Tritoxa decipiens, Sinclair & Macleod & Wheeler, 2021

Sinclair, Bradley J., Macleod, Alyssa M. & Wheeler, Terry A., 2021, Revision of the Nearctic genus Tritoxa Loew (Diptera: Ulidiidae), Zootaxa 4920 (3), pp. 359-379 : 366-367

Tritoxa decipiens sp. nov.

( Figs 8 , 17 , 25 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:04FAB0F1-E45D-4D0E-AB68-FCFFC7237E00

Type material. HOLOTYPE ♂, labelled: “BC 30 km E/ Smithers [54°46′N 127°10′W]/ 15.VI.1989 / M.Pollak ”; “ HOLOTYPE / Tritoxa / decipiens Sinclair ,/ MacLeod & Wheeler” ( CNC) . PARATYPES: CANADA. Alberta: Banff [51°10′N 115°34′W], 30.vii.1924, E. Hearle (1♂, 3♀, CNC) , same data except, no date, N.B. Sanson (1♂, CNC) ; same data except, Buffalo Pk , 4500 ft, 2,17.vii., 5.viii.1925, O. Bryant (1♂, 1♀, USNM) ; Elkwater Park [49°39′39″N 110°16′54″W], 26.vii.1952, L.A. Konotopetz (1♂, CNC) ; Dunvegan, N shore Peace River , south facing grassy slopes, 12–14.vii.1997, T.A. Wheeler, S. Boucher (9♂, 5♀, LEM) ; same data except, 55°55.59′N 118°35.74′W, 19.vii.2003, S. Boucher (1♂, LEM) ; same data except, 55°55′25″N 118°35′40″, 21.vii.2003, V. Dion (1♀, LEM) ; Lethbridge [49°41′39″N 112°49′58″W], 15.vi.1925, H.L. Seamans (1♂, CNC) ; Peace River [56°14′02″N 117°17′23″W], 10.vii.1961,A. R. Brooks (1♂, CNC) ; Waterton Lakes [49°02′N 113°54′W], 19.vi.1923, J. McDunnough (3♂, CNC) ; same data except, 2.vii.1923 (1♀, DEBU) ; Waterton , 11.vi.1962, K.C. Herrmann (2♂, 1♀, CNC) ; same data except, 13.viii.1922, H.E. Gray (1♂, CNC) . British Colombia: Adams Lake [51°15′N 119°30′W], 16.vi.1923, W.B. Anderson (1♂, 2♀, CNC) ; Elko [49°18′N 115°06′W], Chilcotin [51°52′N 123°15′W], 30.vi.1920, E. R. Buckell (1♂, CNC) ; Elko [49°18′00″N 115°06′42″W], E. Kootenay, 9.vii.1949, H.B. Leech (1♀, CAS) ; Lac la Hache [51°48′N 121°28′W], 12.vii.1964, L.H. McMullen (1♀, CNC) ; Pouce Coupe [55°42′N 120°08′W], 1.vii.1927, P.N. Vroom (1♀, CNC) ; Pavilion Lake [50.86677°N 121.74191°W], 5.vi.1938, G.S. Walley (1♂, 1♀, CNC) ; Robson [49°20′08″N 117°41′19″W], 30.v.1948, 7.vii.1950, H. R. Foxlee (2♂, 2♀, CNC) ; Rolla [55°54′N 120°08′W], 21.vii.1927, P.N. Vroom (1♂, CNC) ; 30 km E Smithers [54°46′N 127°10′W], 15.vi.1989, M. Pollak (11♂, 7♀, CNC) ; Williams Lake [52°07′N 122°08′W], 11.vii.1938, J.K. Jacob (1♀, CNC) . USA. Arizona: Greer [34°00′N 109°27′W], 3.vii.1953, A.