Liriomyza artemisiae Spencer

Lonsdale, Owen, 2011, The Liriomyza (Agromyzidae: Schizophora: Diptera) of California 2850, Zootaxa 2850 (1), pp. 1-123 : 22-24

Liriomyza artemisiae Spencer

Figs 26–32

Liriomyza artemisiae Spencer 1981: 213 . Spencer & Steyskal 1986: 117.

Liriomyza similis Spencer 1981: 272 . Spencer & Steyskal 1986: 120. SYN. NOV.

Wing length 1.4–1.5mm (♂), 1.3–1.6mm (♀). Length of ultimate section of vein CuA 1 divided by penultimate section: 2.7–3.7 — Spencer (1981) notes that several specimens from Riverside and Los Angeles Counties have vein dm-cu partially to completely atrophied. Eye height divided by gena height: 3.1–5.0. Scutum subshining .

Chaetotaxy: Two ori (anterior ori sometimes slightly reduced), two ors. Acrostichal setulae in four rows.

Colouration: Calypter margin and hairs grey. First flagellomere infuscated with basal margin yellow; lateral margin of frons yellow, sometimes with very faint stripe that may reach base of ors, or less commonly, base of ori; ocellar triangle, back of head and clypeus dark brown; ventral margin of gena with thin brownish line. Scutum with complete yellow lateral stripe; katatergite yellow; anatergite brown, darker below scutellum and becoming yellow dorsally lateral to scutellum. Anepisternum brown on ventral 2/3 (dorsal margin irregular) or with posterior margin and broad oblique stripe brown; anepimeron brown with yellow mottling; meron brown with dorsum yellow; katepisternum brown on ventral ¾ (not including base of bristle). Legs yellow with base of coxae brown, femora brown basally, fore femur with strong dorsal striations, mid and hid femora with weak dorsal mottling, and tibiae and tarsi dark brown. Abdomen dark brown.

Genitalia: Figs 26–29 . Surstylus with one subapical spine. Paraphallus thin and dark. Hypophallus thin, illdefined and weakly haired apically. Mesophallus short, dark, narrow and fused to distiphallus. Distiphallus pale and bell-shaped with open suture that unites in front of, and extends past mesophallus; distal half with inwardlydirected hairs on inner-distal margin, and with one pair of short, fringed inner processes. Ejaculatory apodeme with pileus ejaculatorius broad, truncated and darker along lateral margin; blade paler to margin and with weak subapical striations.

Variation: Darker specimens (see comments) differ as follows: pigment on antenna and frons darker, orbital plate always partially dark; anepisternum and katepisternum brown with dorsal margin yellow; legs brown with fore coxa yellowish apically, fore femur yellow apically (and sometimes anteroventrally), and mid and hind femora sometimes yellow apically; distiphallus slightly broader and paler ( Figs 30, 31 ).

Host. Asteraceae — Artemisia sp. , A. douglasiana . Adults[?] collected on Lupinus (Fabaceae) , Swertia (Gentianaceae) and Salix (Salicaceae) .

Range. USA. California [Alameda*, Alpine, El Dorado *, Humboldt*, Los Angeles, Marin*, San Luis Obispo*, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino*, San Diego, Shasta, Solano, Sonoma*, Stanislaus, Ventura, Yolo*], Colorado *, Montana *, Wyoming *. Since Artemisia douglasiana is only known from California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Idaho ( USDA, 2009), the Wyoming record suggests that L. artemisiae may occur on other species of Artemisia .

Type material. Liriomyza artemisiae [ pale type]: Holotype, USA. California: Ventura Co., Point Mugu S.P., caught on Artemisia douglasiana , 1.iv.1977, K.A. Spencer (1♂, USNM) . Liriomyza similis [dark type]: Holotype, USA. California: Alpine Co., Hope Valley , 8.viii.1948, sweeping, Lot 91-30, K.E. Frick, Type No. 13941 (1♂, CASC) . Liriomyza artemisiae [dark type]: Paratypes, USA. California: Shasta Co., Old Station , 22.vi.1955, J.W. MacSwain (1♂, EMEC) , Solano Co., Vacaville, 3mi SE, 2.viii.1968, J. Powell, No. 68HI, reared from (miner) Artemisia douglasii , emgd. 21.viii.1968 (4♀, EMEC) , 27.viii.1968 (2♀, EMEC) . Liriomyza similis [one dark type and one non-conspecific]: Paratypes, USA. California: Alpine Co., Hope Valley , 8.viii.1948, sweeping, Lot 91- 30, K.E. Frick (2♀, CASC) .

