Saropogon pyrodes, Alberts & Fisher, 2022
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publication ID |
https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1130.81874 |
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publication LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E6B79A47-F684-4AC1-ACA4-1E162DEDA5D3 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/3B057DFB-5B32-445D-AE22-037E7FD4C0C8 |
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taxon LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:act:3B057DFB-5B32-445D-AE22-037E7FD4C0C8 |
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treatment provided by |
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scientific name |
Saropogon pyrodes |
| status |
sp. nov. |
Saropogon pyrodes sp. nov.
Figs 1 View Figure 1 , 22 View Figure 22 , 23 View Figure 23 , 24 View Figure 24 , 25 View Figure 25 , 26 View Figure 26 , 27 View Figure 27 , 34 View Figure 34
Diagnosis.
The species is distinguished from congeners by its deep red color, hyaline wings, gracile body, white pubescence on the posterior margin of T1-7, and T3 is typically darker than the other tergites (Fig. 1 View Figure 1 ).
Description.
Male. Holotype (Figs 22 View Figure 22 , 23D-F View Figure 23 ).
Head. (Fig. 23 View Figure 23 ) Wider than high; vertex slightly depressed (less than 60° angle on median margin of compound eye); facial swelling not developed and with gold pubescence; mystax 24 white macrosetae that are restricted to lower facial margin; ommatidia of different sizes, at least some median ommatidia distinctly larger; postgena with its posterior margin simple and smooth; frons with gray pubescence, white setose; ocellar tubercle with gray pubescence, with white setae and macrosetae; vertex with gray pubescence and white setae; median occiput sclerite with several white macrosetae; postocular setae slightly angled anteriorly distally, with white macrosetae; occiput predominately with gray pubescence and white setae; postocciput non-pubescent, with white and brown macrosetae.
Proboscis and maxillary palpus. (Fig. 23 View Figure 23 ) Proboscis straight, subequal in length to an eye when viewed from the front, pale brown to dark brown distally; postmentum with white setae ventrally; prementum with white setae proximo-ventrally; labella reduced, apex blunt; maxillary palpus pale brown to orange, with yellow setae and macrosetae, non-pubescent.
Antenna. (Fig. 23 View Figure 23 ) Pale brown to dark brown distally, with pale gray pubescence; scape approximately as long as pedicel, short white setae dorsally and long white macrosetae ventrally; pedicel white and pale brown setae distally; postpedicel tapering distally, medially broadest, short, approximately the same length as scape and pedicel combined, asetose; stylus composed of one element, asetose, with an apical seta-like sensory element in cavity of stylus.
Thorax. (Fig. 23 View Figure 23 ) Pale brown to orange, with white pubescence; proepisternum with gray pubescence, with white setae and macrosetae; cervical sclerite long, with white setae; antepronotum with white pubescence, with white setae and macrosetae; postpronotum with white pubescence, with white setae; postpronotal lobe setose; pleuron with white pubescence; proepimeron asetose; anepisternum asetose; anepisternum supero-posterior asetose; anterior basalare asetose, with white pubescence; posterior basalare asetose, with white pubescence; anepimeron asetose, anterior half with white pubescence, posterior half non-pubescent; katepisternum asetose, anterior half non-pubescent, posterior half with white pubescence; katepimeron asetose, non-pubescent; katergite with white setae and macrosetae, with white pubescence; meron and metanepisternum asetose, with white pubescence; metakatepisternum asetose, with white pubescence; metepimeron asetose, and with white pubescence; anatergite asetose, with white pubescence; scutum predominantly with gray pubescence; scutum brown with white setae and macrosetae; scutal setae with small sockets; two notopleural setae; one supraalar seta; one postalar seta; many (> 4) short white dorsocentral (dc) setae; many (> 4) short white acrostichal setae; many (> 4) short white medial setae on posterior scutum (between dc setae); scutellum with gray pubescence; discal scutellar setae absent; apical scutellar setae present, two long brown macrosetae.
