Argentinomyia altissima ( Fluke, 1945 )

Montoya, Augusto L. & Wolff, Marta, 2023, Taxonomic revision of the Neotropical genus Argentinomyia Lynch-Arribálzaga, 1891 (Diptera: Syrphidae), with description of 16 new species, Zootaxa 5234 (1), pp. 1-157 : 28-31

Argentinomyia altissima ( Fluke, 1945)

Proposed standard English name: High elevations long-antennae flower fly.

( Figs 12 , 13 and 90C )

Melanostoma altissimum Fluke, 1945: 20 . Type locality: Ecuador. Imbabura, Cuicocha , 3200m. HOLOTYPE Male AMNH (Examined). Refs.: Fluke, 1945: 29 ( Fig. 48 , female abdomen, Fig. 49 , male abdomen); 1957: 276 ( Figs 95–96 , male genitalia); Ángel-Villarreal et al. 2021: 5 (distrib. record)

Rhysops altissimum . Fluke 1957: 266

Rhysops altissimus . Thompson et al. 1976: 42

Argentinomyia altissimus . Thompson & Skevington, 2014: 98

Argentinomyia altissima . Montoya, 2016: 459

Argentinomyia altissima . Montoya et al. 2017: 395

Argentinomyia altissima . Marín-Armijos et al. 2017: 168

Type material. HOLOTYPE. Adult Male, ECUADOR. Cuicocha , Imbabura, 3200 m, 27.v.1939, F.M. and H. Brown ( AMNH) . PARATYPE. Two adult females. ECUADOR. Deposited at AMNH. Label the same data as HOLOTYPE .

Length (n= 2): Body, 8.2–8.9 mm; Wings, 7.7–8.1 mm.

Diagnosis. Facial pile mostly black; legs black, pro- and mesotibiae mostly brownish with a dark median ring; abdominal maculae almost as wide as long, maculae on 3 rd tergum of male quadrate and on female triangular; surstylus very elongated and widened ventrally, with a median-sized extension in the dorsal margin; aedeagal lobe hearth shape, with the apical margin concave.

Redescription. MALE. Head ( Fig. 12A ): Face black, nearly perpendicular, tubercle low yet broad, mid-vitta broad, shining and bare laterally. Frontal triangle shining black dorsally, the narrowband ventral to the antennae mostly black, yellow only on ventrolateral part of the frontal triangle. Gena shining black with thin, more whitish pollen, pile white. Ocellar triangle black with thin yellowish pollen, pile black. Occiput with yellow hairs dorsal, long cilia black, pollen and pile paler ventral. Antennae reddish yellow, short, ratio 1.4:1.0:1.8, basoflagellomere about as long as scape and pedicel together, scape darker, basoflagellomere darkened dorsally and orange ventrally, basoflagellomere apically rounded, arista long and black, bare. Thorax ( Figs 12B–C ): Black, mesonotum shining obscured by brown pollen, with two median whitish pollinose vittae on anterior half, pile long and mostly black; pleura coated with brownish pollen which is whitish posteriorly, yellow pilose, anterior anepimeron black pilose. Scutellum with long black hairs with some very short golden hairs intermixed, fringe long and yellow. Wing ( Fig. 12C ): Hyaline, stigma yellow, membrane microtrichose, except bare on basal 1/6 of bm and 1/5 of the cua; calypter whitish, border and fringe brown; plumula white; halter yellow, capitulum brown. Legs ( Fig. 12C ): Mostly black, pro- and mesotibiae extensively brownish with a dark median ring, brownish pilose. Abdomen ( Fig. 12B ): Abdominal maculae wider, almost quadrate, reaching less than 1/2 length of 3 rd and 4 th terga; on 2 nd tergum shows evidence of narrow elongate maculae restricted to the lateral edge; sterna yellowish, yellow pilose; male genitalia: surstylus in lateral view ( Fig. 13A ) very elongated and widened ventrally, with a median sized extension in the dorsal margin; hypandrium in ventral view ( Fig. 13C ) narrowed laterally towards the apex; aedeagal lobe in ventral view ( Fig. 13C ) hearth shape, with the apical margin concave.

