Wilcoxia monae Wilcox

Pollock, Darren A. & Reichert, Lisa A., 2019, Review of the Nearctic genus Wilcoxia James (Diptera: Asilidae: Stenopogoninae) with descriptions of three new species, Zootaxa 4695 (5), pp. 401-437 : 407-409

2. Wilcoxia monae Wilcox

( Figs 3–4 , 18 , 27 , 42 , 48 , 60 )

Wilcoxia monae Wilcox 1972: 44 . Type locality: “ California, Mono Co., Mammoth”; Poole & Gentili 1996: 64.

Types. Holotype, male ( CAS), labeled: “Mammoth, Cal. VIII-9 ’57 // J. Wilcox Coll. // [blue label] HOLOTYPE ♂ Wilcoxia monae J. Wilcox // California Academy of Sciences Type No. 11715 // [small blue label] ♂ // ALLOTYPE IS STORED IN THE GENERAL COLLECTION”. The holotype was not examined (images studied at: http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/entomology/typesDB/default.asp). The allotype was examined.

Derivation of specific epithet. Though not mentioned specifically by Wilcox (1972) the name “ monae ” likely refers to the type locality, in Mono County, California.

Diagnosis. This species may be diagnosed from other species in the cinerea group by the following combination of characters: scutellum with posterior margin bare, non-pollinose; scutum without several pairs of small, semicircular non-pollinose patches; wings light to medium brown.

Description. Male ( Fig. 2 ). TL 4.6–8.0 mm; wing 4.3–6.9 mm.

Head ( Fig. 18 ) black, covered in pale grey tomentum, with face (in profile) projecting slightly beyond eye; hairs of head white; lower occipital hairs relatively short, sparse; ocellar tubercle with 4 setae (ca. length of scape + pedicel), and a few hairs, light yellow in color; mystax ( Fig. 18 ) moderately dense, consisting of long setae (ca. length of postpedicel + style) and slightly shorter hairs, confined to lower ¼ of face; setae and hairs white, bases perpendicular to plane of face; hairs above mystax relatively long (ca. length of scape + pedicel), projecting downward, with bases ca. 45° or less from plane of face; palpi and proboscis black with white hairs; antennomeres brown, pollinose, scape and pedicel thinly so; pedicel with 1 or 2 long ventral setae; scape with several relatively long ventral setae; scape and pedicel with several short hairs dorsally; ratio of antennomere lengths (scape: pedicel: postpedicel: style+spine) = 8: 7: 29: 8.

Thorax black, covered in pale grey tomentum, dorsally with light brown tint; scutum with indistinctly-defined median stripe, darker brown pollinose; acrostichal setae absent; scutum surface uniform, without distinct non-pollinose or differently colored spots; scutum with dense pile of short, white hairs (shorter than scape), similar pre- and postsuturally; most specimens with 3 notopleural setae, 1–2 supraalar setae and 2 postalar setae; stoutest thoracic setae with amber cast; scutellum pale grey pollinose, tinted very light brown in some specimens, margin (1/4 to 3/4 of scutellum length) shining, bare; 6 marginal setae, shorter than length of scutellum, in roughly same plane as scutellum, converging medially; marginal hairs absent; disc of scutellum without hairs; pleura pale grey tinted yellowish brown; katatergite with about 12 long, fine yellowish setae, tips not “crinkly” (e.g., Fig. 44 ); wings infuscated, brown; costa complete around entire wing, to base; microtrichiae conspicuous and moderately dense on distal 1/3 of wing; halter with base brown and yellow, stem and knob yellow; legs ( Figs 3–4 ) non-pollinose, largely yellow; tibiae darkened distally, tarsi slightly darker than tibiae; femora with broad black band in middle, basal 1/5 and distal 1/3 yellow; leg hairs and setae white; stoutest setae with amber cast; femora dorsally with scattered, white appressed hairs (<femur width); ventrally with longer, suberect white hairs (longest> femur width); tibiae with sparse, short (<tibia width) appressed yellowish hairs, ventrally with a few longer, more erect hairs; mesotibial spine blackishbrown; protibiae without sigmoidal spine at apex.

Abdomen ( Figs 3 , 27 ) brownish-black, tergites non-pollinose, shining, with sparse, short white hairs; segments relatively wide, 2–5 at least as wide as long; tergites 1–6 with lateral margins pale grey pollinose, expanded slightly posteriorly on tergites 4–6; sternites pale grey pollinose, with relatively dense, moderately long white setae, not noticeably differing in length from anterior to posterior sternites.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 48 ). Apex of dorsal gonocoxite process entire, not bifid; dorsal process extending to same level as ventral gonocoxite process; medial gonocoxite processes moderately stout, not acute, slightly curved towards phallus; gonostylus relatively wide, angulate, apex not truncate; phallus without subapical denticle on lateral margins; lateral margins narrowed subapically.

Female ( Fig. 4 ). TL 6.9–7.6 mm; wing 5.0–6.0 mm; features similar to male, except for the following: pollinosity with general pale yellow cast; wing with brown infuscation only slightly lighter than in males; abdominal segments 1–6 brownish black, 7–8 yellow.

