Amiota minor ( Malloch, 1921 )

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 : 74-77

Amiota minor ( Malloch, 1921)

Figures 35A–B , 37D, F , 40 , 88A

Phortica minor Malloch, 1921: 312 (original description).

Amiota minor (Malloch), 1924: 30 (comb. nov. by Malloch and male genitalia figured); Wheeler, 1949: 260 (discussion); Wheeler, 1952: 169 (discussion and key to Nearctic species); Wheeler, 1965: 761 (Nearctic catalog); Wheeler and Takada, 1971: 226 (male genitalia figured); Máca, 2003: 263–264 (discussion and male genitalia figured); Brake and Bächli, 2008: 253 (world catalog).

DIAGNOSIS: Very small to medium-sized fly (ThL 0.95–1.23 mm); light honey-golden to dark brown in color, abdomen dark brown or almost black; characteristic white markings of genus entirely absent or very faint; middle tibia with comb of ~10 setae; outer paraphysis forming forked structure (in lateral view); inner paraphysis lost; aedeagal apodeme broad and almost circular.

DESCRIPTION: Very small to medium-sized fly (ThL 0.95–1.23 mm); light honey-golden to dark brown in color, abdomen dark brown or almost black; legs yellow to nearly white. Characteristic white markings of genus on face, beneath wing base, and postpronotal lobe entirely absent or very faint. Frons dark brown, nearly black, except orbital plate. Cheek small (EL/CW 13.25–20.33), variable in coloration. Palp yellow to brown. Katepisternum lighter than rest of pleuron. Middle tibia with comb composed of ~10 setae, length of longest setae ~0.7× width of tibia. Tergite 1 lightly colored. Arista: Long, plumose; longest branch D4; A.R. 0.48; 4 long dorsal, 3 shorter ventral branches; branch V1 pointed anteriad, V2 pointed mediad; arista trunk with mediumlength to long microtrichia. Male genitalia: Epandrium dorsally complete, fused at midline and grading into membrane surrounding cerci. Cercus relatively large, oval shaped, fused dorsally with surrounding membrane (most margins are discrete); large gap laterally, no obvious membrane between cercus and epandrium. Surstylus short, handlike; 4–7 short prensisetae, apices blunt, arranged on rounded edge; widely spaced, space size increasing laterally. Subepandrial sclerite large, broad, and with upturned subepandrial appendage having a pair of ostia. Outer paraphysis forming a forked structure (as seen in lateral view); left and right side appear unfused in anterior view: well sclerotized; with 1 spine directed forward, the other backward, plus a thicker, lobelike structure dorsally. Inner paraphysis lost. Aedeagal apodeme broad, width nearly equal to length; distal end circular, concave depression absent. Hypandrium simple, with apical notch. Ejaculatory apodeme 0.5× depth of epandrium. Head and thorax measurements: (n = 5; Am 39, 230, 242, 365, 720) FL/FW 0.63 (0.56–0.77), EL/EW 1.38 (1.26–1.45), EL/ CW 17.04 (13.25–20.33), FML/FMW 0.33 (0.25– 0.45), PR /RR 0.49 (0.30–0.62), ThL 1.08 (0.95– 1.23 mm).

TYPE MATERIAL: Holotype: male: “Dubois, June 5, 20,” [white label, computer printed] INHS Insect Collection 238.816, [red label] “Holotype, Phortica minor Malloch , ♂,” [38.220808, -89.211255], [glued to point, not dissected], [examined]. Deposited in the Illinois Natural History Survey ( INHS) . Paratypes: Du Bois Ill., June 3, 1919, Am 1611, [blue label] PARATYPE “ Phortica minor Malloch ♂,” [examined]. Deposited in the Illinois Natural History Survey ( INHS) ; Dubois, August 12, 1920, [not seen in collection], sex unknown. Deposited in the Illinois Natural History Survey ( INHS) .

