Iteaphila testacea Melander

Sinclair, Bradley J. & Shamshev, Igor V., 2012, 3561, Zootaxa 3561, pp. 1-61 : 48-49

Iteaphila testacea Melander

( Figs. 2D, E, 13A, 15)

Iteaphila testacea Melander, 1946: 37 . Type locality: Lake Waha , Idaho, USA.

Type material examined. LECTOTYPE (here designated), ♀ labelled: “ Lake Waha , IDA/ 9 June 1918 / A.L.Melander ”; “ HOLOTYPE / Iteaphila / testacea/ Mel. [red label]”; “ALMelander/ Collection/ 1961”; “ Iteaphila / testacea/ Mel. [hand written label]”; “ LECTOTYPE / Iteaphila / testacea Mel. / des. B.J. Sinclair 2011” ( USNM) . PARALECTOTYPES: USA. Idaho: same data as lectotype (2 ♀, USNM); Bovill , 18.vi.1911 (1 ♀, USNM) .

Taxonomic notes. This species was described from four female syntypes and no holotype was designated in the original study. One of these females was labelled lectotype accordingly to fix and stabilize the current concept of the name.

Additional material examined. CANADA. Alberta: Banff NP, ex. flowers of Ledium [= Rhododendron ] groenlandicum [Labrador tea], 7.vii.1955, GES (14 ♀, CNC); Banff, Cascade Tr, 10.vii.1968, H.J. Teskey (1 ♀, CNC); Kananaskis, Seebe, For. Exp. Sta, 3.vii.1968, H.J. Teskey (1 ♀, CNC); Ptarmigan Trail, 20.vii.1928, O. Bryant (9 ♀, CAS) [prob. Kananaskis Country, 6500']; Sunwapta Pass, Banff-Jasper Hwy, 6.vii.1955, R. Coyles (1 ♀, CNC); Waterton Lakes NP, 14–20.vii.1980, H.J. Teskey (1 $, CNC). British Columbia: Cathedral PP, Quiniscoe Lk, MT, outflow in subalpine forest, 21.vii.1988, S.G. Cannings (2 ♀, UBCZ); 24 kmE Enderby, 8–9.vi.1991, AB (2 ♀, CNC); 6 km NE Falkland, 12–13.vii.1989, AB (2 ♀, CNC); 5–6 miE border Glacier NP, FIT, 11.v.-15.vi.1984, R.S. Anderson (1 ♀, DEBU); Hixon, 21.vi.1976, E. Dyer (1 ♀, CNC); 10 km N Kamloops, McQueen Lk, 14.vi.1973, H.J. Teskey (4 ♀, CNC); Keremeos, 1.vi.1923, C.B. Garrett (1 ♀, CNC); Kettle R & Grandy R, 1.vi.-1.x.1935, J.K. Jacob (1 ♀, RBCM); Kootenay NP, Daer-Pitts Aspen Burn 1, MT, 25.vi.-9.vii.2000, G. Gareau (1 ♂, 3 ♀, CNC); ditto, Burn 2, 25.vi.-9.vii.2000 (5 ♀, CNC); ditto, Burn 2, 2–9.vi.2000 (1 ♂, 1 ♀, CNC); ditto, 9–23.vii.2000 (2 ♀, CNC); ditto, Control 1, 2–16.vii.2000 (3 ♀, CNC); ditto, Control 2, 3–17.vi.2000 (1 ♂, 11 ♀, CNC); ditto, Control 2, 17.vi.-2.vii.2000 (3 ♂, 14 ♀, CNC); Yoho NP, Emerald Lk, 1300 m, 15.vii.1974, PHA (1 ♀, CAS). Nova Scotia: Cape Breton Highlands NP, Mackenzie Mtn., 400 m, 8–9.vi.1984 (1 ♂, 1 ♀, CNC). Yukon: Alaska Hwy, km 1706, Slims R delta , 60º59'N 138º34'W, 8.vi.1979, ROM Fld Pty (1 ♀, ROM). USA. Alaska: Kenai Nat. Wildlife Refuge, W Rhode Lk, 15.vi.2004, S. Grimes (1 ♀, UAM). Colorado: Jackson Co., Rabbitt Ears Pass, 7.vii.1961, JGC (1 ♀, CNC); Mt. Evans, Doolittle Ranch, 10,000', 17.vii.1961, CHM (1 ♀, CNC); ditto, 9800', 8–23.vii.1961, W. R.M. Mason, JGC, CHM (14 ♀, CNC); Mt. Evans, Echo Lk, 10,600', 20.vii.1961, BHP (1 ♀, CNC); Pike’s Peak, Camera Point, 10.vi.1956, R. & K. Dreisbach (1 ♀, CNC). Idaho: Latah Co., 3 mi S Helmer, Potlach R nr Little Boulder Cpgd, 2600–2800', 29.v.1991, S.D. Gaimari (1 ♀, CNC); Latah Co., St. Joe NF, W Laird Pk, N 46°57'37''W 116°35'51'', 12.vi.2011, BJS (1 ♀, CNC). Massachusetts: Mt. Greylock, 21.v.1964, JGC (3 ♂, CNC). North Carlina: Swain Co., GSMNP, ATBI Plot: Andrews Bald, MT 12. 10–24.v.2001, I. Stocks, M. McCord, G. Middelton (1 ♂, 3 ♀, CNC). Oregon: Boyer, 25.iv.1936, JCD, No. 17 (1 ♀, AMNH); Boyer, 29.v.1937, JHM, No. 20 (1 ♀, AMNH). Washington: Asotin Co., Field’s Spring SF, 4 mi S Anatone, 3500–4000', 12–13.vi.1974, W.J. Turner (1 ♀, CHVC); Whatcom Co., Glacier, 25.v.1965, F. Schmid (1 ♂, CNC); Yakima Co., Snoqualmie NF, 13 km W Goose Prairie, 1345 m, 46º53'48''N 121º27'31''W, 16.vi.2005, C. Borkent (1 ♀, CNC).

