Amiota byersi, 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 : 91-92

Amiota byersi , sp. nov.

Figures 47A–B , 48A , 49 , 90B

DIAGNOSIS: Large fly (ThL 1.49–1.70 mm); cheek wide (EL/CW 16–28); middle tibia with comb of ~15 setae; hind tibia with comb of ~10 setae; aedeagal apodeme deeply lobed with lateral concavities; subepandrial sclerite with elaborate subepandrial appendage having 1 dorsal and 2 broad, lateral processes; dorsal process bifurcated; lateral process bearing a serrated distal edge; similar to A. subtusradiata Duda and Amiota tibialis , but greatly differing in the appendage of the subepandrial sclerite.

DESCRIPTION: Large fly (ThL 1.49–1.70 mm), black, glossy; legs yellow. Ventral portion of frons and orbital plate tawny, dorsal half of frons black. Eye with anterior margin evenly convex; posterior margin flattened. Cheek wide (EL/CW 16–28), white posteriorly. Facial marking large, almost semicircular, depth 0.5× width. Middle tibia with comb composed of ~15 setae (length of longest ones ~0.7× tibia width). Hind tibia with comb composed of ~10 setae (length of longest ones ~0.8× width of tibia). Tergites 1 and 2 lightly colored. Arista: Very long, plumose; longest branch D2; A.R. 0.5; 5 long dorsal, 2 long ventral branches; branch D4 pointed laterad; arista trunk with medium length microtrichia along entire length. Male genitalia: Epandrium distinct, separated at midline, margins discrete (not grading into membrane). Cercus oval, margins discrete from surrounding membrane; most space surrounded by epandrium is dorsal to cerci. Surstylus roughly square; midregion with many scattered setulae; lateral fingerlike projection present, extending barely beyond prensisetae, long setulae continuing up lateral margin; 12 prensisetae, apices blunt, even lengths and spaces, comblike. Subepandrial sclerite with prominent subepandrial appendage; in lateral view with 1 dorsal process and 2 lateral processes; dorsal process laterally bifurcated, the most posterior bifurcation serrated; distal margin of lateral process with small, rounded teeth; posterior view of subepandrial appendage invaginated in appearance, surrounded by prominent striated membrane. Outer paraphyses long, symmetrical, sclerotized, bent 90° near base, oriented posteriorly, distal end tapered. Inner paraphyses smaller, sinuous, projecting anterolaterally. Aedeagal apodeme as long as wide, constricted on 4 sides; the base forming deep-pocketed lobes. Hypandrium nearly V-shaped, the anterior apex with a prominent convex point; lateral arms thickened with a wide, nearly triangular gonopod. Ejaculatory apodeme large, equal to length of epandrium. Head and thorax measurements: (n = 5; Am 294, 295, 401, 434, 1349) FL/FW 0.75 (0.68– 0.80), EL/EW 1.31 (1.22–1.38), EL/CW 22.27 (16–28), FML/FMW 0.38 (0.35–0.41), PR /RR 0.46 (0.33–0.57), ThL 1.61 (1.49–1.70 mm).

TYPE MATERIAL: Holotype: male: “Wayne” Co., Mich., [42.269878, -83.322396], “Aug. 8” 19 “59,” Geo. Steyskal, “#8,” Am 294, [pinned via minuten, dissected]. Deposited in the American Museum of Natural History ( AMNH). Paratype: “Wayne” Co., Mich., “Aug. 16,” 19 “59,” Geo. Steyskal, “#8,” 1♂ (Am 295*, AMNH).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: USA: Illinois: Iroquois Co., Iroquois Co. Cons. Area, 6.4 mi ENE Beaverville, 1990-09-02, leg. E.A. Lisowski, 1♂ (Am 1595*, INHS). North Carolina: Highlands, Whitesides Cove, 2000′, 1957-08-11, leg. J.G. Chillcott, 1♂ (Am 1349*, CNC). Pennsylvania: Swarthmore, 1907-08-25, leg. C.L. Fox, 1♂ (Am 401*, CAS). Virginia: Floyd Co., #1, Mile 175.4 Blue Ridge Parkway, 1960-06-23, leg. G.W. Byers, 1♂ (Am 434*, SEMC).

ETYMOLOGY: Named for George W. Byers (1923–2018), late professor of entomology at the University of Kansas who collected one of the specimens of this rare species; in recognition of his contributions to the study of Diptera and Mecoptera and, as one of us (D.A.G.) remembers him, a true, affable gentleman.

DISTRIBUTION: This species is found in the northern Midwest and Mid-Atlantic.

COMMENTS: It is unknown whether this species is attracted to the face and eyes as other Amiota .

Figures

FIG. 47. Heads and lateral views, A. subtusradiata species group. A–B. A. byersi, sp. nov. (Am 295, paratype, lateral image flipped). C–D. A. tibialis, sp. nov. (Am 495).

FIG. 48. Aristae, A. subtusradiata species group. A. A. byersi. B. A. tibialis, sp. nov. Not to the same scale.

FIG. 49. Male terminalia, A. byersi. A. Epandrium and cerci. B. Ejaculatory apodeme. C–D. Subepandrial appendage. C. Entire. D. Detail of apex, ventral view. E. Outer paraphysis, lateral. F. Surstylus. G. Subepandrial appendage, detail of apex. H. Aedeagal apodeme. I. Sternite 6 sac. (Am 294, holotype).

FIG. 90. Distribution maps, A. rufescens species group. A. A. tessae. A. subtusradiata species group. B. A. byersi. C. A. tibialis.