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: Canada: Manitoba: Max Lake, Turtle Mtn. For. Res. , 1958-07-30, leg. J.G. Chillcott, 1♀ (Am 1433, CNC) . New Brunswick: Priceville , 1971-07-20, leg. B. V. Peterson, 1♂ (Am 1442, CNC) ; Renous , 1965-07-11, leg. D.M. Wood, 1♂ (Am 1573, CNC) . Ontario: Algonquin Province Park, Scott Lake , 1994-08-06, leg. S.A. Marshall, maple forest sweep, 1♂ (Am 566*, DEBU) ; Algonquin Provincial Park, W. R.S., 1994-06-28, leg. R. Bonduriansky, [not female as label suggests], 1♂ (Am 606, DEBU) ; 1994-07-15, [collector unknown], 1♂ (Am 605, DEBU) ; Bruce Co., Bruce Peninsula National Park, High Dump Trail , 2000-07-07, leg. S. Paiero, debu00079793, sweep, 1♂ (Am 618, DEBU) ; Bruce Co., Dunks Bay , 2000-07-23 through 2000- 07-27, leg. S.A. Marshall, swarming face, debu00079592, 1♂ (Am 616, DEBU) ; 2000-07-23 through 2000-07-27, leg. S.A. Marshall, debu00079460, 1♂ (Am 620, DEBU) ; 2000-07-23 through 2000-07-28, leg. S.A. Marshall, debu00079468, 1♂ (Am 617, DEBU) ; Grand Bend , 1939-07-05, leg. G.E. Shewell, 1♂ (Am 1341, CNC) ; Lanark Co., N. Burgess Twp., 1967-06-11, leg. D.M. Wood, 4♂ (Am 1569–1572, CNC) ; Leeds Co., Chaffeys Locks , 1973-06-21, leg. P. Ward, attracted to Homo sapiens, 3♂ (Am 1574–1576, CNC) ; Mer Bleue , 2014-08-23, leg. O. Lonsdale, CNC380700 , 1♂ (Am 1198, CNC) ; Lyn , 1926-08-10, leg. G.S. Walley, 1♂ (Am 1338, CNC) ; Near Picton , 1970-07- 07, leg. J.F. McAlpine, 2♂ (Am 1195, 1196, CNC) ; Noelville , 1974-08-10, leg. R. E. Roughley, 4♂ and 1♀ (Am 548*, 550*, 551, 552*, 553, 554, DEBU) ; Ottawa , 1974-08-18, leg. J. R. Vockeroth, 1♂ (Am 1578, CNC) ; 1974-08-21, leg. J. R. Vockeroth, 1♂ (Am 1298, CNC) ; 1994-09-13, leg. J. R. Vockeroth, damp second-growth, Acer-Betula wood, 1♀ (Am 1394, CNC) ; Picton , 1970-07-07, leg. J.F. McAlpine, 2♂ (Am 1558, 1559, CNC) ; Sandbanks Pk, nr Picton , 1970-07-01, leg. J.F. McAlpine, 5♂ (Am 1562, 1563, 1565, 1566, 1568, CNC) ; Simcoe , 1939-06-26, leg. G.E. Shewell, 2♂ (Am 1339, 1340, CNC) ; Smith’s Bay , Nr. Picton, 1970-01-07, leg. J.F. McAlpine, 8♂ (Am 1181, 1182, 1184, 1186, 1188, 1191, 1192, 1208, CNC) ; S. March, 1962-06-16, leg. J. R. Vockeroth, 1♂ (Am 1533, CNC) . Quebec: Abbotsford , 1937-06-14, leg. G. Shewell, 3♂ (Am 1332– 1334, CNC) ; 1936-08-30, leg. G. Shewell, 1♂ (Am 1323, CNC) ; 1934-07-24, leg. C.E. Bourgalt, 1♂ (Am 1307, CNC) ; Aylmer , 1924-06-27, leg. C.H. Curran, 2♂ (Am 1306, 1322, CNC) ; 1924-08-08, leg. C.H. Curran, C.H. Curran Collection Acc. 31144, 1♂ (Am 373, AMNH) ; Duncan Lake nr. Rupert , 1988-08-08, leg. J.F. McAlpine, hovering at my ear, 7♂ (Am 1400, 1401, 1403–1407, CNC) ; Hull , 1965- 08-05, leg. B. V. Peterson, 1♂ (Am 1579, CNC) ; Knowlton , 1929-07-05, leg. L.J. Milne, 2♂ (Am 1320, 1321, CNC) ; 1929-08-01, leg. L.J. Milne, 1♂ (Am 1337, CNC) ; Norway Bay , 1938-08-31, leg. G.E. Shewell, 1♂ (Am 1336, CNC) ; Old Chelsea , 1959- 07-21, leg. J. R. Vockeroth, 3♂ (Am 1203–1205, CNC) ; 1965-06-20, leg. D.M. Wood, 8♂ (Am 1459, 1461, 1467, 1475, 1478, 1479, 1535, 1536, CNC) . USA: Alabama: Clay Co., Talladega Nat. For. , 33.443496, -85.839339, 