Lasiopogon californicus Cole & Wilcox

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 : 47-49

Lasiopogon californicus Cole & Wilcox

Lasiopogon californicus Cole & Wilcox, 1938: 31 .

Diagnosis. ( Fig. 32 ) A medium-sized species from the coastal range of central and northern California; setae of mystax, upper head, and scutum dark brown/black except some white setae on antennal scape; dorsocentral and acrostichal stripes weakly apparent; tergites with brown tomentum basally, grey tomentum over apical 30–50%, in male basal brown as straight band, in female grey extends forward to divide brown into lateral spots; lateral setae on tergites 5–7 (4–7 in female) dark brown, other tergites with white lateral setae. Epandrial halves in dorsal view moderately curved, in lateral view dorsal margin gradually curving ventrally to rounded apicoventral corner; phallus dorsal carina triangular, not extended apically; gonostylus dorsomedially flattened, similar to dumbbell. Ovipositor dark brown/black, hypogynial valves reddish at base, acanthophorite spines black.

Redescription. Body length ♂ 7.7–9.8mm; ♀ 8.0–11.0mm. Head. HW ♂ 1.87–2.22mm; ♀ 1.95–2.46mm. FW ♂ 0.40–0.43mm; ♀ 0.39–0.47mm. VW ♂ 0.82–0.95mm; ♀ 0.89–1.07mm. VW/HW = ♂ 0.42–0.47; ♀ 0.41–0.48. FW/VW = ♂ 0.44–0.49; ♀ 0.41–0.48. VD/VW = ♂ 0.09–0.15; ♀ 0.07–0.14. GH/GL = ♂ 0.35–0.47; ♀ 0.32–0.50. Face yellow-grey, vertex brown. Ventral setae (on beard, labium, palps) white; mystax and dorsal setae black. Frontal and orbital setae long (reach basal quarter of postpedicel), ocellar setae indistinct among other setae; occipital setae moderately long (to 0.6mm), relatively straight. Antennae. Black with faint grey tomentum. Setae on scape white, on pedicel black; no setae on postpedicel. Postpedicel long, with straight dorsal and slightly curved ventral margins; stylus slender. WPP/LPP = ♂ 0.27–0.28; ♀ 0.22–0.29. LAS/LPP ♂ 0.50–0.60; ♀ 0.41–0.61. Thorax. Prothorax grey, with white setae; postpronotum brown-grey with white setae medially and black setae laterally. Scutum tomentum brown; dorsocentral and acrostichal stripes slightly darker. Fine setae and macrosetae of scutum black, except a few white short setae along apical margins. Dorsocentral macrosetae relatively long (to 0.9mm) and strong, anteriors 3–5; posteriors 4; postalars 2–3, with several finer setae; supra-alars 2–3; presuturals 2–3; posthumerals 0–1. Scutellar tomentum brown; apical macrosetae black, 4–8 on each half, with several finer setae; short vertical setae on uppermost edge of rim black, about half as long as main macrosetae. Pleural tomentum grey-brown. Katatergite setae black, 6–9, with a few fine short white setae; katepisternal setae white, mid-length; anepisternal setae 4–8, black (to 0.8mm), with several short fine black setae on dorsal margin and a few white setae in posteroventral corner; anepimeron with 4 fine white setae. Legs. Cuticle black, with thin grey tomentum except bare at femur joints. No coxal peg. Coxae with white setae. Fine setae white on femur except apically and tibia ventrally; black elsewhere; macrosetae black. Ventral setae on femur longer than width of femur; dorsolateral macrosetae fine and difficult to distinguish from surrounding setae, profemur with 6–11; mesofemur 6–7; metafemur 14–16. Protibia with ventral macrosetae fine, only 3 times longer than tibial width; dense patch of short yellow macrosetae on inside of protibia, none on metatibia. Claws chestnut over basal 70%, black apically. Wings. Veins dark brown; membrane hyaline, but faintly brown when viewed obliquely. DCI = 0.25–0.54, most between 0.36–0.48. Halter knob cream, without spot, stem light brown. Abdomen. Male. Tergite cuticle dark brown/ black. Brown tomentum over tergite bases; bands of grey tomentum cover apical 30–50% of each tergite, extending anteriorly along lateral margins (segment 1 fully covered in grey) but not dorsally. Tergite 1 with 2–6 black macrosetae, 1 white macroseta; lateral setae white, on tergites 1–3 as long as halter, on tergite 4 as long as scape + pedicel, on tergites 5–7 mostly black and as long as scape; dorsal setulae black, short. Sternite tomentum grey, setae white. Female. As in male, except grey tomentum extends anteriorly along midline to divide brown tomentum into two lateral spots; lateral setae on tergite 4 black; as long as scape + pedicel on tergites 1–3, shorter than scape on tergites 4–7. Male genitalia. Epandrium and hypandrium/gonocoxite complex cuticle dark brown/black; covered in grey tomentum, except polished medially on hypandrium; epandrium with moderately long and erect black setae, setal brush dark brown. Epandrium elongate, in lateral view the width 47% the length, widest in basal third, with dorsal margin gradually curving ventrally down to rounded apicoventral corner; in dorsal view moderately curved, tapering to apex; basal sclerite strong. Phallus paramere sheath dorsally 50% the length of phallus; paramere sheath without ventral ornamentation; dorsal carina a triangular fin that does not protrude apically and rejoins paramere sheath well before apex. Ejaculatory apodeme in lateral view long and narrow, gently bent dorsally, sometimes recurved at apex, with narrow dorsal carina. Subepandrial sclerite with triangular central unsclerotized area in basal 47% narrowing to a slender gap in central portion; spines parallel-sided, blunt, densely arranged in basal half, sparse apically.