&H. Dietrich (1♂, USNM) ; White River [34°00′N 109°27′W], 21.vi.1957, G. Butler & F. Werner (2♂, USNM) ; White Mtns [33°54′N 109°33′W], 8.vii.1933, Parker (1♂, 1♀, USNM) . Colorado: Boulder [40°00′N 105°16′W], 5500 ft, 16.vi.1961, B.H. Poole (2♂, CNC) ; same data except, 19.vi.1961, W. R.M. Mason (1♂, CNC) ; 5 mi S Boulder , 21–17.vi.1961, W. R.M. Mason (1♂, 2♀, CNC) ; same data except, 4 mi N, 20.vi.1961, C.H. Mann (1♂, CNC) ; Buckhorn Ck [40.4208169° -105.1752614°], 11.vii.1937, C.L. Johnston (1♂, USNM) ; 5 mi. W Denver , 17.vi.1965, J. R. Bider (1♂, LEM) ; Estes Park [40°22′N 105°31′W], 7500 ft, 2–16.viii.1961, B.H. Poole (5♂, 8♀, CNC) ; same data except, 20.vii.1961, C.H. Mann (1♂, CNC) ; same data except, J. R. Stainer (1♀, CNC) ; Florissant [38°56′N 105°17′W], 8200 ft, vi.24.14, Champlain (1♂, USNM) ; Gilpin Co., Kelly-Dahl [39°55′57″N 105°29′52″W], south of Nederland , 2615 m, 4.viii.1973, P.H. Arnaud (1♂, CAS) ; Larimer Co., 15 mi. W Livermore [40°47′N 105°13′W], 1500 ft, 3.vii.1982, W.J. Pulawski (1♂, CAS) ; Manitou [38°51′N 104°54′W], 25.vii.1903, Van Duzee (1♂, CAS) ; near Meeker [40°2′N 107°54′W], 11.vi.1984, Ponderosa pine/prairie, H. Goulet (18♂, 24♀, CNC) ; Nederland [39°57′N 105°30′W], Science Lodge, 9000 ft, 29.vii.1961, J. R. Stainer (1♂, 1♀, CNC) ; same data except, 9500 ft, 29.vi.1961, B.H. Poole (1♀, CNC) ; same data except, 8200 ft, W. R. M. Mason (1♀, CNC) ; South Park, nr Jefferson [39°22′N 105°48′W], 21.vi.1961, C.H. Mann (2♂, 2♀, CNC) ; Westlake [40.788701° -105.568232°], 7.vii.1900, no collector (1♂, USNM) . Idaho: Lehmi Co., Lehmi Pass [44°58′27″N 113°26′42″W], 7340–7500 ft, 16.vii.1978, J.F. G. & T. M. Clarke (1♂, USNM) . Montana: Lolo [46°45′N 114°5′W], 1.vii.1904, no collector (1♀, USNM) ; Silver Box Co., 14 mi. S Butte [45°59′N 112°31′W], 23.viii.1973, A.J. & M.E. Gilbert (1♂, CSCA) . New Mexico: Cloudcroft [32°57′N 105°44′W], 8.vi.1968, R. Eads (2♂, 1♀, USNM) ; Lincoln Co., Lincoln NF, 33°23′32.5″N 105°44′01.1″W, 2374 m, 7.vi.2010, T. N. & S.D. Gaimari (3♂, 1♀, CSCA) ; same data except, White Mtns, Mills Cyn , 33°27′08.2″N 105°44′46.6″W, 1837 m, 14.vi.2007, S.D. Gaimari (1♂, 2♀, CSCA) ; Raton [36°53′N 104°26′W], 19.vi.1937, E.D. Ball (1♂, 1♀, USNM) . Utah: Henry Mtns, Bull Creek Pass [38°05′N 110°48′W], 10200 ft, 18.vii.1968, H.F. Howden (1♂, CNC) ; Snowville [41°58′N 112°42′W], 2.vii.1950, F.C. Harmston (1♂, USNM) . Wyoming: Red Gulch Rd. off Hwy. 14 nr. Shell [44°32′N 107°46′W], pans in barren area nr. cottonwoods, cow dung, 5–19.viii.1990, J.E. Swann (2♂, DEBU) .

