Amiota zaliskoi, 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 : 49-50

Amiota zaliskoi , sp. nov.

Figures 18E–F , 19J–K , 28 , 85C

DIAGNOSIS: Small to medium-sized fly (ThL 0.98–1.38 mm); dark brown, glossy; facial marking small, width 0.3× length; subepandrial sclerite cantilevered, compartmentalizing surstyli; outer paraphyses laterally flattened, with short subapical dorsal hook and pair of large, symmetrical, dorsomedial spines; inner paraphysis composed of 4 asymmetrical spines, including large, prominent one with preapical tooth, extending over complex.

DESCRIPTION: Small to medium-sized fly (ThL 0.98–1.38 mm), almost black, slightly glossy, grading lighter ventrally; legs yellow. Frons black, shiny ventrally, especially ventrolateral corners. Cheek small (EL/CW 9.6–13.75), yellow to brown. Facial marking small, width 0.3× length. Palp brown. Arista: Medium, plumose; longest branch D3; A.R. 0.38.; 4 long dorsal, 2 long ventral branches; D4 pointed laterad, V1 mediad; arista trunk with long microtrichia along entire length. Male genitalia: Epandrium fused at midline, this margin faintly grading into surrounding membrane. Cercus long, pendulous, nearly diamond-shaped; dorsal margins grading into surrounding membrane. Surstylus rounded; 11 prensisetae, apices blunt, closely arranged, comblike; distinctive paddle-shaped process, curving dorsomedially, extending beyond prensisetae; distal end of process with rough, textured cuticle; row of setulae along process, curving medially in semicircular pattern to midregion of surstylus. Subepandrial sclerite distinctive; cantilevered, distal corners curving downward slightly; central membrane forming septum, surrounding surstylus. Outer paraphysis long, laterally flattened, distal end rounded; very small preapical dorsal apical hook, arising on mesal surface; 2 large, heavily sclerotized, perpendicular spines present, proximal to preapical dorsal hook, with sensilla between; 4–5 sensilla in row between large spine and inner paraphysis. Inner paraphysis composed of 4 asymmetrical spines; prominent spine, large, with preapical tooth, extending over complex. Aedeagal apodeme slightly longer than wide; distal end only slightly flared, lobes distinct; distal notch very small, shallow. Hypandrium simple, of relatively uniform thickness, anterior end narrowed. Ejaculatory apodeme not studied. Head and thorax measurements: (n = 5; Am 29, 32, 529, 638, 1168) FL/ FW 0.77 (0.70–0.85), EL/EW 1.29 (1.17–1.40), EL/ CW 11.2 (9.6–13.75), FML/FMW 0.27 (0.24–0.30), PR /RR 0.58 (0.45–0.77), ThL 1.25 (0.98–1.38 mm).

TYPE MATERIAL: Holotype: male: NEW YORK: Tompkins Co., Texas Hollow, [42.386486, -76.773090], VII/26/83, D. Grimaldi and L.L Pechuman, flying about head, Am 32, [specimen glued to paper point, dissected]. Deposited in the American Museum of Natural History ( AMNH). Paratypes: NEW YORK: Tompkins Co., Texas Hollow, VII/26/83, D. Grimaldi and L.L Pechuman, flying about head, 3♂ (Am 21, 29*, 30*, AMNH).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: Canada: Ontario: Algonquin Provincial Park, Swan Lake Station , Scott Lake Survey , 1995-05-29 through 1995-06-16, leg. S.A. Marshall, A transect bracket. Pans on debarked snag, 1♂ ( Am 576, DEBU). Lambton Co., Port Franks , 1996-08-02, leg. J. Skevington, 1♂ (Am 638*, DEBU) . Quebec: Old Chelsea , 1959-09-29, leg. J. R. Vockeroth, 1♂ (Am 1437*, CNC) ; 1150′, 1966-07-05, leg. D.D. Monroe, 1♂ (Am 1258*, CNC) ; 1150′, 1966-07-08, leg. D.D. Monroe, 1♂ (Am 1259*, CNC) ; 1150′, 1966-08-09, leg. D.D. Monroe, 1♂ (Am 1261*, CNC) ; Old Chelsea, King Mt. , 1969-08-13, leg. B. V. Peterson, 1♂ (Am 1582*, CNC) ; Old Cheslea, Summit King Mtn. , 1965-06-20, leg. D.M. Wood, 2♂ (Am 1462*, 1541*, CNC) ; Summit King Mt. Old Chelsea, 1980- 06-23, leg. K.N. Barber, 1♂ (Am 529*, DEBU) . USA: New York: Monroe Co., Rochester, Highland Pk. , 43.132600, -77.602784, 2018-09-17, leg. John Jaenike, 1♂ (Am 1168*, AMNH) . North Carolina: Wayah Bald , 5300′, 1957-07-14, leg. J.G. Chillcott, “ Paratype,” [never published], 1♂ (Am 1375*, CNC) .

ETYMOLOGY: Named for Edward Zalisko (1958–), outstanding teacher and professor of biology at Blackburn College in Carlinville, Illinois. In appreciation for introducing the first author to phylogenies and evolution while he was an undergraduate at Blackburn. Zalisko once said in class, “I am the world’s authority on something that absolutely nobody cares about!” a sentiment now understood by the first author.

DISTRIBUTION: Amiota zaliskoi is found in the Great Lakes region, but one record as far south as North Carolina is known.

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

Figures

FIG. 18. Heads and lateral views, A. mariae species group. A–B. A. tormentum, sp. nov. (Am 53, holotype, lateral image flipped). C–D. A. wheeleri, sp. nov. (Am 73, holotype, lateral image flipped). Lack of white spots is likely an effect due to preservation. E–F. A. zaliskoi, sp. nov. (Am 529).

FIG. 19. Aristae, A. mariae species group. A. A. antitormentum. B. A. brayi. C. A. cruciatum. D. A. incurva. E, G. A. mariae Máca. F. A. texas. H. A. tormentum. I. A. wheeleri. J–K. A. zaliskoi. Not to same scale.

FIG. 28. Male terminalia, A. zaliskoi. A. Epandrium and cerci. B. Lateral view. C. Surstyli and subepandrial sclerite. D. Aedeagal apodeme. E. Posterior view. (Am 32, holotype).

FIG. 85. Distribution maps, A. mariae species group. A. A. tormentum. B. A. wheeleri. C. A. zaliskoi.