Amiota onyx, 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 : 77-78

Amiota onyx , sp. nov.

Figures 35C–D , 37E, G , 38A , C-D, F, H 88B

DIAGNOSIS: Small to medium-sized fly (ThL 0.98–1.22 mm), medium brown, darker above grading lighter ventrally, legs yellow; white markings characteristic of genus present, spot under wing base slightly faded; outer paraphyses heavily sclerotized, symmetrical, short, forming stout, strongly curved claw, winglike basal projection, pointing laterally; inner paraphysis lost.

DESCRIPTION: Small to medium-sized fly (ThL 0.98–1.22 mm), medium brown body, fading ventrally; legs yellow. Characteristic markings of genus present, marking under wing base rather faint. Frons medium brown, darkening to black ventrally. Facial marking of moderate width (FML/FMW 0.26–0.29). Palp brown. Cheek yellowish. Tergites 1 and 2 lightly colored. Arista: Medium, plumose; longest branch D2; A.R. 0.32; 2 longer and 3 shorter dorsal, 3 short ventral branches; branches D3–5 pointed mediad, V1–3 pointed laterad; arista trunk with medium-length microtrichia nearly to apex. Male genitalia: Epandrium dorsally complete but with ventral margin in this area graded into membrane below; row of ~6 setae leading near posterior margin. Cercus long, pendulous, dorsally grading into membrane and epandrium; lateral margins of cercus discrete; cerci large, occupying virtually all space surrounded by epandrium. Surstylus with 11 prensisetae, apices blunt, evenly and densely spaced, comblike; middle region and ventral margin with setulae. Subepandrial sclerite pyramidal in posterior view, not projecting beyond epandrium. Outer paraphysis heavily sclerotized, short, forming stout hooked claw; base with small row of minute sensilla; distinctive low carina basal to sensilla; basal winglike projection, pointing laterally, the distal end with faint striations. Inner paraphysis lost. Aedeagal apodeme with all 4 margins constricted, bent nearly 90° in lateral view; basal margin slightly wider than distal end; distal end hardly expanded; marginal constrictions very shallow. Hypandrium thick, roughly square in terminal view; lateral arms very thick, bulging, with a prominent ostium. Ejaculatory apodeme 0.60× length of epandrium; stalk slightly sinuous. Head and thorax measurements: (n = 2; Am 1450, 1505) FL/FW 0.55 (0.55–0.56), EL/EW 1.31 (1.27–1.36), EL/CW 11.72 (11.20–12.25), FML/FMW 0.27 (0.26–0.29), PR /RR 0.49 (0.44– 0.55), ThL 1.10 (0.98–1.22 mm).

TYPE MATERIAL: Holotype: male: MEXICO, Chis. [Chiapas] 20–25 mi. N Huixtla , [15.537566, -92.473191], 3000′, 4.VI.1969, B. V. Peterson, “ Amiota (Amiota) ” det. D. Grimaldi 1991, Am 1505, [glued directly to pin, dissected]. Deposited in the Canadian National Collection ( CNC).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: Mexico: Durango: 14 mi. SW. El Salto, 8000′, 1964-06-26, leg. J.F. McAlpine, attracted to man (Am 1450*, CNC).

ETYMOLOGY: Greek for “claw,” in reference to the paraphyses that in lateral view resemble a dark, curving claw.

DISTRIBUTION: Amiota onyx is known from Durango and Chiapas State in Mexico.

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

Figures

FIG. 35. Heads and lateral views, A. avipes species group. A–B. A. minor (Malloch) (Am 651). Lack of white spots is natural. C–D. A. onyx, sp. nov. (Am 1450).

FIG. 37. Aristae, A. avipes species group. A. A. avipes. B. A. biacuminis. C. A. forceps. D, F. A. minor (Malloch). E, G. A. onyx. H–I. A. pseudominor. Not to the same scale.

FIG. 38. Male terminalia, A. onyx. A, C–D, F, H. A. Posterior view. C. Aedeagal apodeme. D. Lateral view. F. Outer paraphysis, lateral. H. Surstylus. (Am 1505, holotype). Male terminalia, A. avipes. B, E, G, I. B. Posterior view of genitalia. E. Lateral view. G. Outer paraphysis, lateral. I. Surstyli. (Am 1453, holotype).