Amiota pseudominor, 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 : 78-79

Amiota pseudominor , sp. nov.

Figures 36A–B , 37H–I , 41 , 88C

DIAGNOSIS: Medium-sized fly (ThL 1.23– 1.27 mm), dark brown to black; similar to Amiota minor (Malloch) , but A. pseudominor differing externally by white markings present under wing base and faint marking on postpronotal lobe and face; darker frons; cheek relatively deep (EL/CW 11.6–12.2), white; surstylus with distinctive secondary lobe on posterior surface; epandrium with narrow dorsal gap; pair of outer paraphyses symmetrical, forked, upper prong straight, tapered to point, lower one shorter, curved upward, less sclerotized; ejaculatory apodeme large.

DESCRIPTION: Medium-sized fly (ThL 1.23– 1.27 mm), dark brown to black; abdomen black. Characteristic markings of the genus present, although somewhat faded. Frons dark brown, black above ptilinal suture; slightly pollinose. Facial marking large (FML/FMW 0.28–0.35), semicircular, faint. Cheek relatively deep (EL/ CW 11.6–12.2), white. Palp yellow. Arista: Short, plumose; longest branch D2; A.R. 0.36; 4 dorsal branches (D1 very short), 0 long ventral branches; 3 short apical-dorsal branches pointed laterad; arista trunk with short microtrichia, bare on apical half. Male genitalia: Epandrium separated dorsally at midline, not grading into surrounding membrane; ventral lobe with dense cluster of long setae, row of 7 setae in single row ascending to apex. Cercus small, much smaller than space surrounded by epandrium; crescentic, margins discrete, distinctively protruding well beyond posterior surface of epandrium; surrounded by large membranous area dorsally. Surstylus very distinct: secondary bulbous lobe atop middle region, triangular membranous extension with cluster of long setulae adjacent; medial margin with several long setulae; 8 long prensisetae, apices blunt, closely arranged. Subepandrial sclerite large, scoop shaped, with posterior margin pointed and projected nearly to same level as tip of outer paraphysis. Outer paraphysis forming forked structure in lateral, heavily sclerotized, 2-pronged in lateral view; dorsal prong longer, tapered to point; lower prong shorter, less sclerotized, curved upward, bearing sensilla at base. Inner paraphysis lost. Aedeagal apodeme rectangular, almost square; distal margin even, barely flared, concave depression absent. Hypandrium simple, of relatively uniform thickness; lateral arms widely expanded, bulging outward anteriorly and posteriorly. Ejaculatory apodeme large, 0.9× size of epandrium. Head and thorax measurements: (n = 2; Am 256, 257) FL/FW 0.61 (0.54–0.69), EL/EW 1.43 (1.41–1.45), EL/CW 11.9 (11.6–12.2), FML/FMW 0.63 (0.28–0.35), PR /RR 0.47 (0.45–0.50), ThL 1.25 (1.23–1.27 mm).

TYPE MATERIAL: Holotype: male: 30 klm. N Chilpancingo, Guerro, Mex., [17.945004, -99.513764], July 1952, M Wasserman, WB Heed, “2266.19,” Am 256, [specimen glued to paper point, dissected]. Deposited in the American Museum of Natural History ( AMNH). Paratype: 30 klm. N Chilpancingo, Guerro, Mex., July 1952, M Wasserman, WB Heed, “2266.19,” “ A. barretti ,” 1♂ (Am 257*, AMNH).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: Known only from the type series.

ETYMOLOGY: Formed from pseudo-, Greek for “false,” and minor , a previously described species in the genus. In reference to the deceptive nature of the new species, with male genitalia very similar to A. minor , but with the characteristic external markings of the genus, although faded, which A. minor lacks.

DISTRIBUTION: Amiota pseudominor is currently known from Guerrero State in Mexico.

COMMENTS: This species, related to A. minor but unlike it, exhibits the characteristic markings of other members of the genus.

Figures

FIG. 36. Heads and lateral views, A. avipes species group. A–B. A. pseudominor, sp. nov. (Am 256, holotype, lateral image flipped). C–D. A. uniacuminis, sp. nov. (Am 255, lateral image flipped). Lack of white spots is likely an effect due to preservation.

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. 41. Male terminalia, A. pseudominor. A. Epandrium and cerci. B. Ejaculatory apodeme. C. Lateral view. D. Subepandrial sclerite, outer paraphysis, hypandrium. E. Surstylus. F. Aedeagal apodeme. (Am 256, holotype).

FIG. 88. Distribution maps, A. avipes species group. A. A. minor (Malloch). B. A. onyx. C. A. pseudominor.