FEMALE ( Figs 12D–F , 13D–E ). Similar to male except: for usual sexual dimorphism, frontal triangle with a transverse band on lower 1/2, a distinct depression in the middle. Mesonotal pile sparse and much shorter than in male. Argentinomyia altissima differs from A. bolivariensis only in the darker legs and triangular abdominal maculae; on 2 nd tergum with a pair of elongate oval maculae; 3 rd and 4 th terga with triangular maculae; 3 rd tergum with inner margins parallel, their outer margins converging, separated from lateral margins; smaller maculae on 5 th tergum. Female A. bolivariensis is characterized by abdominal maculae often absent but when present, they show clearly reddish dashes converging posteriorly.

Taxonomic notes. Argentinomyia altissima is remarkably similar in morphology to A. bolivariensis , differing by the following combination of characters: facial pile of male mostly black ( Fig. 13A, C , D-F); legs black, pro- and mesotibiae mostly brownish with a dark median ring ( Fig. 13 B-C, E-F); abdominal maculae almost as wide as long, maculae on 3 rd tergum of male quadrate ( Fig. 13B ), on female triangular ( Fig. 13E ). In A. bolivariensis , the face is even brown-yellowish microtrichose except near antennae ( Fig. 20A, C , D-F); pro- and mesotibiae without a dark median ring ( Fig. 20 B-C, E-F); abdominal maculae slenderer, elongated, about two and 1/2 times as long as wide on 3rd tergum ( Fig. 21B ); female abdomen generally black and covered by grey pollinosity, at most with small reddish maculae ( Fig. 21E ). Based on males, A. altissima differs from A. bolivariensis in having the surstylus in lateral view ( Fig. 13A ) very elongated and widened ventrally, with a median-sized extension in the dorsal margin [versus surstylus with dorsal margin slightly concave and ventral margin slightly convex in A. bolivariensis ( Fig. 21A )]; aedeagal lobe in ventral view ( Fig. 13C ) hearth shape, with the apical margin concave [versus aedeagal lobe with acute apex in A. bolivariensis ( Fig. 21C )] (see “diagnosis” under each species or key).

Remarks. Argentinomyia altissima , A. bolivariensis , A. rex and A. opaca are found sympatrically throughout the highlands of the northwestern Tropical Andes, where appear to be associated with high Andean Forest and Páramos habitats in Northwestern Colombia based on exclusivity and fidelity criteria ( Montoya et al. 2021).

Comments. The Holotype specimen of M. altissima is currently in the AMNH. Photos are available on their website AMNH: https://sci-web-001.amnh.org/imulive/iz.html?#details=ecatalogue. 10021682.

Biology. Ángel et al. (in press) analyzed the stomach contents of several specimens of A. altissima from three Andean ecosystems in Colombia, finding that the main source of pollen for this species belongs to the family Asteraceae (n= 3034 pollen grains, 87%), followed by Sapindaceae (n= 191, 6%), Rosaceae (n= 150, 4%), Onagraceae (n= 65, 2%) and Loranthaceae (n= 24, 1%). The palynological analysis showed that 60.4% of the pollen grains consumed by A. altissima belong to the species Baccharis latifolia (n= 2111, Asteraceae ), followed by the Asteroideae group (n= 599, 17.1%, Asteraceae ), Taraxacum-Hyppochaeris (n= 317, 9.1%, Asteraceae ), Allophylus sp. (n= 191, 5.5%, Sapindaceae ), Cotoneaster pannosus (n= 150, 4.3%, Rosaceae ), Fuchsia sp. (n= 65, 1.9%, Onagraceae ), Gaiadendron punctatum (n= 24, 0.7%, Loranthaceae ), Croton mutisianus (n= 13, 0.4%, Euphorbiaceae ), Vibrurnum sp. (n= 12, 0.3%, Adoxaceae ), Senecio madagascariensis (n= 5, 0.1%, Asteraceae ), Piper sp. (n= 3, 0.1%, Piperaceae ), Brassica – Capsella (n= 2, 0.1%, Brassicaceae ) and Bidens pilosa (n= 2, 0.1%, Asteraceae ). Field observations and label data also reveal that A. altissima visits flowers of Ageratina tinifolia , Baccharis sp. , Diplostephium rosmarinifolium , Espeletia occidentalis , Pentacalia ledifolia (Asteraceae) and Buddleja coriacea (Scrophulariaceae) . Specimens collected using canopy Malaise trap suggest that A. altissima flies in the higher tree canopy (height> 4 m).