2018-08-15, leg. L.E. Jones, swept around head, 1♂ (Am 924, AMNH) ; Haleyville , 1953-07-06, leg. M. R. Wheeler, 2♂ (Am 237*, 238* [dissection missing], AMNH) ; Lawrence Co., Bankhead Nat. For. , 34.308325, -87.395084, 2018-08-15, leg. L.E. Jones, swept around head, 11♂ (Am 910, 911, 914–922, AMNH) ; Wilson Dam F.Q., 1942-07-12, leg. J.N. Belkin, 2♂ (Am 668, 669, LACM) ; Winston Co., Bankhead Nat. For. , 34.285427, -87.396155, 2018-08-15, leg. L.E. Jones, swept around head, 14♂ and 1♀ (Am 895–909, AMNH) . Arizona: Cochise Co., campground nr. SWRS, 31.872506, -109.233923, 2019-07-18, leg. L.E. Jones and J.L. Hughes, swept around head, 3♂ (Am 720*, 1052, 1053*, AMNH) ; Cochise Co., Vicinity of SWRS, 31.882018, -109.206636, 2019-07- 18, leg. L.E. Jones and J.L. Hughes, swept around head, 8♂ (Am 1043–1046, 1047*, 1049–1051, AMNH) ; 2019-07-19, leg. L.E. Jones and J.L. Hughes, swept around head, 6♂ (Am 1036–1041, AMNH) ; 2019-07-18, leg. J.L. Hughes and L.E. Jones, swept around head, 2♂ (Am 1034, 1035, AMNH) ; 2019-07-19, leg. J.L. Hughes and L.E. Jones, swept around head, 6♂ (Am 1028–1033, AMNH) . Arkansas: Garland Co., Ouachita Nat. For. , 34.540121, -93.352490, 2018-08-09, leg. L.E. Jones and J.L. Hughes, swept around head, 4♂ (Am 654*, 844–846, AMNH) ; 2018-08-08, leg. J.L. Hughes and L.E. Jones, swept around head, 1♂ (Am 847, AMNH) ; Logan Co., Magazine Mt. 2750 ft., 1992-07-06, leg. D. Grimaldi, 8♂ (Am 328*, 332, 338*, 346*, 352*, 354*, 357, 365*, AMNH) ; 2200 ft., 1992-07-09, leg. D. Grimaldi, fr. oak sap flux, 1♂ (Am 350*, AMNH) ; Johnson Co., Ozark National Forest, 2018 -08-08, leg. L.E. Jones and J.L. Hughes, swept around head, 16♂ (Am 653*, 822–824, 827– 838, AMNH) ; 2018-08-08, leg. J.L. Hughes and L.E. Jones, swept around head, 4♂ (Am 840–843, AMNH) . District of Columbia: Rock Creek Park, 1957-06-01, leg. P.H. Arnaud Jr., 1♂ (Am 396, CAS) ; 1957-06-09, leg. P.H. Arnaud Jr., 1♂ (Am 395, CAS) . Georgia: Black Rock Mt. S.P., 1953-07-04, leg. M. R. Wheeler, 10♂ (Am 213, 216, 218*, 219*, 220, 223, 224, 225*, 230*, 231, AMNH) ; Holcomb crk., 1957- 08-01, leg. W. R. Richards, 1♂ (Am 1329, CNC) ; Rabun Co., 1957-07-13, leg. W. R. Richards, 1♂ (Am 1325, CNC) . Idaho: 4.5 mi N. Moscow Ida. Hgwy 95, 1954-07-28, leg. R. Moree, 1♂ (Am 407*, WSU) . Illinois: Carlinville , 1955-06-22, leg. M. R. Wheeler, 2♂ (Am 233*, 250, AMNH) ; Equality , 1951-09-11, [collector unknown], 1♂ (Am 239*, AMNH) ; Hardin Co., Shawnee Nat. For. , 37.594631, -88.382478, 2018-08-08, leg. L.E. Jones and J.L. Hughes, swept around head, 9♂ and 1♀ (Am 754, 760, 766, 769, 775, 777, 780, 784, 787, 789, AMNH) ; 2018-08-08, leg. J.L. Hughes and L.E. Jones, swept around head, 8♂ (Am 792–795, 799, 800, 810, 812 AMNH) ; St. Clair Co., Stemler Cave Woods , 38.464886, -90.155530, 2019-05-24, leg. L.E. Jones, swept around head, 9♂ (Am 997–1004, 1090, AMNH) ; 2018-05-30, leg. C. R. Sopow and L.E. Jones, 2♂ (Am 1177, 1178, AMNH) ; 2018-05-30, leg. L.E. Jones and C. R. Sopow, 2♂ (Am 1179, 1180, AMNH) ; Union Co., Trail of Tears State Forest , 37.499757, -8911.340117, 2018-8-08, leg. L.E. Jones and J.L. Hughes, swept around