Lasiopogon tumulicola McKnight, 2020

Mcknight, Tristan A. & Cannings, Robert A., 2020, Molecular phylogeny of the genus Lasiopogon (Diptera: Asilidae) and a taxonomic revision of the bivittatus section, Zootaxa 4835 (1), pp. 1-115 : 78-81

Lasiopogon tumulicola McKnight sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:73CA229A-8F1D-4688-A0AA-06BBF105554F

Diagnosis. ( Fig. 35 ) A medium-sized dark species from coastal dunes of Oregon and Washington; mystax black, thoracic setae mostly black, postpronotal lobe setae black; thoracic tomentum grey with strong dorsocentral stripes; femur basally with white setae and thin grey tomentum, apical 40% black haired and cuticle polished; tergites with dark brown/black cuticle subshining basally, grey tomentum bands cover apical 10–30% and lateral margins broadly; lateral macrosetae on tergite 1 mostly dark (7–8). Epandrium polished dark brown/black, in dorsal view of moderate width, coming to sharp apex, medial margins moderately concave; apex strongly concave from dorsoapical corner to ventral subapical tooth. Ovipositor black; acanthophorite spines black.

Description. Body length ♂ 8.4–10.3mm; ♀ 9.5–12.6mm. Head. HW ♂ 2.03–2.39mm; ♀ 2.05–2.64mm. FW ♂ 0.46–0.57mm; ♀ 0.49–0.62mm. VW ♂ 0.80–1.03mm; ♀ 0.94–1.15mm. VW/HW = ♂ 0.39–0.43; ♀ 0.44– 0.46. FW/VW = ♂ 0.55–0.58; ♀ 0.52–0.56. VD/VW = ♂ 0.12–0.13; ♀ 0.12–0.17. GH/GL = ♂ 0.36–0.43; ♀ 0.40–0.55. Face with silver-grey tomentum, vertex sparse grey under setae patches, subshining otherwise. Beard and labial setae white, sometimes tinged yellowish; mystax and all other setae black. Occipital macrosetae relatively fine and long; those behind the dorsomedial angle of the eye the longest (to 0.9mm), moderately curved anterolaterally; lateral and ventral macrosetae shorter, straighter. Frontal setae fine, long, and erect, reach midpoint of postpedicel; orbital setae also fine and long, slanting over eye margin. Antennae. Black, slightly lighter at base of postpedicel. Setae black; 0–1 setae on postpedicel. Postpedicel long, spindle shaped, widest at midpoint. WPP/LPP = ♂ 0.21–0.23; ♀ 0.20–0.24. LAS/LPP ♂ 0.62–0.63; ♀ 0.56–0.65. Thorax. Prothorax grey, with white setae; postpronotal lobes grey, the lateral angle yellowish red, setae all brownish setae. Scutum tomentum slate grey, sometimes with a brownish tinge, especially on sides. Dorsocentral stripes distinct: dark brown, edged in yellow; acrostichal stripes absent. Notal and acrostichal setae black, long (60% as long as macrosetae); dorsocentral macrosetae fine, black; anteriors 4–5, up to 1.2mm but hard to distinguish from surrounding setae, 3–4 posteriors. Postalars 2–3, with about 4 long surrounding setae; supra-alars 2–3 with a few short setae; presuturals 2–3; posthumerals 1. Scutellar tomentum grey/greyish brown; rim inflated, leaving a semi-circular line impressed inside the dorsal edge; apical macrosetae black, abundant (10+ on each side) and mixed with many other long setae. Short vertical setae on uppermost edge of rim black. Pleural tomentum grey to brownish grey. Katatergite macrosetae black, 8, with a few short fine white setae; katepisternal setae fairly long, wavy, white; anepisternal setae 14+, up to 0.8mm, mostly black with a few white setae ventrally and a patch of short black setae along dorsal edge; anepimeron with 5 fine white setae. Legs. Cuticle dark brown/black, chestnut at femur-tibia joint and trochanters; tomentum on coxae grey, sparse grey on basal 60–70% of femur, shining black elsewhere. No coxal peg. Coxae with long straw/white setae; macrosetae of legs black, setae on basal 60–70% of femur white, elsewhere black. Ventral setae on femur longer than femur width; lateral setae erect on outside face, reclinate on inside; dorsolateral macrosetae long, fine, almost indistinguishable from surrounding setae, on profemur, at least 10+ dorsolateral macrosetae on profemur, mesofemur with 3–5, metafemur 8–13, colored as with the shorter setae. Protibia with ventral macrosetae 3–4 times longer than tibial width; dense apicoventral patch of short setae on protibia yellow, on metafemur black. Claws chestnut over basal half, black apically. Wings. Veins dark brown; membrane hyaline, very pale brown when viewed obliquely. DCI = 0.45–0.52. Halter yellow/brown; knob without dark spot.