Geographical range. Argentinomyia altissima (n= 108) is a common species, present throughout the western slope of Western Cordillera in Colombia (Antioquia), both slopes of Central Cordillera in Colombia * (Antioquia, Cundinamarca, Tolima) and Ecuador (Cotopaxi, Cuicocha, Pichincha), the western slope of Eastern Cordillera in Colombia (Meta) and Eastern slope of Cordillera Oriental in Perú * (Cuzco) ( Fig. 90C ). The species is present at middle and high altitudes (2200–3610 m) in the Northern Andes domain and the provinces: Cauca (2200–3610 m) , Magdalena (2200–3150 m) and North Andean Páramo (2700 m) .

Non-type material examined. COLOMBIA. Antioquia, Andes, Cerro Caramanta, Páramo Laguna de Santa Rita, 5.550249, -75.988733, 3610 m, Net, 3-5.iii.2009, M. Wolff (1♁, 1♀, CEUA 47446, 69642); Bello, San Félix, Las Baldías, 6,330 58, -75,645620, 3150 m, Páramo, Net, 16.vii.2016, A. L. Montoya (2♁, CEUA 93080-81); …, Belmira, Páramo Santa Inés, Cabaña Cabildo Verde, El Morro-Alto de La Gallina, 6,657 8611, -75,6715, 3301 m, Van Someren-Rydon (VSR) Fish, 5-8.x.2011, GEUA (2♁, CEUA 43353, 43362); …, 6,647 5556, -75,6713333, 3241 m, Páramo,Arbusto, ex Espeletia occidentalis, Net , 2-5.v.2008, C. Bota (1♁, CEUA 47446); …, ex Pentacalia ledifolia, Net , 4-14.ii.2017, A. L. Montoya; C. Rodríguez; J. D. Carmona (2♁, CEUA 95300); ex Ageratina tinifolia, Net , 4- 14.ii.2017, A. L. Montoya; C. Rodríguez; J. D. Carmona (1♁, CEUA 95379); Net, 2-13.xii.2017, C. Rodríguez; A. Echeverry (2♁, CEUA 98311, A9838); Net, 16-27.ix.2017, C. Rodríguez; A. Rúa (1♁, CEUA 98347); …, Malaise, 2-13.xii.2017, C. Rodríguez; A. Echeverry (1♁, CEUA 98402); 5-8.x.2011, GEUA (1♁, CEUA 43354); …, Malaise canopy, 4-14.xii.2016, A. L. Montoya; J. Torres; J. P. Carmona (4♁, CEUA 95110, 95195, 95456); 25.iii-5.iv.2017, A. L. Montoya; C. Rodríguez; J. D. Carmona; 2-13.xii.2017, C. Rodríguez; A. Echeverry (2♁, CEUA 103346, 95584); 21- 30.vi-5.iv.2017, C. Rodríguez; J. P. Carmona (1♀, CEUA 97994); 6,634 233, -75,658654, 3020 m, Forest, Malaise, 2-13.xii.2017, C. Rodríguez; A. Echeverry (1♁, CEUA 98294); 6,630 476, -75,663106, 2924 m, Grassland, Malaise, 25.iii-5.iv.2017, A. L. Montoya; C. Rodríguez; J. D. Carmona (6♁, CEUA 95520, 95528); …, Belmira, Páramo Santa Inés, Vereda Río Arriba, Sector Laguna de Sabanas, 6,645 901, -75,670441, 3200 m, Páramo, Net, 16-27.ix.2017, A. L. Montoya; Y. Cardona (1♀, CEUA 98219); 6,637 851, -75,662949, 2879 m, Grassland, Malaise, 2-13.xii.2017, J. Torres-Toro; J. P. Carmona (2♁, 1♀, CEUA 98395); Malaise, 2-13.xii.2017, J. Torres-Toro; J. P. Carmona (1♀, CEUA 103644); 16-27.ix.2017, A. L. Montoya; Y. Cardona (1♁, 2♀, CEUA 98201, 98206, 98208); 25.iii-5.iv.2017, A. L. Montoya; C. Rodríguez; J. D. Carmona (1♁, 1♀, CEUA 95558); Malaise, 16-27.ix.2017, A. L. Montoya; Y. Cardona (2♁, CEUA 98317, 98372); …, Net, 2-13.xii.2017, J. Torres-Toro; J. P. Carmona (1♀, CEUA 98363); ex Diplostephium rosmarinifolium, Net , 4-14.ii.2017, A. L. Montoya; C. Rodríguez; J. D. Carmona (4♁, CEUA 95109); San José de la Montaña, Vereda El Congo, Sector