head, 13♂ (Am 651*, 652*, 801–806, 809, 814–817, AMNH) ; 2018-8-08, leg. J.L. Hughes and L.E. Jones, swept around head, 3♂ (Am 818, 819, 821, AMNH) . Indiana: Harrison Co., O’Bannon Woods St. Pk. , 38.194962, -86.267880, 2018-08-14, leg. L.E. Jones, swept around head, 4♂ (Am 890–893, AMNH) ; Perry Co., Hoosier Nat. For. , 38.195597, -86.613230, 2018-08-14, leg. L.E. Jones, swept around head, 22♂ (Am 866–887, AMNH) ; Posey Co., Murphy’s Park, New Harmony , 1967-08-02, leg. H.B. Leech, 1♂ (Am 386, CAS) . Kentucky: Rowan Co., Daniel Boone Nat. For., Sheltowee Trace trail 100, 38 23 07 N, 83 24 58 W, 2013- 05-23, leg. J.M. Cumming, 1♂ (Am 1285, CNC) . Louisiana: Rapides Par., Kisatchie Nat. For. , 31.261073, -92.634975, 2018-08-10, leg. L.E. Jones and J.L. Hughes, swept around head, 5♂ (Am 849– 853, AMNH) . Maine: Mt. Desert I., 1948-07, leg. M. R. Wheeler and T. C. Hsu, 1890.7, A. acadia, [genitalia on slide], 1♂ (Am 248*, AMNH) ; Mt. Katahdin , 1968-07-04, leg. D.M. Wood, 2♂ (Am 1220, 1221, CNC) ; Mt. Katahdin, Hunt Trail , 16–2400′, 1968-07-01 through 1968-07-06, leg. D.M. Wood, 2♂ (Am 1217, 1218, CNC) ; Vanceboro , 1965-07-09, leg. D.M. Wood, 1♂ (Am 1219, CNC) . Michigan: Delta Co., Escanaba , 45.732003, -87.081676, 2018- 06, leg. T. Werner, 3♂ (Am 1094–1096, AMNH) ; 2018-08-27 through 2018-08-31, leg. T. Werner, 1♂ (Am 1092, AMNH) ; Marquette Co, Huron Mtns., Huron Mtn. Club property vicinity, 46.874950, -87.891717, 2018-07-06 through 2018-07-12, leg. T. Werner, 12♂ (Am 683*, 1057, 1059, 1060, 1062, 1066, 1071, 1073, 1075, 1076, 1078, 1082, AMNH) ; Wayne Co., 1961-07-10, leg. G. Steyskal, 2♂ (Am 1308, 1309, CNC) ; 20 mi NE St. Ignace, Acadia , 1948-08-02 through 1948-08-03, leg. M. R. Wheeler and T. C. Hsu, 1903.6, 1♂ (Am 211*, AMNH) . Mississippi: Marshall Co., Wall Doxey St. Pk. , 34.661856, -89.462140, 2018-08-12, leg. L.E. Jones and J.L. Hughes, swept around head, 6♂ and 2♀ (Am 856– 863, AMNH) ; 2018-08-12, leg. J.L. Hughes and L.E. Jones, swept around head, 1♂ (Am 864, AMNH) ; Yalobusha Co., George P. Cossar State Park , leg. L.E. Jones and J.L. Hughes, 1♂ (Am 854, AMNH) . Missouri: Carter Co., Ridge road at Road C, 4.5 mi SW of Van Buren, 1967-08-04, leg. H.B. Leech, 1♂ (Am 380, CAS) ; Lithium , 1952-09-05, [collector unknown], 1♂ (Am 229, AMNH) ; 1955-06-29, leg. M. R. Wheeler, 1♂ and 1♀ (Am 227*, 228, AMNH) ; St. Fran. Co., St. Francois St. Pk. , 37.973473, -90.529404, 2019-05-24, leg. L.E. Jones, swept around head, 6♂ (Am 1005–1010, AMNH) ; Williamsville , 1955-07-06, leg. E.C. Becker, 1♂ (Am 1330, CNC) . Nebraska: Elkhorn River 2 mi E. Oakdale, 1950-08-21 through 1950-08-22, leg. M. R. Wheeler and Stephens, 2068.14, 3♂ (Am 234, 235*, 236*, AMNH) . New Jersey: Lebanon State Forest, 1958 -08-19, leg. Evan and Beneway, 1♂ (Am 307, AMNH) . New York: Bronx Co., New York Bot. Garden , 40.864029, -73.875571, 2018-08, leg. L.E. Jones and L. Li, swept around head, 2♂ and 1♀ (Am 1024, 1025, 1027, AMNH) ; Jeff. Co., Wellesley Is., 1963-08-22, leg. L.L. Pechuman, 2♂ (Am 39*, 40, AMNH) ; Monroe Co., Rochester , Highland Pk., 43.132600, -77.602784, 2018-06-13, leg. J. Jaenike, 