Abdomen. Male. Tergite cuticle dark brown/black. Very thin brown tomentum on tergite bases, extensively lacking so the dark cuticle shines through; bands of grey tomentum cover apical 10–30% of each tergite (segment 1 half covered), and broadly over lateral margins. Tergite 1 laterally with 7–8 black macrosetae and 2–3 white/ yellow macrosetae; lateral setae on tergites long, erect, white; on tergites 2–4 setae longer than postpedicel, on tergites 1 and 5–7 as long as scape + pedicel; dorsal setulae brown, fine. Sternite tomentum grey, setae white. Female. As in male but tergite bases with thicker brown tomentum and tergite 1 with 8–11 lateral black macrosetae. Male genitalia. Epandrium and hypandrium/gonocoxite complex cuticle polished dark chestnut/black, entirely devoid of tomentum; with dark brown/black setae, setal brush black. Epandrium elongate, moderately slender, in lateral view the width 50% the length, with dorsal and ventral margins parallel; apex strongly concave from dorsoapical corner to sharp subapical ventral tooth. In dorsal view, epandrium moderately concave, curvature starts about 35% from base, each lobe tapered, wide set; basal sclerite prominent. Phallus paramere sheath dorsally about 35% the length of phallus; paramere sheath with sharp ventral subapical tooth; dorsal carina a straight flat fin with shallow sharp point apically parallel to gonopore, leaving a narrow gap between the apices. Ejaculatory apodeme in lateral view long, slender, moderately bent in basal quarter, dorsal carina broad. Subepandrial sclerite U-shaped, central unsclerotized area shaped like a tall bottle over basal 87%; spines parallel-sided, blunt, densely and evenly distributed, apical spines relatively erect.

Female genitalia. Undissected: Setae white, erect. Cuticle dark brown/black, narrow pale band at apex of tergite 8, and sometimes reddish brown at base of sternite 8; hypogynial valves long, black, with a few setae basally; cerci brown with pale setae; acanthophorite spines black.

Type Material. HOLOTYPE ♂ labelled: “[rectangular white label] USA; OR; Lincoln Co. /Newport, S. side/Yaquinna R. mouth; Dunes/E. of S. Jetty Road / 8 MAY 1995 / R.A. Cannings & H. Nadel /RC95-9”; “[rectangular white label] sand dunes with Elymus ,/ Lupinus, Fragaria /15:40-16:40 PDT”. Our type label “[red and black bordered label] HOLOTYPE / Lasiopogon tumulicola / des. T.A. McKnight 2017” has been added. Deposited at the USNM.