La Laguna, 6,763 791, -75,701738, 3117 m, Páramo, Malaise canopy, 4-14.ii.2017, C. Henao; A. F. Sepúlveda (2♁, CEUA 95189); Malaise, 21- 30.vi-5.iv.2017, A. L. Montoya; A. F. Sepúlveda (2♀, CEUA 98088); 2-13.xii.2017, C. Henao; A. F. Sepúlveda (1♀, CEUA 98337); 25.iii-5.iv.2017, M. Wolff; C. Henao; A. F. Sepúlveda (2♀, CEUA 98188); …, 21- 30.vi-5.iv.2017, A. L. Montoya; A. F. Sepúlveda (1♀, CEUA 98023); …, 2-13.xii.2017, C. Henao; A. F. Sepúlveda (1♁, CEUA 98330); …, 2- 13.xii.2017, C. Henao; A. F. Sepúlveda (2♁, ♀1♀, CEUA 98331); 25.iii-5.iv.2017, M. Wolff; C. Henao; A. F. Sepúlveda (2♁, CEUA 97930); Pan trap blue, 4-14.xii.2016, C. Henao; A. F. Sepúlveda (1♀, CEUA 95437); …, Pan trap white, 25.iii-5.iv.2017, M. Wolff; C. Henao; A. F. Sepúlveda (1♀, CEUA 97963); …, Net, 4-14.ii.2017, C. Henao; A. F. Sepúlveda (2♀, CEUA 95196, 95429); …, 25.iii-5.iv.2017, M. Wolff; C. Henao; A. F. Sepúlveda (2♁, 3♀, CEUA 95589, 95594); …, 21- 30.vi-5.iv.2017, A. L. Montoya; A. F. Sepúlveda (4♁, 5♀, CEUA 98077, 98093); …, 2-13.xii.2017, C. Henao; A. F. Sepúlveda (1♀, CEUA 98339); …, 6,768 592, -75,708826, 3012 m, Forest, Pan trap blue, 25.iii-5.iv.2017, M. Wolff; C. Henao; A. F. Sepúlveda (1♀, CEUA 97962); 6,768 593, -75,712085, 2995 m, Grassland, Net, 4-14.ii.2017, C. Henao; A. F. Sepúlveda (1♁, CEUA 95416); 21- 30.vi-5.iv.2017, A. L. Montoya; A. F. Sepúlveda (1♀, CEUA 98047); Sonsón, Vereda San Francisco, Cerro Las Palomas A, 5,725 972, -75,24925, 3364 m, Páramo, Net, 23.vi-2.vii.2018, J. P. Carmona; J. Sauceda; J. Vallejo (1♁, CEUA 103406); …, Vereda Nori Cerro Nori, 5,812 869, -75,268513, 2755 m, Grassland, Malaise canopy, 31.iii.-7.iv.2018, A.L. Montoya; J. P. Carmona (1♀, CEUA 103429); 5,812 861, -75,268444, 3045 m, Páramo, Net, 31.iii.-7.iv.2018, A.L. Montoya; J. P. Carmona (4♁, CEUA 103461); Medellín, Corregimiento de Santa Elena, Vereda Piedras Blancas, en Robledal, 6.291588, -75.493345, 2200 m, Net, 26.ix.2009, C. Bota (1♁, CEUA 47453); Cundinamarca, Bogotá, 4.592901, -74.081040, 2700 m, 25.iii.1937, Osorno (1♁, CNC DIPTERA );.. 25.iii.1937, B. Guerra (2♁, USNM ENT 01443844; 01443835); Tolima, Murillo, Robledal, 4.870242, -75.177614, 3000 m, 6.x.2012, C. Bota, Net (1♁, CEUA 73203); Meta, Meta Dist. 1932, B. Guerra (1♁, USNM ENT 001443836). ECUADOR. Cotopaxi, - 0.773272, -78.549621, 3200 m, 16.i.1993, A. Salazar (1♁, QCAZ 103717); Pichincha, Guayllabamba, -0.059052, -78.341446, 2200 m, en Baccharis sp. (Asteraceae) 27.i.2000, P. Jiménez (1♁, QCAZ 103715); Pichincha, Quito Yuruqui, -0.231633, -78.539767, 2900 m, en Baccharis sp. (Asteraceae) 1.vi.1986, G. Correa (1♁, QCAZ 103719); - 0.231633, -78.539767, 2870 m, en Buddleja coriacea, G. Paz and Miño (3♁, QCAZ 103716-18 &..3720); Quito, -0.180464, -78.465438, 2800 m, 8.vii.1984, L. Coloma (1♁, QCAZ 103721); Tungurahua, 6-12 mi SW. Baños, 2500-3000 m, 13.ii.1955, E.I. Schlinger and E.S. Ross (1♁, USNM ENT 01443834). PERÚ. Cuzco, Pumapaccha, -13,515778, -71,972709, 3426 m, Jared Shorma (iNaturalist catalogue number 37168068; https://www.inaturalist. org/observations/37168068).

