Amiota tormentum, 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 : 47-48

Amiota tormentum , sp. nov.

Figures 18A–B , 19H , 26 , 85A

DIAGNOSIS: Small to medium-sized fly (ThL 1.10–1.30 mm), nearly black; arista with branches sparse and shorter than in A. antitormentum ; inner paraphysis with asymmetrical spines in mirror image of A. antitormentum , anteriormost spines forming forked structure, spines close and nearly parallel, oriented to the left side, other differences with A. antitormentum listed under that species; also similar to Amiota cruciatum , but A. cruciatum differing by the smaller and less sclerotized male genitalia.

DESCRIPTION: Small to medium-sized fly (ThL 1.10–1.30 mm), nearly black, slightly lighter ventrally; legs yellow. Frons black, dark brown just above ptilinal margin. Cheek small, rather bronze. Palp brown. Arista: Medium plumose; longest branch D1; A.R. 0.33; 4 long dorsal, 1 long ventral branch, none pointed mediad/ laterad; arista trunk with medium microtrichia along most of its length. Male genitalia: Epandrium fused, indistinct, not grading into surrounding membrane. Cercus distinct, oval shaped, not parallel to neighboring cercus; dorsal membranous region above large, triangular. Surstylus almost triangular, covered in setulae, especially the lateral half; 9 prensisetae, apices blunt, closely arranged; small fingerlike projection along most lateral prensisetae. Subepandrial sclerite broad, almost trapezoidal, base deeply notched. Outer paraphysis laterally flattened, symmetrical; distal end rounded, with small heavily sclerotized preapical dorsal claw, arising internally; large spine proximal to distal end, perpendicular to paraphysis, curving slightly medially. Inner paraphyses consisting of 2 lobes; anterior lobe with 4 spines; 2 lateral spines, each crossing, oriented in opposite directions; anteriormost spines forming a forked structure, close, nearly parallel, projecting to the left side; posterior lobe consisting of 4 spines; 2 large, opposite, lateral spines; prominent spine bent at distal end, other 2 spines smaller, arising near bases of larger lateral spines, oriented in opposite directions. Aedeagal apodeme very straight, not curving; long, width 0.6× length; distal end not widely flared, shallowly notched. Hypandrium simple, U-shaped, of relatively uniform thickness. Ejaculatory apodeme very small, slightly longer than 0.25× length of the epandrium. Head and thorax measurements: (n = 5; Am 53, 56, 113, 451, 459) FL/FW 0.83 (0.70–0.96), EL/ EW 1.39 (1.27–1.56), EL/CW 21.06 (18.33–22), FML/FMW 0.32 (0.26–0.36), PR /RR 0.53 (0.50– 0.66), ThL 1.24 (1.10–1.30 mm).

TYPE MATERIAL: Holotype: male: 12 mi N. Silver City, N.M. [New Mexico], [33.019248, -108.263582], MR Wheeler, Aug 1950, 2051, Am 53, [glued to paper point, dissected]. Deposited in the American Museum of Natural History ( AMNH). Paratype: 12 mi N. Silver City, N.M. [New Mexico], MR Wheeler, Aug 1950, 2051, 1♂ (Am 56*, AMNH) .

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: Arizona: Cave Creek nr. Portal, 1951-06, leg. M. R. Wheeler and W.B Heed, 3♂ (Am 111*, 113*, 115*, AMNH). New Mexico: Tajique , 1940-06-25, leg. D.E. Hardy, 1♂ (Am 459*, SEMC) ; 1941-06-25, leg. R. H. Beamer, 1♂ (Am 451*, SEMC) .

ETYMOLOGY: From tormentum, Latin for “torment,” in reference to the mass of twisting spines of the male genitalia.

DISTRIBUTION: This species is known only from the sky islands and mountains of southwestern Arizona and central New Mexico.

COMMENTS: Amiota tormentum is very closely related to A. antitormentum , a species with a similar distribution and often collected in the same series. In this case, each species represents a mirror image of the other with regard to the inner paraphysis, the only instance in this study when chirality was found expressed in more than one structure. Amiota tormentum is easily separated by the distinctive forked structure with close and nearly parallel spines, which are oriented to the left side of the animal, and by the arista (with fewer, shorter branches). It is unknown whether this species is lachryphagous, but due to its very close relationship with Amiota antitormentum , which is lachryphagous, it can safely be assumed to be so as well.

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. 26. Male terminalia, A. tormentum. A. Epandrium and cerci (subepandrial sclerite shaded). B. Ejaculatory apodeme. C. Lateral view. D. Surstyli and subepandrial sclerite. E. Paraphyses and hypandrium, posterior view. F. Ventral view. G. Aedeagal apodeme. (Am 53, holotype).

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