Amiota biacuminis, 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 : 72-73

Amiota biacuminis , sp. nov.

Figures 34C–D , 37B ; 39D–F, H–J, Q ; 87B

DIAGNOSIS: Large fly (ThL 1.52–1.74 mm), dark blackish brown, including entire pleura; white spots typical of genus present; cheek deep, yellow; belongs to complex of species that includes A. uniacuminis and A. forceps , all with short outer paraphyses that are pincerlike in lateral view; inner paraphysis lost; subepandrial appendage well developed, protruding, apex triangular with an apical “nipple”; hypandrium with 1 or 2 small, wrinkled lobes; Amiota biacuminis distinguished from other species as follows: Arista plumosity shorter; lower lobe of outer paraphysis with apex rounded (vs. bifid); surstylus with fewer prensisetae (7 vs. 12–14); hypandrium with two wrinkled lobes flanking apex (vs. 1).

DESCRIPTION: Large fly (ThL 1.52–1.74 mm), dark blackish brown, pleura entirely dark (including katepisternum); legs yellow. Characteristic markings typical of genus present. Frons dark brown, fading to light brown at margins and orbital plate. Cheek very deep (EL/CW 6.18–7.5), yellowish. Facial marking large, depth 0.25× width. Palp brown. Tergites 1 and 2 lightly colored. Arista: Short, plumose; longest branch D3; A.R. 0.27; 3 longer dorsal, 1 short dorsal, 3 very short ventral branches preapically; no branches pointed significantly mediad or laterad; arista trunk with medium-length microtrichia, bare on apical third. Male genitalia: Epandrium complete dorsally, ventral margin in this area evanescent, graded into membrane below. Cercus of moderate size, nearly grading with surrounding membrane, but margins discrete and faint. Surstylus oval shaped; 7 long prensisetae, apices blunt, closely arranged, comblike; setulae along ventral margin; row of medially projecting setulae dorsal to prensisetae. Subepandrial sclerite well developed; subepandrial appendage present, triangular in full ventral view, broad at base and tapering to small, nipplelike point. Outer paraphysis heavily sclerotized, compressed laterally, pincerlike in lateral view, with 2 lobes: upper lobe slender and pointed, lower lobe thicker with apex rounded. Inner paraphysis lost. Aedeagal apodeme slightly rectangular, width 0.80× length, the basal lateral margins heavily sclerotized; with slightly lateral constriction, anterior margin with faint emargination. Hypandrium roughly squared, inner margin more sclerotized; apex with two flattened, wrinkled, paramedian lobes; lateral arm with large swollen gonopod, ventrally pointed. Ejaculatory apodeme long, length equal to depth of epandrium. Head and thorax measurements: (n = 5; Am 1420, 1449, 1481, 1485, 1515) FL/FW 0.47 (0.43–0.51), EL/EW 1.28 (1.17–1.39), EL/CW 6.57 (6.18–7.5), FML/FMW 0.26 (0.24–0.28), PR /RR 0.46 (0.36–0.50), ThL 1.60 (1.52–1.74 mm).

TYPE MATERIAL: Holotype: male: 14 mi. SW. El Salto , Dgo. [Durango] MEX., [23.786449, -105.597725], 8000′, June “9” 1964, J.F. McAlpine, attracted to man, Am 1485, [glued directly to pin, dissected]. Deposited in the Canadian National Collection ( CNC) . Paratypes: 14 mi. SW. El Salto, Dgo. [Durango] MEX., June “9” 1964, J.F. McAlpine, attracted to man, 2♂ (Am 1486*, 1522*, CNC) ; 14 mi. SW. El Salto, Dgo. [Durango] MEX., 8000′, June “26” 1964, J.F. McAlpine, attracted to man, 4♂ (Am 1449*, 1457*, 1481*, 1494*, CNC) .

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: Mexico: Chiapas: 16 mi. NW Comitan, 5000′, 1969-05-18, leg. H.J. Teskey, (Am 1420*, CNC). Durango: 24 mi W La Ciudad, 7000′, 1964-06-25, leg. J.F. McAlpine, 1♂ (Am 1515*, CNC).

ETYMOLOGY: Formed from Latin bi - for “two” and acuminis for “sharp point,” in reference to the two points on the apex of the hypandrium.

DISTRIBUTION: Amiota biacuminis is known from the states of Durango and Chiapas in Mexico.

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

Figures

FIG. 34. Heads and lateral views, A. avipes species group. A–B. A. avipes, sp. nov. (Am 1514, paratype). C–D. A. biacuminis, sp. nov. (Am 1494, paratype). E–F. A. forceps, sp. nov. (Am 1452, holotype).

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. 39. Male terminalia, A. biacuminis. (D–F, H–J, Q: Am 1485, holotype); A. forceps (A, N–P, S: Am 1452, holotype); A. uniacuminis (B, C, G, K–M, R: Am 1511, holotype). A–B. Epandrium and cerci. C–D. Ejaculatory apodeme. E. Lateral view. F–G. Aedeagal apodeme. H, K, N. Hypandrium. I, L, O. Surstylus. J, M, P. Outer paraphysis. Q–S. Subepandrial sclerite.

FIG. 87. Distribution maps, A. avipes species group. A. A. avipes. B. A. biacuminis. C. A. forceps.