Female genitalia. Undissected: Tergite and sternite 8 polished dark brown; hypogynial valves orange at base, short; short erect setae on tergite and sternite 8 white; cerci setae white; lateral lobe macrosetae black; acanthophorite spines black.

Type Material. HOLOTYPE (photos examined) ♂ labelled: “[rectangular beige label] StanU Cal/ 12 May 1921 ”;”[rectangular red label] HOLOTYPE / Lasiopogon / californicus/ Cole & Wilcox”; “[rectangular white label] California Academy/ of Sciences/ Type No. 6408”; “[rectangular white label] ALLOTYPE IS STORED/ IN THE/ GENERAL COLLECTION”. CAS.

PARATYPES (19 specimens examined): U.S.A.: CALIFORNIA: Alameda Co., Sunol [37.588 -121.8915], 15.v.1922 (1♂ FISH) ; Monterey Co., Bradley [35.864 -120.809], 23.v.1920, E.P. VanDuzee (1♂ EMEC) ; San Mateo Co., Stanford University [37.4129 -122.1925], 11.iv.1906, J.M. Aldrich (3♂ 2♀ EMEC, 1♀ FISH, 1♂ RBCM), 30.iv.1920, F.R. Cole (1♂ FISH) , 5.v.1920 (1♂ FISH) , 12.v.1921 (1♀ FISH) , 20.v.1921 (1♀ CAS [allotype]) ; Santa Clara Co., Palo Alto [37.442 -122.109], 29.iv.1906, J.M. Aldrich (1♂ 1? EMEC) ; Sonoma Co., Cloverdale [38.8053 -123.0058], 9.v.1926 (2♂ EMEC, 1♂ 1♀ FISH) .

Other Material Examined (101 specimens). U.S.A.: CALIFORNIA: Alameda Co., Niles , 1 mi NE [37.586 -121.962], 15.iii.1962, J. Doyen (1♂ EMEC) ; Colusa Co., Bear Creek jct Cache Creek [38.9269 -122.3334], 19.iv.1954, R.C. Bechtel (1♂ FSCA) ; Contra Costa Co., Danville , 17.iv.1952, F.X. Williams (1♀ FISH) , 21.iv.1952, F.X. Williams (2♀ FISH) , 8.v.1952, F.X. Williams (2♂ CAS, 4♂ 7♀ FISH), 9.v.1952, F.X. Williams (1♂ 1♀ CAS) ; Danville, San Ramon Creek [37.828 -122.031], 29.iv.1949, F.X. Williams (1♂ 1♀ FISH) , 16.vi.1951, F.X. Williams (1♀ FISH) , 17.vi.1951, F.X. Williams (2♂ 1♀ [1 pr in cop] FISH) ; Walnut Creek [37.901 -122.059], 21.iv.1940, C.D. Michener (1♀ FISH) , 22.iv.1940, E.S. Ross (1♂ 1♀ CAS, 4♂ 1♀ FISH) ; Humboldt Co., Richardson Grove , 5 mi N [40.058 -123.785], 12.vi.1959, T.R. Haig (1♂ FISH) ; Lake Co., Rice Fork Eel River near Bear Creek [39.327 -122.871], 23.iv.1987, Baumann, Stark, Nelson, Wells (1♂ BYU) ; Mendocino Co., Albion [39.227 -123.764], vi.1965, S. Chang (1♂ LACM, LACM ENT 334022 ) , vii.1965, G. Kessler (1♂ FISH) ; Hendy Woods State Park, Navarro River , 39.07694 -123.47194, 12.vi.2009, E.M. & J. Fisher (4♂ 2♀ [2 EtOH] RBCM, 1♂ TAM) ; Smithe Redwood Grove, Eel River [39.898 -123.752], 18.vi.1979, L.G. Bezark (1♂ 1♀ [1 pr in cop] BEZA) ; Monterey Co., [no loc], 24.iv.1993, M. Petroelje (1♂ LACM, LACM ENT 334123 ) ; King City along E side Salinas River [36.206 -121.154], 17.iv.1990, D.W. Webb, M.E. Irwin (3♂ 2♀ INHS) ; Napa Co., Monticello [38.578 -122.207], 16.iv.1952, E.I. Schlinger (1♂ FISH) ; San Luis Obispo Co., Paso Robles, Salinas River E bank [35.642 -120.683], 17.iv.1990, D.W. Webb, M.E. Irwin (1♀ INHS) ; Simmler , 10 mi W [35.387 -120.151], 3.v.1962, R.L. Langston (2♂ 1♀ FISH) , 5.v.1962, R.W. Thorp (1♀ FISH) ; Templeton, Salinas River [35.555 -120.694], 28.v.1991, M.E. Irwin (1♂ INHS) ; San Mateo Co., Stanford University [37.413 -122.193], 11.iv.1906, J.M. Aldrich (2♂ USNM, USNMENT1100066–USNMENT1100067), 20.v.1910 (1♂ LACM, LACM ENT 334079 ) , v.1921 (1♀ LACM, LACM ENT 334074 ) ; Solano Co., Pleasants Creek jct Putah Creek Rd, 4 mi SW Winters, 38.48078 -122.02738, C.E. Herbert (3♂ 1♀ [4 EtOH] TAM) ; Winters, Putah Creek @ jct Winters Rd and Putah Creek Rd, 38.5204 -121.9675, 12.v.2012, T.A. McKnight & E.M. Fisher (1♂ [1 EtOH] UMMZ) ; Sonoma Co., Geyserville [38.713 -122.896], 20.v.1957, S.M. Fidel (1♀ FSCA) ; Stanislaus Co., Del Puerto Canyon, Frank Raines Park , 335 m [37.423 -121.382], 29.iv.1973, P.H. Arnaud Jr. (1♂ USNM, USNMENT1100394 ) ; Yolo Co., Davis [38.518 -121.770], 4.iv.1951, R.C. Bechtel (1♀ FSCA) , 23.iv.1951, A.T. McClay (1♂ CAS, 1♂ FISH), 8.v.1951, R.C. Bechtel (1♂ FISH) , 27.vi.1951, E.L. Schlinger (2♀ FISH) , J.G. Hall (1♀ FISH) , 24.v.1956, J.C. Hall (1♂ FISH) , 22.iv.1959, J.R. Powers (1♂ FISH) ; Putah Canyon [38.514 -122.072], 21.iv.1949, H.E. Cott (1♀ FSCA) , 13.iv.1950, A.T. McClay (1♂ FSCA) , 15.iv.1952, W.J. Wall (1♂ FISH) ; Putah Creek Canyon, Putah Creek below Monticello Dam , Hwy 128, 38.51389 -122.07194, 24.v.1995, R.A. Cannings, H. Nadel (7♂ 9♀ RBCM, 1♂ 1♀ TAM) .