PARATYPES (118 specimens designated): U.S.A.: OREGON: Clatsop Co., Warrenton [46.155 -123.963], 6.v.1947, J.E. Davis (1♀ FSCA) ; Lane Co., Baker Beach , dunes behind, 44.0853 -124.1178, 27.vi.2012, J.D. Pinto (1♀ UCRC, UCRC ENT 432940 ) ; Florence 1 km N [43.991 -124.115], 3.vi.1991, M.E. Irwin (1♂ 2♀ INHS) ; Siltcoos Lake , beach to west, 43.88153 -124.15313, 17.v.2012, T.A. McKnight (2♀ [EtOH] UMMZ) ; Sutton Creek campground, forest trail to Alder dunes, 6 mi N of Florence, 44.05552 -124.10598, 21.vi.2013, T.A. McKnight (1♂ [1 EtOH] UMMZ) ; Sutton Creek campground, Sutton Creek near vista point, 6 mi N of Florence, 44.06864 -124.12355, 21.vi.2013, T.A. McKnight (1♀ RBCM, 1♂ TAM, 4♂ [3 EtOH] UMMZ) ; Taylor dunes by lake [43.864 -124.143], 26.iv.1998 (2♂ 1♀ 1? RBCM) ; Lincoln Co., Gleneden Beach, NW tip of Salishan Spit , 44.92008 -124.02694, 17.v.2012, T.A. McKnight (1♂ 1♀ [2 EtOH] UMMZ) ; Hidden Lake , open sandy area 0.2 mi W, 44.456665 -124.08055, J.D. Pinto (3♂ 1♀ UCRC, UCRC ENT 322147 – UCRC ENT 322149 , UCRC ENT 322151 ) , 4.vi.2011, J.D. Pinto (2♂ UCRC, UCRC ENT 322146 , UCRC ENT 322150 ) , 23.iv.2012, J.D. Pinto (1♂ 2♀ UCRC, UCRC ENT 431703 – UCRC ENT 431704 , UCRC ENT 431712 ) ; Newport [44.659 -124.058], 8.vi.1925, E.C. Van Dyke (1♂ 1♀ EMEC) , 8.vi.1925, E.P. Van Duzee (1♂ 2♀ EMEC) , 24.v.1931, J. Wilcox (2♂ CAS) , 22.v.1932, J. Wilcox (1♂ 1♀ CAS) , 5.vi.1932, J. Wilcox (1♂ EMEC, 1♂ MCZ, 1♂ USNM, USNMENT1100221 ), R.E. Dimick (1♀ CAS) , 12.v.1935, S.E. Crumb (1♂ 3♀ CAS, 1♀ USNM, USNMENT1100223), J. Wilcox (1♂ CAS, 1♂ 1♀ FISH, 1♂ RBCM, 1♂ USNM, USNMENT1100222 ) ; Newport, S side Yaquinna River mouth, dunes E of S. Jetty Road [44.613 -124.069], 8.v.1995, R.A. Cannings & H. Nadel (2♂ 3♀ RBCM) ; Newport, South Beach State Park trailhead, 44.60146 -124.06497, 17.v.2012, T.A. McKnight (1♀ [1 EtOH] TAM) ; Newport, South Beach State Park , dunes S of Yaquina bay jetty, 44.61238 -124.07021, 21.vi.2013, T.A. McKnight (1♂ 2♀ [3 EtOH] TAM, 1♀ [1 EtOH] UMMZ) ; Waldport [44.4333 -124.0836], 5.vi.1925, E.P. Van Duzee (1♀ EMEC) , 4.vi.1941, Schuh & Gray (1♀ RBCM) , 7.vi.1942, R.E. Rieder (1♀ EMEC, 1♂ FISH, 1♂ 1♀ FSCA, 1♀ RBCM), 22.vi.1975, J. Powell (1♀ EMEC) ; Tillamook Co., Bayocean Peninsula , paths W of parking lot at S tip, 45.52013 -123.95093, 18.v.2012, T.A. McKnight (1♂ RBCM, 2♂ 1♀ [1 pr in cop] TAM, 10♂ 1♀ [10 EtOH] UMMZ) ; Nehalem Bay , 3 mi S Manzanita [45.6641 -123.9345], 7.vii.1971, J.R. Powers (1♂ 3♀ CAS) ; Pacific City, Bob Straub State Park , dunes W of parking lot, 45.19247 -123.96828, 18.v.2012, T.A. McKnight (1♂ RBCM, 1♂ TAM, 2♀ [2 EtOH] UMMZ) ; WASHINGTON: Grays Harbor Co., Westport [46.898 -124.129], 28.v.1933, C.H. Martin (1♂ FSCA) ; Westport , dunes S of lighthouse [46.898 -124.129], 16.v.1994, R.A. Cannings (2♂ RBCM) ; Pacific Co., Long Beach [46.353 -124.063], 19.v.1977, V.F. Lee (1♂ CAS) ; Nahcotta [46.501 -124.059], 28.v.1953, T. Kincaid (1♀ WSUC) ; Ocean Park [46.490 -124.058], 2.vi.1954 (1♂ RBCM) , 17.vi.1956, M.T. James (1♂ WSUC) , 18.vi.1956, M.T. James (1♂ WSUC) , 20.vi.1956, M. James, H. James (1♂ 1♀ WSUC) , 21.vi.1956, M.T. James (2♀ RBCM, 2♂ WSUC), M. James, H. James (4♂ 1♀ WSUC) , 28.vi.1956, M.T. & H. James (1♂ RBCM) , 30.vi.1957, M.T. James (1♂ WSUC) ; Seaview, beach dunes at end of 38 th Pl , 46.33028 -124.06361, 30.v.1995, R.A. Cannings (1♂ 3♀ RBCM) .