Figures

FIGURE 12. Argentinomyia altissima (Fluke, 1945), male (CEUA 93080): A. Head, frontal view; B. Dorsal view; C. Lateral view. Female (CEUA 43354): D. Head, frontal view; E. Dorsal view; F. Lateral view. Scale bars: 5 mm.

FIGURE 13. Argentinomyia altissima (Fluke, 1945), male genitalia. A. Whole genitalia, lateral view; B. Epandrium, dorsal view; C. Hypandrium, ventral view. Scale bars: 1 mm. D–E. Natural habitus of a female specimen in Pumapaccha, Cuzco, Perú (iNaturalist catalogue number# 37168068; https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/37168068). Photo taken by ©Jared Shorma.

FIGURE 20. Argentinomyia bolivariensis (Fluke, 1945), male (USNM ENT 0144380): A. Head, frontal view; B. Dorsal view; C. Lateral view. Female (USNM ENT 00058848): D. Head, frontal view; E. Dorsal view; F. Lateral view. Scale bars: 5 mm.

FIGURE 21. Argentinomyia bolivariensis (Fluke, 1945), male genitalia. A. Whole genitalia, lateral view; B. Epandrium, dorsal view; C. Hypandrium, ventral view. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIGURE 48. Argentinomyia luculenta (Fluke, 1945), male genitalia. A. Whole genitalia, lateral view; B. Epandrium, dorsal view; C. Hypandrium, ventral view. Scale bars: 1 mm. D–E. Natural habitus of a male specimen in the Páramo de Santa Ines Belmira in Antioquia, Colombia: D. Dorsolateral view of a male specimen visiting a flower of “Dandelion” Taraxacum officinale (Asteraceae). E. Dorsal view of a male resting on an Ericaceae leaf. F–H. Natural habitus of a female specimen in a clearing within the forest in the Páramo complex of San José de la Montaña in Antioquia Colombia.

FIGURE 49. Argentinomyia maculata (Walker, 1852), male (USNM ENT 01406339): A. Head, frontal view (Detail of black ring or smudge on apical margin of metafemur); B. Detail of triangular maculae, dorsal view; C. Lateral view. Female (USNM ENT 01406336): D. Head, frontal view; E. Detail of triangular maculae, dorsal view; F. Lateral view. Scale bars: 5 mm.

FIGURE 90. Geographical distribution of Argentinomyia species in the Tropical Andes.

FIGURE 95. Geographical distribution of Argentinomyia species in the West Indies and the Galápagos Islands.

FIGURE 96. Geographical distribution of Argentinomyia species in Central America.