Leg. (Fig. 23 View Figure 23 ) Pale brown to orange, non-pubescent, at least some setae dorso-ventrally flattened, others circular; coxae orange, with gray pubescence, with white setae and macrosetae; prothoracic femur flattened with white setae ventrally and long white setae dorsally; prothoracic tibia with short white setae except the antero-ventral surface has short gold setae, one or two yellow macroseta on distal end of ventral side, with white macrosetae: four in a postero-dorsal row, five short ones in a postero-ventral row, one or two long macrosetae in a postero-ventral row; prothoracic tibia with sigmoid spur, originating antero-ventrally directly from tibia; mesothoracic coxa with gray pubescence, with white setae and macrosetae; mesothoracic femur ventrally asetose except for two white macrosetae on proximal end, short white macrosetae sparsely covering the rest; mesothoracic tibia with short white setae, white macrosetae: three in an antero-dorsal row, 2 in 1 antero-ventral row, four in a dorsal row, three in a postero-ventral row; metathoracic coxa with gray pubescence, with white setae and macrosetae; metathoracic femur with long white setae and macrosetae; metathoracic tibia with white macrosetae: three in a antero-dorsal row, three in an antero-ventral row, three in a dorsal row, three in a postero-ventral row, straight; tarsus with proximal pro, mes, and met tarsomeres as long as following two tarsomeres combined, with brown macrosetae; pulvilli well-developed (as long as claw); claw smoothly arched distally, pointed; empodium setiform, and well developed (as long as pulvilli).
Wing. (Fig. 24 View Figure 24 ) 8 mm. Hyaline, without microtrichia; posterior wing margin with microtrichia arranged in a single plane.
Abdomen. (Figs 6 View Figure 6 , 25 View Figure 25 ) Pale brown to orange with some tergites brown dorsally; tergite sculpture smooth and setae with small sockets only; T1 white setose, laterally with long white macrosetae, predominantly with gray pubescence, medially non-pubescent, entirely sclerotized medially, dorsal surface smooth and without protuberances; T2-8 entirely sclerotized, white setose, setae short medially and longer laterally, predominantly pale brown to orange, predominantly non-pubescent with gray pubescent band on posterior margin, band thinner dorso-medially; T2-8 marginal and medial macrosetae absent; S1-8 brownish orange, with short white setae, and with pale gray pubescence.
Male abdomen. (Fig. 25A-C View Figure 25 ) S8 simple, reduced rectangular sclerite; hypopygium rotated ~ 90° and pointing posteriorly; epandrium separated medially, joining proximally, and unfused; hypandrium well-developed and rectangular; hypandrium and epandrium approximating laterally, but not fused proximally; hypandrium and gonocoxites entirely free; gonocoxal apodeme present and short; gonostyli present and positioned distally on gonocoxites; cerci free and not fused medially; lateral ejaculatory process present and with a large cylindrical sclerite; one functional phallic prong; hypandrium with posterior margin simple with no distinct projections; sperm sac appearing weakly sclerotized; ejaculatory apodeme is a single plate.
Female abdomen. (Fig. 25D-G View Figure 25 ) S7 and T7 are normally developed, without any modifications; segments eight and following comprising ovipositor; setae on T8 are directed anteriorly; T8 with anterior rectangular apodeme and entirely fused to T8; S8 plate-like with hypogynial valves extending; T9 and T10 partly fused; T10 divided into two heavily sclerotized acanthophorite plates with eight acanthophorite spurs on each plate; three equally large spermathecae, common spermathecal duct short, and not extending beyond tip of furca, individual spermathecal ducts long; spermathecal reservoir formed by coiled ducts and heavily sclerotized spermathecae contained within three most posterior segments; furca divided anteriorly into two lateral sclerites, H-shaped; furcal apodeme present, short and platelike.
Length. Body length 10 mm; wing length: 6 mm.
Holotype condition.
The holotype is in good condition and is not missing any parts.
Type material.
United States of America • 1♂, holotype; Arizona, Pima County, 7 mi. N. Tucson; 33°47'N, 111°34'W; 740 m; 04 Sep. 1968; D. R. Miller, J. E. Lauck; USNM; USNMENT01199000 • 1♀, 7♂, paratypes; same data as for holotype; USNM; USNMENT01819173, USNMENT01199055, USNMENT01819150, USNMENT01819585, USNMENT01819580, USNMENT01819176, USNMENT01819472 • 3♂, paratypes; same data as for holotype; CASENT; USNMENT01819175, USNMENT01819179, USNMENT01819155 • 1♂, paratype; same data as for holotype; BMEC; USNMENT01819167 • 1♂, paratype; Arizona, Pima County, 4 mi. N. Continental; 31°54'N, 110°57'W; 844 m; 11 Aug. 1964; M. E. Irwin; USNM; USNMENT01819500 • 1♀, 1♂, paratypes; Arizona, Santa Cruz County, Juan Bautista De Anza Trail Amado; 31°44'N, 111°02'W; 916 m; 31 Aug. 2018; C. W. Melton; UAIC; UAIC1128818, UAIC1128819; BugGuide: https://bugguide.net/node/view/1588371, 1588372, 1588341, 1588340, 1588338 • 1♂, paratype; same data as for proceeding; TAM; USNMENT01819495.
