Amiota latilabrum, 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 : 100-104

Amiota latilabrum , sp. nov.

Figures 51C–D , 53B , 55 , 60A , 91B

DIAGNOSIS: Large fly (ThL 1.75–1.84 mm), dark brown and glossy; outer paraphysis heavily sclerotized, apex with hook, in lateral view with 2 long spines on posterodorsal margin, proximal spine longer, usually curving inward medially, nearly touching opposing appendage; base forming a tapered wing, curving medially in ventral; very similar to Amiota subnebojsa , but differs as follows: cercus smaller; surstylus less crescentic, apical lobe slightly longer (vs. shorter) than prensisetae; aedeagal apodeme shorter relative to its width; subepandrial sclerite appendage shape less cordate; basal paraphysis spine without small apical notch; ejaculatory apodeme slightly longer (vs. shorter) than depth of epandrium.

DESCRIPTION: Large fly (ThL 1.75–1.84 mm), dark brown, uniformly so, glossy; legs yellow. Facial marking large, semicircular. Cheek wide (EL/CW 8.50–11.57), milky white posteriorly. Palp dark brown. Tergites 1 and 2 lightly colored. Arista: Short, plumose; longest branch D3; A.R. 0.28; graded series 7–8 dorsal branches shortening distad, 1 short ventral branch; none pointed mediad/laterad; arista trunk with medium-length microtrichia along entire length. Male genitalia: Epandrium nearly split medially, not grading with surrounding membrane; dense cluster of setae ventrally, ascending in a single line toward apex; small lobe projecting on anterolateral margin. Cercus oval shaped, distinct from surrounding membrane; barely protruding beyond distal margin of epandrium in lateral view. Surstylus roughly triangular, ventral half with scattered setulae; 13 peglike prensisetae, apices blunt, comblike; distallateral fingerlike lobe present, length equal to that of prensisetae. Subepandrial sclerite large, broad, trapezoidal, lateral margins thickened; C-shaped in lateral view; subepandrial appendage well developed, apex with thin, mucronate point (in lateral view), subcordate in posterior view. Outer paraphysis heavily sclerotized, formed of 2 lobes, split deeply medially, apex laterally flattened; distal end with sharply curved hook in lateral view, ventrally with preapical lobe; dorsal margin with 2 long spines, distal spine shorter, basal spine curving medially in some specimens; lobes at base in ventral view. Inner paraphysis lost. Aedeagal apodeme nearly wide as long, curved in lateral view; distal end widely flared with a broad emargination. Hypandrium U-shaped, thickness consistent; apex notched, accommodating outer paraphyses; lateral arm with gonopod, oriented posteroventrally. Ejaculatory apodeme very large, equal to or slightly longer than length/depth of epandrium. Head and thorax measurements: (n = 5; Am 2, 3, 5, 1426, 1525) FL/FW 0.72 (0.66–0.77), EL/EW 1.32 (1.22–1.42), EL/CW 10.09 (8.50– 11.57), FML/FMW 0.41 (0.34–0.54), PR /RR 0.57 (0.54–0.70), ThL 1.79 (1.75–1.84 mm).

TYPE MATERIAL: Holotype: male: “ 9 mi. SE.” Huachinango, Puebla MEX., [20.062775, -97.962064], M Wasserman, WB Heed, “ June 1952,” 2260:13, Am 2, [glued to paper point, dissected]. Deposited in the American Museum of Natural History ( AMNH). Paratypes: “ 9 mi. SE.” Huachinango, Puebla MEX., M Wasserman, WB Heed, “ June 1952,” 2260:13, 2♂ (Am 3*, 5*, AMNH).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: Mexico: Chiapas: 5 mi. W San Cristobal , 7500′, 1969-05-06, leg. H.J. Teskey, 1♂ (Am 1426*, CNC) ; 20 mi N. Bochil, Yerba Buena , 6500′, 1969-06-09 through 1969-06-10, leg. W. R. M. Mason, 1♂ (Am 1264*, CNC) . Durango: 14 mi. SW El Salto , 8000′, 1964-06-26, leg. J.F. McAlpine, attracted to man, 1♂ (Am 1525*, CNC) . Sinaloa: El Palmito, 6400′, 1964-07-02, leg. J.F. McAlpine, 1♂ (Am 1518*, CNC) .

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin latus for “wide” and labrum for “lip.” Used as a noun in apposition. In reference to the characteristic wide facial marking of this species.

DISTRIBUTION: Amiota latilabrum occurs widely throughout Mexico including the states of Chiapas, Durango, Sinaloa, and Puebla.

COMMENTS: This species exhibits the characteristic behavior of attraction to the eyes and face common to many Amiota .

Figures

FIG. 51. Heads and lateral views, A. nebojsa species group. A–B. A. amputata, sp. nov. (Am 4, lateral image flipped). C–D. A. latilabrum, sp. nov. (Am 2, holotype, lateral image flipped). E–F. A. nebojsa Máca (Am 10, lateral image flipped).

FIG. 53. Aristae, A. nebojsa species group. A. A. amputata, sp. nov. B. A. latilabrum, sp. nov. C–D. A. nebojsa Máca. E. A. occidentalis, sp. nov. F–G. A. oviraptor, sp. nov. H. A. subnebojsa, sp. nov. Not to the same scale.

FIG. 55. Male terminalia, A. latilabrum. A. Surstylus. B. Ejaculatory apodeme. C. Lateral view. D. Aedeagal apodeme. E. Subepandrial sclerite and appendage, paraphyses, hypandrium, ventral view. (Am 2, holotype).

FIG. 60. Outer paraphyses of the nebojsa species group, lateral view. A. A. latilabrum. B. A. subnebojsa. C. A. occidentalis. D. A. amputata. E. A. nebojsa Máca. All to same scale.

FIG. 91. Distribution maps, A. nebojsa species group. A. A. amputata. B. A. latilabrum. C. A. nebojsa Máca.