Amiota tessae, 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 : 85-91

Amiota tessae , sp. nov.

Figures 42E–F , 46 , 90A

DIAGNOSIS: Very large fly (ThL 1.61–1.92 mm), medium brown, grading darker ventrally, abdomen nearly black; similar coloration to A. minor , except characteristic markings of genus present; outer paraphysis long, heavily sclerotized, sinuous in dorsal/ventral, lacking lateral spine, trichoid sensillum on distal end; inner paraphysis short, heavily sclerotized, U-shaped in dorsal/ventral views with lateral hook, inner tips distant (not almost touching as in leucostoma and mcalpinei ).

DESCRIPTION: Very large fly (ThL 1.61–1.92 mm), medium brown grading darker ventrally, setation black, legs dark yellow; abdomen nearly black; coloration similar to A. minor (Malloch) , except characteristic markings of genus present. Frons ochre, matte, with dark brown triangle, relatively broad (FL/FW 0.60–0.76). Cheek yellowish brown on anterior half, yellowish gray on posterior half. Palp yellow. Tergites 1 and 2 lightly colored. Arista: Medium, plumose; longest branch D2; A.R. 0.33; 4 long dorsal branches, 4 shorter ventral branches; aristal trunk with medium-length microtrichia along entire length. Male genitalia: Epandrium stout, with broad ventral lobes; separated dorsomedially, ventral lobe densely setose, lateral portion of epandrium lacking microtrichia. Cercus crescentic, margins distinct from surrounding membrane (not grading), cercus occupies most of space surrounded by epandrium. Surstylus with 12 prensisetae, slightly curved, apices pointed (not round); distal end of surstylus densely hairy. Subepandrial sclerite large, well developed, sclerotized, strongly U-shaped in lateral view; a long, phalluslike subepandrial appendage ventral to epandrium and projecting slightly beyond, distal end of appendage round, surrounded by fine membrane. Outer paraphysis long, slender and linear, heavily sclerotized, slightly sinuous in dorsal/ventral views, tapering to a point, sensillum on distal end; middle with several sensilla pits ventrally. Inner paraphysis short, heavily sclerotized, slightly C-shaped, central groove down middle, distal appendage pointed posterolaterally. Aedeagal apodeme long, bent 90° in lateral view and slightly sinuous; distal end widely flared and deeply concave. Hypandrium narrow, forming wide square, apex slightly notched; lateral arm with gonopod consisting of two lobes of unequal size, dorsalmost larger. Ejaculatory apodeme long, straight, and stout, 3/4 the length of epandrium. Head and thorax measurements: (n = 3; Am 721, 1310, 1311) FL/FW 0.72 (0.60–0.76), EL/EW 1.39 (1.23–1.55), EL/CW 14.94 (11.3– 19.33), FML/FMW 0.34 (0.27–0.38), PR /RR 0.57 (0.54–0.63), ThL 1.75 (1.61–1.92 mm).

TYPE MATERIAL: Holotype: male: “Mont Tremblant, QUE., [46.218957, -74.555477], 15.VII.1959, 3000′, B. V. Peterson,” Am 1310, [glued directly to pin, dissected]. Deposited in the Canadian National Collection ( CNC). Paratype: “Mont Tremblant, QUE., 15.VII.1959, 3000′, B. V. Peterson,” 1♂ (Am 1311*, CNC).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: USA: Maine: SE Guarette, 1948-07, M. R. Wheeler and T.C. Hsu, 1891.7 [genitalia on slide in AMNH], 1♂ (Am 304*, AMNH). Michigan: Marquette Co., Huron Mtns., Huron Mtn. Club property vicinity, 46.874950, -87.891717, 2018-07, leg. T. Werner, 1♂ (Am 721*, AMNH). Tennessee: Great Smoky Mt. N.P., 6.6 air mi. NNE Clingman Dome, 1987-06-16, leg. D.W. Webb, 1♂ (Am 1594*, INHS).

ETYMOLOGY: Named for Tessa Steenwinkel, undergraduate researcher in the Werner laboratory of Michigan Technological University, on behalf of Thomas Werner.

DISTRIBUTION: Currently, this species is only known from locations near the 46th parallel including the upper peninsula of Michigan, Quebec, and Maine.

COMMENTS: This species exhibits the characteristic behavior of attraction to the eyes and face common to many Amiota (T. Werner, personal commun.).

Figures

FIG. 42. Heads and lateral views, A. rufescens species group. A–B. A. leucostoma Loew (Am 399). C–D. A. mcalpinei, sp. nov. (Am 1315, holotype). E–F. A. tessae, sp. nov. (Am 1310, holotype).

FIG. 46. Male terminalia, A. tessae. A. Epandrium and cerci. B. Ejaculatory apodeme. C. Lateral view. D. Aedeagal apodeme. E. Sternite 6 (shaded) + 7. F. Ventral view. G. Surstylus. (Am 721).

FIG. 90. Distribution maps, A. rufescens species group. A. A. tessae. A. subtusradiata species group. B. A. byersi. C. A. tibialis.