Recognition. This species are distinguished by females mostly yellow except head and 10 or fewer scutellar setae, whereas males have a short hypoproct process and apex of phallus long and gradually arched.

Description. Wing length 2.7–4.2 mm. Male. Head subcircular, black, with black setation; occiput brownish pollinose. Holoptic, with upper ommatidia enlarged. Frons represented by small triangular space just above antennae, bare, brownish grey pollinose. Ocellar triangle very prominent, with long, thin, proclinate setae. Postvertical and postocular setae rather long, thin, hair-like; additionally, occiput covered with numerous similar setae longer on lower part. Antenna brown; scape short, subequal to globular pedicel, both with short setae; postpedicel nearly 4 times longer than basal width, smoothly tapered; stylus very short, shorter than basal width of postpedicel, bristle-tipped, length of segment 9 about equal to width, apical bristle longer than segment 9. Proboscis long, projected obliquely; labium shorter than head height; palpus projected parallel to labrum, half as long as length of labrum.

Thorax black ( Fig. 2D) (postpronotal lobe often yellowish posteriorly and postalar ridge brownish yellow), with brown to black setation; smoothly arched, prescutellar depression very slightly prominent; scutum viewed dorsally largely velvety brown, slightly matt, lacking vittae. Proepisternum with several brown bristly hairs in lower and upper parts. Postpronotal lobe with several short, fine setae and 1 prominent seta. Mesonotal setae mostly not prominent, usually 2–4 npl, 2–3 prescutellar dc, 1 pal and sctl somewhat stronger but their number and position varying (except pal); acr short, biserial, separated by less than length of setula ending at prescutellar depression; dc short, subequal to length of acr, uniserial; 4–6 pairs of sctl in single row.

Legs light brown (knees not paler). Coxae and trochanters with several short, fine setae. Fore and mid femora with row of long posteroventral setae. Hind femur with row of long anteroventral and dorsal and short posteroventral hair-like setae. Tibiae lacking prominent setae. Tarsomere 5 on all legs slightly flattened; pulvilli broad, shorter than tarsal claw.

Wing infuscate, with brown veins; no bristle at wing base; stigma distinct brownish, elliptical, overlapping apex of vein R 1; anal lobe very prominent, acute. R 2+3 slightly arched beneath stigma; radial fork with base proximal to apex of R 2+3; R 5 and M 1 divergent before wing-apex; cell d broad, longer than basal cells, truncate to slighty produced apically; m-m crossvein long, M branches widely separated; dm-cu crossvein slightly curved; M 4 longer than length of dm-cu crossvein. Apex of cell cua slightly rounded, CuP+CuA long, ending short of wing margin. Halter dark.

Abdomen narrowed proximad, covered with numerous, brown, long hair-like setae, posteromarginal setae not prominent; tergites viewed dorsally subshining finely greyish brown pollinose, viewed posteriorly densely greyish brown pollinose; sternites finely pollinose. Terminalia concolorous with abdomen, small. Hypandrium slightly rounded, upcurved apically with broadly rounded apex; gonocoxal apodeme short and slender. Postgonite posterior to phallus, extended slightly beyond epandrium, parallel with phallus and strongly arched subapically; bent apical section subequal to apex of phallus, paired with apex membranous, lacking spine-like projections; apex rounded ( Fig. 13A). Epandrium not greatly inflated laterally; dorsal bridge very narrow; posterior half greatly narrowed compared to anterior half; apex of surstylus slender, hook-like. Phallus long and slender, arched well beyond cercus, strongly bent subapically; apical section long and slightly arched; apex pointed and membranous; ejaculatory apodeme plate-like, rounded, shorter than gonocoxal apodeme; base of phallus produced posteriorly into recurved lobe with pair of slender apical dorsal prolongations. Cercus tapered, distinctly shorter than epandrium, finger-like and broad basally, apex rounded, extended free from epandrium; hypoproct produced into pair of short, divergent lobes, projecting free from cercus.

Female. Head dark brown to greyish compared to bright yellow body and legs ( Fig. 2E). Occiput densely brownish grey pollinose. Dichoptic, with equally small ommatidia. Gena very narrow. Frons very broad, almost parallel-sided, with marginal setulae, densely pollinose. Anterior ocellars broadly lateroclinate, moderately long; posterior ocellars minute. Scutum occasionally when viewed dorsally with 3 faint, narrow blackish vittae down acr and dc setae. Chaetotaxy as in males, except 4–5 sctl. Legs mostly yellow with apical tarsi brownish; setation of fore and mid femora inconspicuous. Wing almost hyaline. Abdomen yellow; covered with short, brownish setae. Cercus brownish, elongate, slender.

Distribution. This is a transcontinental species, most commonly encountered in western North America (from Alaska to Colorado) and isolated mountainous regions in eastern North America ( Fig. 15).

Remarks. The male of I. testacea is described here for the first time. It was associated with females on the basis of thoracic chaetotaxy.