3♂ (Am 1174–1176, AMNH) ; 2018-06-28, leg. J. Jaenike, 13♂ (Am 1138–1150, AMNH) ; 2018-07-10, leg. J. Jaenike, 25♂ (Am 1113–1137, AMNH) ; 2018- 07-26, leg. J. Jaenike, 16♂ (Am 1097–1112, AMNH) ; 2018-08-08, leg. J. Jaenike, 3♂ (Am 1163–1165, AMNH) ; 2018-09-04, leg. J. Jaenike, 2♂ (Am 1166, 1167, AMNH) ; [no date], leg. J. Jaenike, 4♂ (Am 1170–1173, AMNH) ; Orange Co., Black Rock Forest , 41.410629, -74.014558, 2017-09-09, leg. L.E. Jones, swept around head, 3♂ (Am 523*, 1015, 1016, AMNH) ; Putnam Co., Hudson Highlands State Park , 2017-09-23, leg. L.E. Jones and C. Liriano, swept around head, 1♀ (Am, 1013, AMNH) ; Staten Island , 1923, [collector unknown], 1♂ (Am 245, AMNH) . North Carolina: Cherokee , 1957-07-25, leg. W. R. Richards, 1♂ (Am 1328, CNC) ; Franklin , 2000′, 1957-06-08, leg. W. R. M. Mason, 1♂ (Am 1335, CNC) ; Graham Co., Robbinsville , 1976-06-09, leg. G.E. Bohart, 10♂ (Am 508–511, 512*, 513–517, EMUS) ; Highlands , 1957- 07-13, leg. J.G. Chillcott, 1♂ (Am 1326, CNC) ; Jackson Co., Cherokee , 2000′, 1957-07-25, leg. J.G. Chillcott, 1♂ (Am 1324, CNC) ; Transylvania Co., Pisgah Nat. For. , 35.290995, -82.776835, 2018-08-20, leg. L.E. Jones, swept around head, 6♂ and 1♀ (Am 989–995, AMNH) . Ohio: Portage Co., West Branch State Park , 1988-07-17, leg. B.A. Foote, 1♂ (Am 311, AMNH) . South Carolina: Anderson , 1957-07-21, leg. W. R. Richards, 1♂ (Am 1327, CNC) ; Charleston Co., Francis Marion Nat. For. , 33.067907, -79.518209, 2018-08-19, leg. L.E. Jones, swept around head, 1♂ (Am 658*, AMNH) ; Greenwood, Long Cane Creek , 1957-07-21, leg. W. R. Richards, 1♂ (Am 1299, CNC) ; Seneca , 1957-06-06, leg. W. R. M. Mason, 1♂ (Am 1331, CNC) ; Sumter Co., Poinsett St. Pk. , 33.802244, -80.545550, 2018-08-19, leg. L.E. Jones, swept around head, 26♂ (Am 659*, 660*, 925–941, 943–949, AMNH) . Tennessee: Cades Cove , GSMNP, 1953-07 through 1953-08, leg. J.M. Carpenter, 9♂ (Am 209, 210, 214, 215, 217, 221*, 222*, 226* [dissection missing], 232, AMNH) ; Great Smoky Mtns. Nat. Park, near Cosby headquarters, 35 47 N, 083 13 W, 2001-05-30, leg. J.A. Skevington, CNC 699259 , 1♂ (Am 1294, CNC) ; Unicoi Co., Cherokee Nat. For. , 36.137782, -82.350719, 2018-08-20, leg. L.E. Jones, swept around head, 40♂ (Am 662*, 663*, 950–988, AMNH) . Texas: Austin Aldrich Farm , 1951-05-20, leg. M. R. Wheeler, 1♀ (Am 249*, AMNH) ; Houston Co., Davy Crockett Nat. For. , 31.390387, -95.157191, 2018-08-10, leg. L.E. Jones and J.L. Hughes, swept around head, 1♂ (Am 848, AMNH) . Vermont: Orleans Co., nr. Bald Mountain, near stream ( Mad Brook ), 1650 ft., 2016-07-19 through 2016-07-21, sweep netted in forest, leg. D. Grimaldi, 2♂ (Am 366, 367*, AMNH) ; 2018-08-16, leg. D. Grimaldi, swept around head, 8♂ (Am 665*, 1017–1023, AMNH) . Virginia: Giles Co., Cascade Falls , 2001-05-19, leg. O. Lonsdale, 6♂ (Am 744– 746, 748, 751, 752, DEBU) ; Prince William Co., 0.5 km NE Thorofare Gap, vic. Haymarket , 1966-06-25, leg. P.H. Arnaud Jr., 2♂ (Am 397, 398, CAS) . Washington: Wenatchee, 1950-08, leg. M. R. Wheeler , 2191.12, 5♂ and 1♀ (Am 212*, 240* [genitalia on slide], 241, 242*, 243*, 244, AMNH) .