Taxonomic Notes. Specimens of this species have frequently been confused or lumped with L. drabicolum , L. odontotus sp. nov., L. sierra sp. nov., and L. zonatus . Figures and references to L. californicus in Cannings (2002) actually depict L. odontotus .

Etymology. No explanation given in the original description, but evidently refers to California, as the species is endemic to the central portion of the state.

Distribution ( Fig. 38 ) Nearctic; USA, California; interior lowlands and foothills. Type locality: U.S.A., California, Santa Clara Co., Palo Alto, Stanford University campus.

Phylogenetic Relationships. Member of the bivittatus section, drabicolum group.

Natural History. Habitat: stream sides. Found perching on small stones (~ 10 cm diameter) 1–5 m from water’s flow ( Fig. 28 ), labels note “on boulders in rocky creek”, “on bare sand”, “on sandbar”, and “algal mat”. Dates collected: 29 March to 27 August. A specimen of Myelaphus melas Bigot 1882 (Asilidae) was plucked from the water at Putah Creek in Winters on the same afternoon that we collected L. californicus on the bank.

Figures

FIGURE 32. 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. L. drabicolum, L. esau sp. nov. (32) L. anaphlecter sp. nov.

FIGURES 37–40. Distribution maps of georeferenced records for Lasiopogon species revised in this publication, part 1 of 2. Each map corresponds to one page of the morphology tabular key.

FIGURES 22–29. Representative habitats of inland rock-perching Lasiopogon species collected for this revision. (22) Nevada: Washoe Co., Mogul, Truckee River @ Mayberry Crossing Park, 13-14.v.2012 (L. sierra sp. nov.). (23) California: Shasta Co., Little Cow Creek, Hwy 299 turnoff 4.2 km SW jct Oak Run Road, 14.v.2012 (L. sierra sp. nov.). (24) California: Mariposa Co., Summerdale campground, Big Creek, 22.v.2016 (L. anaphlecter sp. nov.). (25) California: Madera Co., Willow Creek, pools by Angle Falls parking lot, 1 mi N of Bass Lake, 22.v.2016 (L. anaphlecter sp. nov.). (26) California: Los Angeles Co., Big Tujunga River, 4 km NE of Sunland, 7.iii.2014 (L. nelsoni sp. nov.). (27) California: Los Angeles Co., Rock Creek Wash jct Valyermo Rd, 4 mi SE of Pearblossom, 8.iii.2014 (L. nelsoni sp. nov.). (28) California: Solano Co., Winters, Putah Creek @ jct Winters Rd and Putah Creek Rd, 12.v.2012 (L. californicus). (29) California: San Diego Co., San Luis Rey River, 5 km SE of Pauma Valley city, 6.iii.2013 (L. gabrieli).