Amiota subnebojsa, 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 : 107-108

Amiota subnebojsa , sp. nov.

Figures 52E–F , 53H , 59 , 60B , 92C

DIAGNOSIS: Large fly (ThL 1.67–1.79 mm), glossy black with a black head; outer paraphysis heavily sclerotized; apex with short spine, barely hooked; lateral view with 2 long spines on dorsal margin; in ventral view base forming a tapered wing curving medially; inner paraphysis lost; very similar to A. latilabrum , differing as given in diagnosis for that species.

DESCRIPTION: Large fly (ThL 1.67–1.79 mm), dark brown, glossy, grading lighter ventrally; legs yellow. Facial marking very large, semicircular. Cheek wide (EL/CW 8.33–12.28), posteriorly milky white. Frons dark, nearly black dorsally, ventral portion light brown. Palp dark brown. Arista: Very short, plumose; longest branch D2; A.R. 0.29; 3 dorsal, 0 ventral branches, none pointed mediad/laterad; arista trunk with long microtrichia along entire length. Male genitalia: Epandrium nearly split medially, not grading with surrounding membrane; dense cluster of setae ventrally, ascending in a single line toward apex; small lobe projecting on anterolateral margin. Cercus oval shaped, distinct from surrounding membrane. Surstylus rather semicircular, scattered setulae on ventral third; 15 peglike prensisetae, apices blunt, comblike; lateral fingerlike lobe present, not extending beyond prensisetae. Subepandrial sclerite C-shaped in lateral view, moderately sclerotized; subepandrial appendage long, oriented posteriorly, heart shaped in posterior view, tapering to a blunt point, invaginated medially. Outer paraphyses heavily sclerotized, formed of 2 lobes, split deeply medially; apex blunt with sharp hook in lateral view, laterally flattened; posterior margin forming a wing; anterior/dorsal margin with 2 long spines, distal spine oriented dorsally, proximal spine longer and with small subapical tooth, oriented anteriorly; basal portion modified into tapering wing; in ventral view 2 clawed appendages; proximal appendage, stubby; basal tapering wing, long, curving medially. Inner paraphysis lost. Aedeagal apodeme length equal to width; base with a deep cleft, distal end widely flared with medium emargination. Hypandrium deeply notched, accommodating outer paraphyses; lateral arm with gonopod, projecting posteroventrally. Pair of membranous lobes present, connected to space within hypandrium. Ejaculatory apodeme not studied. Head and thorax measurements: (n = 5; Am 442, 443, 447, 448, 1527) FL/FW 0.74 (0.72–0.78), EL/EW 1.30 (1.22–1.48), EL/CW 9.93 (8.33–12.28), FML/ FMW 0.43 (0.40–0.44), PR /RR 0.53 (0.38– 0.80), ThL 1.73 (1.67–1.79 mm).

TYPE MATERIAL: Holotype: male: MEXICO, Morelos #7, 14 mi N. Cuernavaca, [19.188745, -99.228691], 7300′, 29 July 1963, George W. Byers, Am 443, [specimen glued to paper point, dissected]. Deposited in the American Museum of Natural History ( AMNH). Paratypes: MEX-ICO, Morelos #7, 14 mi N. Cuernavaca, 7300′, 29 July 1963, George W. Byers, 6♂ (Am 442*, 445, 446, 447*, 448*, 449, SEMC).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: Mexico: Durango: 14 mi. SW El Salto, 8000′, 1964-06-26, leg. J.F. McAlpine, attracted to man, 1♂ (Am 1527*, CNC).

ETYMOLOGY: Formed from sub, Latin for “under or below,” and nebojsa , a previously described species in the genus which it is presumably closely related.

DISTRIBUTION: Amiota subnebojsa is currently known only from the state of Morelos in Mexico.

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

Figures

FIG. 52. Heads and lateral views, A. nebojsa species group. A–B. A. occidentalis, sp. nov. (Am 408). C–D. A. oviraptor, sp. nov. (Am 1506, paratype). E–F. A. subnebojsa, sp. nov. (Am 442, paratype, lateral image flipped).

FIG. 53. Aristae, A. nebojsa species group. A. A. amputata, sp. nov. B. A. latilabrum, sp. nov. C–D. A. nebojsa Máca. E. A. occidentalis, sp. nov. F–G. A. oviraptor, sp. nov. H. A. subnebojsa, sp. nov. Not to the same scale.

FIG. 59. Male terminalia, A. subnebojsa. A. Posteroventral view. B. Ejaculatory apodeme. C. Lateral view. D. Subepandrial sclerite, ventral view of apex. E. Surstylus. F. Aedeagal apodeme. G. Paraphyses, ventral view. (Am 443, holotype).

FIG. 60. Outer paraphyses of the nebojsa species group, lateral view. A. A. latilabrum. B. A. subnebojsa. C. A. occidentalis. D. A. amputata. E. A. nebojsa Máca. All to same scale.

FIG. 92. Distribution maps, A. nebojsa species group. A. A. occidentalis. B. A. oviraptor. C. A. subnebojsa.