DISTRIBUTION: This species may have the widest distribution of any species of Amiota in North America. Amiota minor is exceptionally common throughout Eastern North America, with western populations known from Washington State and Arizona. This species probably occurs in northern Mexico. Wheeler (1952) reported A. minor from Veracruz in Mexico, but these specimens have not been seen.

COMMENTS: Amiota minor as known may represent a species complex. Substantial size and color variation is seen in this species, as well as the degree of faintness in the markings of the face, wing base, and postpronotal lobe. Wheeler (1952) noted great variation in the morphology of the surstylus. Size and shape of the aedeagal apodeme varies as well, with western populations differing in some cases from those in the east. It is notable for being the only species known in the genus to lack the characteristic white markings found in the other members (although these can be faded in other members of the avipes species group). Amiota minor is the only species in the group known to have the character of the comb on the midtibia. It can form dense swarms in humid settings and can lodge itself in the eye (L.E.J., personal obs.). This species exhibits the characteristic behavior of attraction to the eyes and face common to many Amiota .

Figures

FIG. 35. Heads and lateral views, A. avipes species group. A–B. A. minor (Malloch) (Am 651). Lack of white spots is natural. C–D. A. onyx, sp. nov. (Am 1450).

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. 40. Male terminalia, A. minor (Malloch). A. Epandrium and cerci. B. Lateral view. C. Posterior view. D. Subepandrial sclerite. (Am 233)

FIG. 88. Distribution maps, A. avipes species group. A. A. minor (Malloch). B. A. onyx. C. A. pseudominor.