Azana malinamoena, Kerr, 2010

Kerr, Peter H., 2010, New Azana species from Western North America (Diptera: Mycetophilidae), Zootaxa 2397 (1), pp. 1-14 : 3-6

Azana malinamoena sp. nov.

( Figs. 1 , 3–7 , 13 , 15 , 17–18 , 21 )

Type material. Holotype: ♂, USA: CA: Del Norte Co , SixRiversNF, ForRoute 16N02, nr. BearBasin Outlk, 41.8016°N, 123.7369°W, 1500masl, 3.vi–24.vii.2009 P.H.Kerr & O.Lonsdale, 6m MT, CSCA09 L526 [ CSCA]. Complete specimen (#09D441) on point mount.

Paratypes: 6 ♂, 1 ♀, USA: CALIFORNIA, same data as holotype [4 ♂ CSCA / 1 ♂ CASC / 1 ♂, 1 ♀ ZMUO] ; 1 ♂, USA: CA : Calaveras Co., BigTreesSP, South Grove, Sequoia #298 ( Creek ), canopy trap nr. ground, top bottle, 38.2415°N 120.2554°W 1405masl, 16.v–6.vi.2009 P.Kerr & R . Frizzell , CSCA09 L247 [ CSCA-FTC]; 1 ♂, USA: CA : Calaveras Co., BigTreesSP South Grove, Sequoia #282 ( Stellar ), canopy trap nr. ground, top bottle, 38.2407°N 120.2546°W 1425masl, 16.v–6.vi.2009 P.Kerr & R . Frizzell , CSCA09 L253 [ PHKC]; 2 ♂, USA: CA : Calaveras Co., BigTreesSP, South Grove, Sequoia #317( Neighbor ), canopy trap nr. ground, top bottle, 38.2405°N 120.2562°W 1410masl, 16.v–7.vi.2009 P.Kerr & R . Frizzell , CSCA09 L259 [ PHKC]; 6 ♂, 1 ♀, USA: CA : Calaveras Co. Calaveras Big Trees SP, S. grove, Asarum hartwegii bog, MT#3 , 38°14.41’N 120°15.75’W 1385masl, 22.v.–11.vi.2007, P.H.Kerr & M. Hauser 07LOT088 [ CSCA] ; 4 ♂, USA: CA : Amador Co., Indian Grinding Rock St. Pk. , nr campsites in small gully. MT, 38.4216°N 120.6450° W, 715masl, 30.iii–8.v.2009 P.Kerr, CSCA09 L230 [ CSCA-FTC].

Diagnosis This species can be distinguished from most Azana species by having 5-segmented maxillary palpus and simple gonostylus that lacks spines. The relatively long mouthparts and the gonostylus bearing long thin cuticular process ( Figs. 17-18 , 21 ) will readily differentiate this species from A. nigricoxa Strobl , A. sinensis Xu & Wu , and A. grandispinosa Xu & Wu. This species is most apt to be confused with its sympatric congener, A. frizzelli sp. nov. In A. malinamoena sp. nov., the setae of the head and dorsum are predominantly yellowish brown or golden (not dark brown), the scape and pedicel are yellow (not brown), the anterolateral margins of the dorsum are yellowish or cream colored, and the mid and hind coxae also tend to be cream colored (although sometimes lightly brownish). Additional diagnostic characters may be found in the male genitalia where the anterior margin of the epandrium (t9) is angled inward to form a point ( Fig. 15 ) and the aedeagal sheath is shallowly produced medially ( Fig. 17 , not as Fig. 19 ).

Description Body length (n=7): 1.8–2.2 mm (avg = 2.0 mm). Wing length: 1.8–2.2 mm (avg = 2.1 mm). Males and females approximately the same size.

Coloration ( Fig. 1 ). Head brown, face yellowish, clypeus yellowish brown; basal palpomere yellowish or pale brown, otherwise palpomeres yellow and becoming increasingly white distally; palpomeres 4 and 5 entirely white. Antennal scape and pedicel yellowish, flagellomeres dark brown. Scutum and scutellum brown. Antepronotum and proepisternum yellow, anepisternum brown, katepisternum brown except creamcolored or pale brown along lower posterior margin, anepimeron brown except cream-colored at ventral margin, meron cream-colored, metepimeron and metepisternum light brown, laterotergite and mediotergite brown. Fore coxa cream-colored; mid and hind coxae with some brown on uppermost margin, but otherwise cream-colored (in female, a little more brownish throughout); fore and mid femora yellowish, hind femur yellowish, fading to brown dorsoapically light brown; tibiae and tarsi yellowish (tarsi looking darker on account of vestiture of brown trichia); tibial spurs yellowish brown. In female, femora, tibiae, tibial spurs, and tarsi more light brownish throughout. Wing lightly infuscate without markings, membrane densely microtrichose, with scattered macrotrichia; where present, wing veins thick and brown (except CuA 1, which is faint); haltere stem and knob white. Abdominal segments brown, with gold-colored setae. Terminalia brown in male; in female, cercus pale to yellowish brown.