Other material examined.
United States of America • 1♀; Arizona, Pima County, Green Valley ; 31°50'N, 110°59'W; 943 m; 03 Sep 2016; K. Roragen; iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/51920444 GoogleMaps • 1♀; Arizona, Santa Cruz County, 0.7 km ExNE of Amado ; 31°42'N, 111°03'W; 934 m; 05 Sep 2017; J. Gruber; BugGuide: https://bugguide.net/node/view/1439519 GoogleMaps ; Flickr : https://www.flickr.com/photos/7432824 @N07/albums/72157701454226641.
The holotype (1♂) and several paratypes (1♀ 7♂) of the new species have recently been deposited in USNM (as a donation from Eric Fisher); the rest of the paratypes will be split between BMEC (1♂), CASENT (3♂), UAIC (1♀ 1♂), TAM (1♂). Information and pictures of the holotype are available on the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Search the Department of Entomology Collections website: http://n 2t.net/ark:/65665/36f568a66-098a-4932-8900-92113e4b58b9 .
Distribution.
USA: Arizona (Fig. 26 View Figure 26 ) https://www.simplemappr.net/map/17143.
Biology.
Jeff Gruber photographed specimens of Saropogon pyrodes sp. nov. and its habitat (Fig. 27A, B View Figure 27 ). S. pyrodes sp. nov. is seen here perching/hunting on a grass, most likely Bouteloua aristidoides ( Poaceae ; Fig. 27C View Figure 27 ), on the edge of a sandy clearing as well as consuming its prey (Fig. 27D View Figure 27 ) in the typical hanging position observed in other Dasypogoninae species.
Jeff Gruber described some behavior (Figs 1 View Figure 1 , 27 View Figure 27 ) on Flickr: "Found this beauty as I was walking back to my car mid-afternoon on a very warm day. It was hanging around the low grasses at the periphery of a Pogonomyrmex ant nest in grassland type habitat on floodplain(?) of Santa Cruz River, which at the time was a dry wash. It alternated perches between the low grasses, short dead stems poking up from the soil, and the soil surface". Original post: https://www.flickr.com/photos/7432824@N07/36417103883/in/faves-157063159@N04/.
Etymology.
Named for the fly’s bright, fiery red color: pyrodes is Greek for fire-like.
Comments.
In 1964, Mike Irwin collected the first record of this species, a male from four miles north of Continental, Arizona. He gave the specimen to Joseph Wilcox to identify. Then in 1968, Miller collected twelve specimens (11 ♂ and 1 ♀) from just north of Tucson, Arizona. He also donated this collection to J. Wilcox. The second author borrowed the specimens from Wilcox in approximately 1979 when he started a Ph.D. program at the University of California, Riverside. He considered describing this unique fly but never did. Finally, in 2017, beautiful photographs by Jeff Gruber (Fig. 27A-D View Figure 27 ) of this species appeared on BugGuide (https://bugguide.net/node/view/1439519), an online community where naturalists post and identify images of arthropods from the United States and Canada. Because of this, the second author immediately knew that this fly was long overdue for description, resulting in this manuscript.
Saropogon bryanti and S. senex have been collected within 10 km of the type locality of S. pyrodes . Saropogon purus and S. coquillettii can also be found in the area; the material examined showed specimens within 60 km of S. pyrodes collection sites. Saropogon hypomelas , S. fletcheri , S. albifrons , and S. mohawki are all found within 200 km (Fig. 26 View Figure 26 ). Saropogon pyrodes typically flies later in the season (Aug. - Sep.) than S. bryanti and S. senex (Jun. - Aug.), S. purus (Jul.), and S. albifrons (Apr. - Jun.). Saropogon coquillettii (May - Sep.), S. fletcheri and S. mohawki (Jun - Oct.), and S. hypomelas (Jun. - Sep.) have longer flight seasons but are uncommon in the later months.
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.