Additional material examined [pale]. USA. California: San Bernardino Co., Crestline , 13.vii.1944, A.L. Melander (1♂, USNM) .

Additional material examined [dark]. USA. California: Alameda Co., Albany , on Salix , 27.vi.1958, F.D. Bennett (6♂ 3♀, CNC) , El Dorado Co., Echo Lake , 7500’, 13.vii.1961, J.G. Chillcott, on aphid infested Swertia leaves (1♂, CNC) , Humboldt Co., Samoa Dunes , 1.vii.1969, Lupinus arboreus, J. Powell (2♀, EMEC) , Los Angeles Co., Angeles Crest Highway, Arroyo Seco , Switzer Station , 1000m, 29.vii.1977, P.H. Arnaud, Jr. (4♂ 14♀, CASC) , Big Dalton Cn., 23.vii.1952, A. T. McClay (1♂, UCD) , Glendale , 30.vii.1955 [?], E.I. Schlinger (1♂, UCD) , Marin Co., Pt. Reyes, 10.iv.1958, D. Burdick (1♀, EMEC) , Pt. Reyes , 26.i.1957, J. Powell (1♀, EMEC) , San Luis Obispo Co., Montana de Oro St. Pk., dunes 3mi SW Los Osos, 16–17.viii.1983, Malaise trap 10A-4 P, M. Wasbauer & P. Adams (1♀, CSCA) , Orange Co. [?], “S Fks Sta Ana ”, 18.vi.1945, A.L. Melander (1♂, USNM) , Riverside Co., Hemet Lake , 500’, 3.vi.1961, J.G. Chillcott (1♂, CNC) , Palm Desert , 2000’, 4.iv.1955, W. R. Richards (1♀, CNC) , San Diego Co., Palomar Observatory Cpgd. , 26.vi.1968, 1524m, P.H. Arnaud, Jr. (1♂ 1♀, CASC) , Anza-Borrega State park , 1.5km SE Scissors Crossing, 18.vi.2003, 33°05’30”N, 116°27’16”W, 2240’, S.D. Gaimari & E.M. Fisher (1♂, CSCA) , Sonoma Co., Salt Point St. Pk. , 22.ix.1990, R.& J. Robertson (1♀, CASC) , Yolo Co., 9km N Winters , 15.iv.1990, S.L. Heydon (2♂, UCD) , Colorado: Doolittle ranch, 9800’, Mt. Evans , 25.vii.1961, W. R. M. Mason (1♀, CNC) , Montana: Lake McDonald, Glacier Park , 14.viii.1916, A.L. Melander (1♂, USNM) , Wyoming: Teton Co., 9.5km E of Moran on Highways 26 and 287, 16.viii.1981, P.H. Arnaud, Jr. (3♀, CASC) .

Comments. While differing significantly in external colouration, the two colour types described above are here treated as the same species due to striking similarities in the male genitalia. While minor differences are also present in the phallus, it is not entirely certain as to whether these differences are indicative of the presence of a separate species. The Liriomyza artemisiae holotype belongs to the pale colour type, which is less frequently encountered and only known from southern California. This species likely occurs throughout the mountainous western regions of the United States, with specimens recovered from southern California to Yolo, Sonoma and Shasta Counties, as well as Montana and Wyoming.

Liriomyza similis is here included as a junior synonym of L. artemisiae because the genitalia and external morphology of the holotypes are highly similar and the external morphology of the holotype ( Fig. 32 ) and one of the paratypes exactly match those of the “dark type” material described above. The remaining paratype female of L. similis is clearly not conspecific with L. artemisiae or any other examined material. While somewhat resembling “dark type” L. artemisiae , the first flagellomere is entirely dark (not brown with a yellow base), larger, more elongate and highest before the midpoint, the base of the vertical bristles are surrounded by yellow, the orbital plate is yellow, the wing is longer (1.8mm), the length of the ultimate section of vein CuA 1 divided by the penultimate section is 2.1, the eye height divided by the gena height is 3.3, the anterior ori is slightly reduced, the tibiae are paler, and the femora are yellow with a brown base and extensive dorsal streaking. This unusual specimen strangely appears to be the basis for Spencer’s external diagnosis for L. similis .

Figures

FIGURES 26–32. Figs 26–29: Liriomyza artemisiae, pale-type male genitalia; 26: ejaculatory apodeme; 27: external components, ventral; 28: phallus, ventral; 29: phallus, left lateral. Figs 30–31: dark-type male phallus: 30: ventral; 31: left lateral. Fig. 32: L. similis Spencer [=L. artemisiae], male holotype phallus.