventral region forming a strong laterally flattened “wing” (posteriorly pointed), the apex with a minute hook; inner paraphysis lost.

DESCRIPTION: Large fly (ThL 1.56–1.66 mm), dark brown to black, legs yellow. Frons golden, pruinose. Facial marking large, depth 0.5× width. Cheek wide (EL/CW 11.14–12.5), milky white posteriorly. Palp dark brown. Haltere white. Tergites 1 and 2 lightly colored. Arista: Short, plumose; longest branch D3; A.R. 0.26; 4 longer dorsal, 2–3 short ventral branches; branch D4 pointed mediad; arista trunk with long microtrichia to apex. Male genitalia: Epandrium split medially, middle gap large, membranous; lower third with long setae; small projection anterolaterally. Cercus cylindrical, not grading into surrounding membrane; large membranous region dorsally. Surstylus squarish, ventral half densely covered with setulae; 13–14 short, peglike prensisetae, apices blunt; laterally with barely a lobe. Subepandrial sclerite sclerotized, C-shaped in lateral view, its broad section with muscle attachment scars; subepandrial appendage well developed, vaguely heart shaped in posterior view, apex with minute irregular serrations. Outer paraphysis heavily sclerotized; in lateral view strongly sinuate, anterior portion curving dorsally; posterodorsal portion with 2 posteriorfacing spines; posteroventral region forming a strong, laterally flattened “wing,” posteriorly pointed; apex with a very small, downward pointed hook. Inner paraphysis lost. Aedeagal apodeme roughly trapezoidal, curved nearly 90° in lateral view, width 1.25× length; posterior portion deeply constricted; distal end widely flared, with deep concave depression/emargination. Hypandrium U-shaped; lateral arms thick, winglike ventrally; lateral arm with a strong gonopod, posteriorly pointed. Ejaculatory apodeme relatively small, well sclerotized, 0.6× length of epandrium; flattened end nearly in line with stalk. Head and thorax measurements: (n = 2; Am 1506, 1529): FL/FW 0.69 (0.68–0.70), EL/EW 1.20 (1.18–1.22), EL/CW 11.82 (11.14–12.5), FML/FMW 0.36 (0.34–0.38), PR /RR 0.62 (0.54– 0.70), ThL 1.61 (1.56–1.66 mm).

TYPE MATERIAL: Holotype: male: 14 mi. SW. El Salto, Dgo. [Durango] MEX., [23.786449, -105.597725], 8000′, June “9” 1964, J.F. McAlpine, Am 1529, [glued to pin, dissected]. Deposited in the Canadian National Collection ( CNC). GoogleMaps Paratype: 14 mi. SW. El Salto, Dgo. MEX., 8000′, June “26” 1964, J.F. McAlpine, attracted to man, [dissection lost], 1♂ (Am 1506*, CNC).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: Known only from the type series.

ETYMOLOGY: In reference to the lateral view of the fused paraphyses which resemble the “winglike” arm and head of an oviraptorid dinosaur and other birdlike dinosaurs.

DISTRIBUTION: Amiota oviraptor is currently known only from the vicinity of the city of El Salto within Durango State in Mexico.

COMMENTS: This species exhibits the characteristic behavior of attraction to the eyes and face common to many Amiota .