Natural history. Two specimens of W. monae have pertinent associated data ( Wilcox 1972). One has a label “Compositae” [= Asteraceae ], and another “ Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus var. typicus ”; the latter presumably indi- cates that the specimen was collected on/in this species of Asteraceae (rabbitbush). No specific collection details are known about the two specimens collected in Suisun Marsh, but the local habitat differs appreciably from that in which the specimens from the Sierra Nevada were collected ( Solano Land Trust 2017). Specimens were collected from 15.vii–1.ix.

Distribution ( Fig. 60 ). This species seemingly has a restricted distribution. Most specimens of W. monae are known from the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California (elevation> 5000 feet). A single locality is known from coastal California (Solano Co.); two specimens were collected at “Suisun Marsh” at an elevation of 22 feet. A single specimen is known from southeastern Oregon (Harney Co.).

Non-primary type material examined. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. California. Mono Co. Mammoth [37.634953, -118.982381], 9.viii.1957, J. Wilcox, ( CASC, 18♂, 2♀; EMFC, 6♂, 1♀; CNC, 1♀). Nevada Co. 3 mi. N. Boca [39.426754, -120.089449], 23.vii.1961, F.D. Parker, ( BME, 1♀ [UC BME P 0003967 ]); Prosser Dam [39.378748, -120.138340], 15.vii.1966, D.R. Miller, ( BME, 1♂ [UC BME P 0003968 ]). Solano Co. Rush Ranch, Suisun Marsh , 38°12.656 N, 122°01.501 W [38.21093, -122.02502], 22 ft, 17.vii.2007, K. Bayless, ( EMFC, 2♂). Trinity Co. Tri-Forest Pk. [40.9939, -122.9166], 7500’, 26.vii.1972, T. Griswold, ( OSAC, 1♀ [ OSAC _0001005825]. Tulare Co. Mineral King [36.449933, -118.593090], 8.viii.1959, W.E. Simonds, ( EMFC, 1♀). Nevada. Douglas Co. Topaz Lake [38.696287, -119.545257], 17.viii.1960, A.S. Menke, ( BME, 1♂). Oregon. Harney Co. T41S R35E S22, [43.090098, -118.998101], 30.vii.1979, Lightfoot & Cobb, ( EMFC, 1♂; OSAC, 1♀ [ OSAC–0001005824 ]). Literature records ( Wilcox 1972). California. Nevada Co. 1 mi S Hobart Mills [39.385460, -120.183544], 1.ix.1957, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus var. typicus ; Truckee [39.328031, -120.183312], 17.viii.1955, Compositae. Tulare Co. 0.5 mi E Smith Meadow, Nine Mile Canyon [est. 35.89444, -118.086389], 7850 ft., 5.viii.1961 .

Figures

FIGURES 1–4. Figs 1–2. Male (1) and female (2) paratypes of W. cinerea James, nr. Saguache, Saguache Co., CO. Figs 3–4. Male (3) and female (4) paratypes of W. monae Wilcox. Male from Douglas Co., NV; female from type locality, Mono Co., CA.

FIGURES 17–25. Laterofrontal view of head of Wilcoxia spp. 17. W. cinerea, male. 18. W. monae, male. 19. W. painteri, male. 20. W. pollinosa, male. 21. W. apache, n. sp., male. 22. W. flavipennis, n. sp., male. 23. W. forbesi, n. sp., male. 24. W. forbesi, n. sp., female. 25. W. martinorum, male.

FIGURES 26–29. Abdomens of Wilcoxia spp. (cinerea group), dorsal. 26. W. cinerea, male; 27. W. monae, male; 28. W. painteri, female; 29. W. pollinosa, male.

FIGURES 41–46. Figs 41–42. Detail of posterior scutum and scutellum. 41. W. apache, n. sp. showing uniformly pollinose scutellum and many marginal setae as well as the linear, non-pollinose patches on scutum. 42. W. monae, showing posteriorly non-pollinose scutellum and relatively few marginal setae. Figs 43–44. Katatergite setation. 43. W. apache, n. sp. male, with “crinkly” setae. 44. W. cinerea, female, with “non-crinkly” setae. Fig. 45–46. Apical tibial spurs. 45. W. painteri, female, sigmoidal apicoventral spur on front tibia. 46. W. apache, n. sp., male, stout spur at apex of middle tibia.

FIGURES 47–58. Male genitalia (47–57) and ovipositor (58) of Wilcoxia spp. 47. W. cinerea, ventral view (epandrium removed). 48. W. monae, ventral view (epandrium removed). 49–50. W. painteri, ventral and right lateral view. 51–52. W. pollinosa, ventral (epandrium removed) and slightly oblique view. 53–54. W. apache, n. sp., ventral and dorsal oblique view. 55. W. flavipennis, n. sp., ventral view. 56. W. forbesi, n. sp., dorsal view (epandrium removed). 57. W. martinorum, ventral view (epandrium removed). 58. W. apache, n. sp., terminal abdominal segments and ovipositor. dp = dorsal gonocoxite process; dpc = dorsal gonocoxite process carina; gc = gonocoxite; gs = gonostylus; lep = lateral ejaculatory process; mp = medial gonocoxite process; pd = phallus denticle; ph = phallus; vp = ventral gonocoxite process.

FIGURES 59–60. Known distributions of W. cinerea James (59) and W. monae Wilcox (60). Red dots = examined specimens; white dots = literature records (Wilcox 1972) (maps created at www.gpsvisualizer.com).