Diagnosis. This species can be recognized by the discal hyaline crossband ending in or very near the posterior corner of cell dm and inner surstylus with 5–8 thick prensisetae.

Description. Entirely reddish brown, abdomen darker. Head: ocellar triangle shiny black; frons reddish-brown to brown; silvery parafrontal microtrichose stripe very narrow, continuous with very narrow microtrichose parafacial; gena dark brown below narrowest part of lower eye margin; postocular microtrichia wider than parafrontal microtrichia in lateral view, extending from oral margin to middle of eye; face yellowish-brown to brown; supracervical setulae usually yellow. Antenna with postpedicel greyish brown, yellowish brown on ventral and basal surfaces. Proboscis with palpus concolourous with face. Thorax: reddish-brown to brown; scutum mostly thinly pruinescent with pair of whitish pruinescent vittae; lateral margin of scutum and postpronotal lobe broadly shiny; scutellum concolourous with scutum; mediotergite without distinct stripe; pleura shiny, posterior portion of anepisternum and katepisternum lightly clothed in whitish microtrichia when viewed obliquely; whitish microtrichia above fore coxa; 1 anepisternal seta. Wing ( Fig. 8 ) rounded apically, brown, with some faded regions; costal cell without narrow hyaline band at humeral break, with hyaline band at apical fourth in line with discal hyaline crossband; hyaline area from apical region of Sc to R 1; oblique subbasal hyaline crossband reaching near mid-length of cell dm; discal hyaline crossband oblique, long, extending to or very close to posterior distal corner of cell dm, not displaced at R 4+5; subapical hyaline crossband nearly straight to slightly arched, anterior end not extending proximal to crossvein r-m; crossvein dm-m straight; anal lobe more weakly developed; calypter usually with broad white margin. Abdomen: brown to black tergites and sternites; pleural membrane infuscate. Male terminalia ( Fig. 16 ): inner surstylus with 5–8 thick prensisetae distributed along curved inner margin; outer surstylus slender, longer than inner surstylus, arched mesally with rounded apex; subepandrial sclerite with scattered dark setae. Cercus with long apicolateral setae; apical margin pointed. Phallus long, with some 5 loops.

Distribution. Tritoxa decipiens is widespread along the Rocky Mountains and neighbouring ranges and areas from British Columbia and Alberta to New Mexico ( Fig. 25 ).

Etymology. The species name is from the Latin decipiens (deceive), referring to the species’ similar appearance to T. cuneata .

Remarks. Steyskal had recognized and labelled several unpublished subspecies of T. cuneata from the USNM collection, including some identified here as T. decipiens sp. nov. These species appeared to be based on wing pattern differences, which are not supported on the basis of male terminalia.

See the Remarks section under T. cuneata for further comments.

Figures

FIGURES 6–13. Wings of Tritoxa species. 6. T. californica sp. nov.; 7. T. cuneata; 8. T. decipiens sp. nov.; 9. T. flexa; 10. T. incurva; 11. T. pollinosa; 12. T. ra; 13. Tritoxa sp. Abbreviations: d bd—discal band; dm—discal medial cell; dm-m—discal medial crossvein; r-m—radial medial crossvein; sbap bd—subapical band; sbb bd—subbasal band.

FIGURES 14–17. Male terminalia of Tritoxa species. 14. T. californica sp. nov., posterior view; 15. T. californica, oblique lateral view; 16. T. cuneata, posterior view; 17. T. decipiens sp. nov., posterior view. Abbreviations: cerc—cercus; epand—epandrium; ph—phallus; prens—prensiseta; sur—surstylus.

FIGURES 24–26. Distribution of Tritoxa species. 24. T. californica sp. nov. (incl. unconfirmed records (red open circles)) and Tritoxa sp.; 25. T. decipiens sp. nov.; 26. T. cuneata and T. flexa.