Etymology. From the Latin tumulus, meaning hillock or mound of earth, and cola meaning inhabitant of; masculine noun in apposition; named to reference the dune-perching behavior of this species, and as a translation of the Cornish surname Knowles (“dweller by the knoll”) in honor of the first author’s PhD advisor Dr. L. Lacey Knowles.

Distribution ( Fig. 41 ) Nearctic; coastal dunes in Oregon and southern Washington. Type locality: U.S.A., Oregon: Lincoln Co., Newport, S side Yaquinna River mouth, dunes E of South Jetty Road.

Phylogenetic Relationships. Member of the bivittatus group in the new bivittatus section (itself equivalent to the bivittatus group sensu Cannings 2002); sister to L. canningsi . The three members of this group ( L. bivittatus , L. canningsi , and L. tumulicola ) form a series of allopatrically distributed populations along the Pacific coastline. Though not dramatically distinct, we have chosen to split this complex because the specimens sort into three discrete groups based primarily on epandrium shape and mitochondrial genome, indicating that gene flow is no longer freely neutral within this group. COI sequences of L. tumulicola are 3.7–4.3% divergent from L. canningsi , and 4.9–6.5% divergent from L. bivittatus .

Natural History. Habitat: Coastal beaches and dunes. Usually perches on the bare sand next to sparse vegetation or in paths through the dunes ( Fig. 6 ), however, we once observed a population where several dozen individuals were found perching on large logs (1 m diameter) in or next to a slow stream within sight of the beach and no individuals were found on the dunes themselves at that site (Oregon: Lane Co.: Sutton Creek). Frequently co-occurs with L. actius , but usually perches on the lee-side of the foredune and in the rest of the backdune field whereas L. actius usually perches on the sea-side and top of the foredune. Recorded flight dates: April 23 to July 7, most from late May through June.

Figures

FIGURE 35. Matrix key of Lasiopogon morphology for species revised in this publication, indicating details of tergite tomentum, major setation, and dissected male genitalia. Taxa are grouped on pages with closely related and visually similar species. (35) L. bitumineus sp. nov., L. bivittatus, L. canningsi sp. nov., L. littoris, L. tumulicola sp. nov.

FIGURES 41–42. Distribution maps of georeferenced records for Lasiopogon species revised in this publication, part 2 of 2. Each map corresponds to one page of the morphology tabular key.

FIGURES 6–13. Representative habitats of coastal sand-perching Lasiopogon species collected for this revision. (6) Oregon: Lincoln Co., Gleneden Beach, NW tip of Salishan Spit, 17.v.2012 (L. actius on foredune, L. tumulicola sp. nov. in backdunes). (7) Washington: Grays Harbor Co., Westhaven State Park, dunes 2 mi NW of Westport, 20.vi.2013 (L. actius). (8) Oregon: Lincoln Co., Newport, Agate Beach State Park dunes, 21.vi.2013 (L. dimicki). (9) California: Humboldt Co., Clam Beach County Park ~5 mi SE of Trinidad, 15.v.2012 (L. canningsi sp. nov.). (10) California: San Mateo Co., Half Moon Bay State Beach, 5.vi.2013 (L. arenicola). (11) California: Monterey Co., Pacific Grove golf course, dunes in SW corner, 11.v.2012 (L. asilomar sp. nov.). (12) California: Santa Barbara Co., Rancho Guadalupe Dunes 1 mi S of parking lot, 9.v.2012 (L. littoris). (13) California: San Luis Obispo Co., Montaña de Oro State Park, dunes @ Sand Spit trailhead, 12.iii.2014 (L. bitumineus sp. nov., L. littoris weeks later).