Head ( Fig. 3 ). Three ocelli, middle one approximately half the size (or less) and slightly anterior of others; lateral ocellus approximately five times its widest diameter from eye margin. Frons with relatively long yellow setae, some approximately 0.5x length of frons. Frontal tubercle between antennal bases; transverse frontoclypeal membrane present; face longer than wide, converging with straight edges to a point dorsally, with short, appressed microsetae throughout; clypeus longer than wide, with microsetae throughout. Palpus approximately long enough to reach dorsal margin of antennal scape; five palpomeres, successively longer distally; palpomere l short, as wide as long, remaining palpomeres longer than wide; palpomere 5 cylindrical, approximately 2x length of palpomere 4; third palpomere with small area of sensilla cochleariformis on aboral surface (visible in SEM). Antennal length in male approximately 3.5x the length of head; in female, antennal length approximately 2–2.5x the length of head; antennal bases separated by approximately 1/5 width of scape; scape with ring of yellow setae around distal margin, setae approximately as long as length of scape or shorter, with a few short setae ventrally; pedicel approximately same width as scape in lateral view, with yellow setae, approximately as long as length of pedicel; all flagellomeres densely setulose, flagellomeres 1– 12 slightly longer than wide, terminal flagellomere approximately 2x longer than wide.

Thorax ( Fig. 6 ). Scutum with gold-colored setae scattered throughout, longest setae along anterior margin of scutum, extending over head; scutellum relatively small, approximately 2/3 width of thorax, with row of 5– 7 longer setae; setae of mesopleuron golden in color; antepronotum and proepisternum bearing setae; anepisternum with short setae on dorsal half of sclerite; laterotergite with long setae; mediotergite longer than wide, with setae on lower half, longest near base; remaining thoracic sclerites without setae. Fore coxa setose anteriorly, bare laterally; mid and hind coxae setose laterally, in distal half only. Femur covered in short, yellow setae, approximate femur length to tibia length ratio 1.0 (fore leg), 1.0 (mid leg), and 0.8 (hind leg); all tibial setae short, shorter than width of tibia; fore tibia with ovate anteroapical depressed area apically, bearing several rows of small yellowish setae; mid tibia with 4 anterior setae and 2–4 dorsal setae; hind tibia with a row of 4–5 anterior, 0–1 anterodorsal, and 5–8 dorsal setae. Wing ( Fig. 13 ) with densely arranged and relatively long microtrichia and scattered macrotrichia over membrane surface; costal vein extends beyond R 5, approximately 0.2 of distance between R 5 and M 1; Sc short, ending free; R 1 reaching C at approximately middle of wing; M 1 obsolete at base, but well defined in apical 2/3, extending to wing margin clearly beyond level at which costal vein ends; CuA 1 present as light vein or fold, most visible near wing margin, obsolete at its base; CuA 2 strong, slightly curved; A 1 present as fold; all wing veins except A 1 setulose on upper surface.

Male Genitalia ( Figs. 4–5, 7 , 15 , 17–18 , 21 ). Epandrium (= tergite 9) longer than wide, with anterior margin forming ring that arcs ventrally and connects to hypandrium anteriorly, ring with central, posteriorlyprojecting process ventrally. Gonocoxites not fused; gonostylus simple, with cluster of setae at proximal half, bearing minute teeth on inner margin and bearing long, thin process on ventral surface and directed inwardly; parameres absent. Aedeagal sheath broad with paired apodemes arcing anteriorly and with two small lobes extending posteriorly, near center; aedeagal apodeme small, forked, forming ‘Y’ shape.

Female Genitalia (as in Figs. 23–24 ). First cercus segment broad, with moderately produced dorsal lobe, second cercus segment ovoid, flattened; 2 spermathecae, unsclerotized, spherical, spermathecal duct length long, extending to fourth or fifth abdominal segment.

Comments Azana malinamoena was found in three areas of California, from 715–1500 masl, spanning approximately 300 miles. It is expected that this species range extends at least through the high country of coastal Northern California and Oregon and may extend southward, along the western Sierra Nevadas to Tulare County. Although the canopy of three giant sequoia trees were sampled for this species, it occurred only near ground level at the base of each tree.

Etymology This species is named after my wife, Malin Sofia Vretblad Kerr. The species epithet is formed by a combination of her first name and the quality of being “amoena”, a latin expression meaning attractive, pleasant, agreeable, enjoyable, charming, lovely. She is all of these things.

Figures

FIGURES 1–2. Azana spp. from California, habitus, lateral view. 1, Azana malinamoena, holotype; 2, Azana frizzelli, holotype. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 3–7. Azana malinamoena, male. 3, anteroventral view of head; 4, lateral view of genitalia; 5, ventral view of genitalia; 6, lateral view of thorax; 7, posterior view of genitalia. In figure 3, scale bar = 0.05 mm; in figures 4–5 and 7 scale bar = 0.02; in figure 6, scale bar = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 13–14. Azana spp. from California, right wings, dorsal view, scale bar = 0.5mm. 13, Azana malinamoena; 14, Azana frizzelli.

FIGURES 15–16. Azana spp. from California, male genitalia, epandria, dorsal view. 15, Azana malinamoena; 16, Azana frizzelli. Scale bar = 0.05 mm.

FIGURES 17–20. Azana spp. from California, male genitalia. 17. Azana malinamoena, dorsal view; 18. Azana malinamoena, lateral view; 19. Azana frizzelli, dorsal view; 20. Azana frizzelli, lateral view. Scale bar = 0.05 mm. Abbreviations: aed apod = aedeagal apodeme; aed sh = aedeagal sheath; goncx = gonocoxite; gonst = gonostylus.

FIGURES 21–22. Azana spp. from California, male genitalia, gonostylus, ventral view; 21, Azana malinamoena; 22, Azana frizzelli. Scale bar = 0.01 mm.

FIGURES 23–24. Azana frizzelli, female genitalia. 23, lateral view; 24, Sternite 9, ventral view. Scale bar = 0.1 mm.