Amiota avipes, 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 : 66-72

Amiota avipes , sp. nov.

Figures 34A–B , 37A , 38B, E, G, I , 87A

DIAGNOSIS: Medium-sized fly (ThL 1.17– 1.24 mm), dark blackish brown fading lighter ventrally; facial marking thin, width 0.25× length; characteristic markings on postpronotal lobe and under wing base small, fading near margins; surstylus with short secondary row of 4 prensisetae; outer paraphyses symmetrical, short, stout, heavily sclerotized, with 2 short apical spines, winglike basal projection, pointed laterally; inner paraphysis lost; length of ejaculatory apodeme equal to height of epandrium.

DESCRIPTION: Medium-sized fly (ThL 1.17– 1.24 mm), dark blackish brown fading to lighter ventrally, including katepisternum; legs light yellow. Characteristic markings on postpronotal lobe and under wing base small, fading near margins. Frons dark blackish brown, black near ptilinal suture, overall with faint bluish pollinosity. White facial marking thin, width 0.25× length. Cheek relatively wide (EL/CW 9.5–11), yellowish. Palp yellow. Tergites 1 and 2 lightly colored. Arista: Medium, plumose; longest branch D4; A.R. 0.35; 7 dorsal branches, grading to shortest one apically; 3–4 short ventral branches; no branches pointed significantly mediad or laterad; arista trunk with mediumlength microtrichia to apex. Male genitalia: Epandrium dorsally complete, ventral margin in this area graded into membrane below; row of ~6 setae leading near posterior margin. Cercus long, pendulous, dorsally grading into membrane and epandrium; lateral margins of cercus discrete; cercus large, occupying virtually all space surrounded by epandrium. Surstylus with even row of 8–9 prensisetae, apices blunt; second row of 4 prensisetae dorsally, apices slightly pointed, widely spaced; setulae along ventral margin and midpoint of surstylus. Subepandrial sclerite well developed; subepandrial appendage pyramidal, pointed at tip. Outer paraphysis laterally flattened, heavily sclerotized, short, stout, with 2 pointed apical lobes and small group of sensilla at base of lower lobe; low carina immediately basal to group of sensilla; winglike basal projection, with faint distal striations, oriented laterally. Inner paraphysis lost. Aedeagal apodeme constricted on all sides, curved 90° in lateral view; basal margins wider than distal end. Hypandrium circular, apex with small gap; lateral arms thick, bulging outward anteriorly and posteriorly; membranous connection with 2 pairs small membranous lobes between lateral arms and paraphyses. Ejaculatory apodeme as long as height of epandrium, stalk thick. Head and thorax measurements: (n = 3; Am 1453, 1496, 1514) FL/FW 0.50 (0.45–0.53), EL/EW 1.27 (1.25–1.29), EL/CW 10.3 (9.5–11), FML/ FMW 0.26 (0.23–0.29), PR /RR 0.48 (0.44–0.50), ThL 1.20 (1.17–1.24 mm).

TYPE MATERIAL: Holotype: male: 14 mi. SW. El Salto, Dgo. [Durango] MEX., [23.786449, -105.597725], 8000′, June “26” 1964, J.F. McAlpine, attracted to man, Am 1453, [glued directly to pin, dissected]. Deposited in the Canadian National Collection ( CNC). Paratypes: 14 mi. SW. El Salto, Dgo. [Durango] MEX., 8000′, June “9” 1964, J.F. McAlpine, attracted to man, 2♂ (Am 1496*, 1514*, CNC).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: Known only from the type series.

ETYMOLOGY:Formed from Latin avis for “bird” and pes for “foot.” Used as a noun in apposition. In reference to the paraphyses, in lateral view, resembling an outstretched bird’s foot.

DISTRIBUTION: Amiota avipes is currently only known from Durango State.

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

Figures

FIG. 34. Heads and lateral views, A. avipes species group. A–B. A. avipes, sp. nov. (Am 1514, paratype). C–D. A. biacuminis, sp. nov. (Am 1494, paratype). E–F. A. forceps, sp. nov. (Am 1452, holotype).

FIG. 37. Aristae, A. avipes species group. A. A. avipes. B. A. biacuminis. C. A. forceps. D, F. A. minor (Malloch). E, G. A. onyx. H–I. A. pseudominor. Not to the same scale.

FIG. 38. Male terminalia, A. onyx. A, C–D, F, H. A. Posterior view. C. Aedeagal apodeme. D. Lateral view. F. Outer paraphysis, lateral. H. Surstylus. (Am 1505, holotype). Male terminalia, A. avipes. B, E, G, I. B. Posterior view of genitalia. E. Lateral view. G. Outer paraphysis, lateral. I. Surstyli. (Am 1453, holotype).

FIG. 87. Distribution maps, A. avipes species group. A. A. avipes. B. A. biacuminis. C. A. forceps.