Amiota mcalpinei, 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 : 83-85

Amiota mcalpinei , sp. nov.

Figures 42C–D , 45C–E, H , 89C

DIAGNOSIS: Large fly (ThL 1.71 mm); medium brown to ochre, abdomen nearly black; coloration similar to A. minor (Malloch) , except with characteristic white markings of genus; outer paraphysis long, slender, lacking lateral spine; tapering acutely to mucronate point, lacking terminal sensillum; inner paraphysis robust, curving medially and overlapping; aedeagal apodeme lightly sclerotized; similar to other Nearctic species, but easily distinguished by lack of a lateral spine on the outer paraphysis (as in A. leucostoma Loew ) or a terminal trichoid sensillum (as in A. tessae ); differs from A. rufescens by having shorter outer paraphysis and a large, strongly hooked inner paraphysis.

DESCRIPTION: Large fly (ThL 1.71 mm), medium brown to ochre, uniformly so, setae black; legs yellow; abdomen nearly black; coloration similar to A. minor (Malloch) , except with characteristic white markings of genus. Frons blackish on dorsal half, yellow ventrally. Cheek yellow on anterior half, whitish gray on posterior half. Palp yellow. Tergites 1 and 2 lightly colored. Arista: Medium plumose; A.R. 0.3; longest branch D5, D6 points mediad; 6 long dorsal (1 short preapical), 4 shorter ventral branches; aristal trunk with medium-length microtrichia along entire length. Male genitalia: Epandrium with dorsal gap. Cercus semicircular. Surstylus pendulous, distal end covered in setulae; prensisetae pointed (not round). Subepandrial sclerite wide; forming long subepandrial appendage, distal end rounded. Outer paraphysis long and swordlike, lightly sclerotized; midpoint with several scattered sensilla pits, distal end tapering acutely to mucronate point. Inner paraphysis a spine of medium sclerotization, curving medially; anterior hook present, overlapping with adjacent paraphysis. Aedeagal apodeme lightly sclerotized, slightly wider than long; lightly concave depression. Hypandrium U-shaped; lateral arm with a long, lobelike gonopod. Ejaculatory apodeme slender, length equal to depth of epandrium, bent at 2/3 the length from distal end. Head and thorax measurements: (n = 1, Am 1315) FL/FW 0.70, EL/EW 1.40, EL/CW 16.8, FML/FMW 0.33, PR /RR 0.50, ThL 1.71 mm.

TYPE MATERIAL: Holotype: male: Cultus Lake, B.C. [British Columbia], [49.047143, -121.979228], “8”. VIII.1948, H. R. Foxlee, “ Amiota leucostoma ” d. G.Steyskal, Am 1315, [specimen glued to pin, dissected]. Deposited in Canadian National Collection ( CNC).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: Known only from the holotype.

ETYMOLOGY: Named for James F. McAlpine (1922–2019), renowned dipterist at the Canadian National Collection, Ottawa, and collector of many of the Mexican specimens used in this revision.

DISTRIBUTION: The holotype was collected in British Columbia, but the species is likely more widespread in western Canada.

COMMENTS: It is unknown whether this species is attracted to the eyes and face as other Amiota , but this is likely the case due to its close relationship with A. tessae , which is known to exhibit this behavior.

Figures

FIG. 42. Heads and lateral views, A. rufescens species group. A–B. A. leucostoma Loew (Am 399). C–D. A. mcalpinei, sp. nov. (Am 1315, holotype). E–F. A. tessae, sp. nov. (Am 1310, holotype).

FIG. 45. Male terminalia, A. leucostoma Loew. A–B, F–G. A. Ventral view. B. Ejaculatory apodeme. F. Lateral view. G. Surstylus. (Am 379). Male terminalia, A. mcalpinei, sp. nov. C–E, H. C. Ejaculatory apodeme. D. Inner paraphyses. E. Ventral view. H. Hypandrium and gonopod, lateral. (Am 1315, holotype).

FIG. 89. Distribution maps, A. avipes species group. A. A. uniacuminis. A. rufescens species group. B. A. leucostoma Loew. C. A. mcalpinei.