Asindulum montanum Röder, 1887: 116

Fitzgerald, Scott J., 2023, The Nearctic species of Asindulum Latreille and Macrorrhyncha Winnertz (Diptera: Keroplatidae), Zootaxa 5351 (1), pp. 72-106 : 87-90

Asindulum montanum Röder, 1887: 116 .

Figs. 3–4 , 38–50 , 84

Types. Syntypes, male & female, ( MLUH), not examined: USA: NEW HAMPSHIRE, “ White Mountains ( America borealis).”

Material examined. CANADA: ALBERTA: McMurray, 10.VIII.1953, G.E. Ball, 1m ( CNCI) ; BRITISH COLUMBIA: Liard Hot Springs, 23.VII.1987, M. Polak, 1m ( CNCI) ; MANITOBA: Atikameg Lk, 14.VIII.1949, J.B. Wallis, 1f ( CNCI) ; Teulon , 24.VII.1922, A.J. Hunter, 1m ( CNCI) ; P.N. Vroom, Aweme, 12.VIII., 920, 1m ( CNCI) ; NEW BRUNSWICK: Kouchibouguac N. P., D.B. Lyons, 9.VIII. 1978, 4m, 10.VIII. 1978, 2m 1f, 11.IX.1978, 1f (all CNCI) ; NOVA SCOTIA: Mount Uniacke , 5.VIII.1958, J. R. Vockeroth, 1f ( CNCI) ; ONTARIO: ( Renfrew ) 1 km N of Griffith, at golden rod flowers in shade, 9.viii.1994, A.E. Stubbs, 1m ( PCC); (Hastings) 4 km W of Maynooth , at golden rod flowers, 8.viii.1994, A.E. Stubbs, 1f ( PCC) ; Ogoki , 2.VIII.1952, J.B. Wallis, 1f ( CNCI) ; One Sided Lake , 1 Aug. 1960, S.M. Clark, 1f ( CNCI) ; Algonquin Pk. , 1f ( CNCI) ; Carleton Place , 24.VII.1959, C.H. Mann, Idema Illustration, 1m ( CNCI) ; Sudbury , 1m 1f ( CNCI) ; SASKATCHEWAN: Wenoncha [Moose Mtn. Prov. Pk., 49° 49′ 59″ N, 102° 17′ 7″ W], 12.VIII.1925, K.M. King, 1f ( CNCI) ; QUEBEC: King Mtn. , Old Chelsea, 1000’, 5.VIII.1969, Malaise trap, D.D. Munroe, 5m 1f ( CNCI) ; Masham Twp , Gatineau Co., 2.VIII.1974, D.M. Wood, 6m 3f (1m 1f SFC, 5m 2f CNCI) ; Duncan Lake , nr. Rupert, J.F. McAlpine, 1.VIII. 1969, 1m, 13.VIII. 1969, 2m, 2. V. 1971, 3m2f, 14.VIII. 1971, 5m, 19.VIII. 1971, 5m, 28.VIII. 1971, 3m 1f, 1.IX. 1971, 1m (all CNCI) ; Ste . Catherine, Cté Portneuf , 13–15.VIII.1971, D.M. Wood, 1m ( CNCI) ; 4 mi. N. Eardley , D.M. Wood, 20.VIII.1971, 1f, 25.VIII. 1971, 1m 1f (all CNCI) ; Lac Mercier , 9.VIII.1937, G.S. Walley, 1m ( CNCI) ; Parke Reserve , Kam. Co., 950’, 26 Aug. 1957, W. R. M. Mason, 1m ( CNCI) ; Lac Brule, P.Q., 7.VIII.1945, O. Peck, 2m 1f ( CNCI) ; Cascapedia , VIII.7.1954, J.E.H. Martin, 1f ( CNCI) ; Old Chelsea, King Mt. , 13.VIII.1969, B. V. Peterson, 1m ( CNCI) ; Ste. Agathe des M, G.S. Walley , 5.VIII.1937, 1f, 7.VIII. 1957, 1m (all CNCI) ; Forestville , 11.VIII.1950, J. R. McGillis, 1f ( CNCI) ; Laniel, H.S. Fleming , 1931, 10 Aug., 2m 2f, 15 Aug. 1m, 19 Aug., 1m 1f (all CNCI) ; Ft. Coulonge , 20.VII.1919, J.I. Beaulne, 1f ( CNCI) ; USA: MAINE: York Co., West Lebanon, VII.31–VIII.6.1990, D.W. Barry, Malaise, 1m ( DENH) ; MICHIGAN: Emmet Co., vii.7.1948, W. Porter , “compared with male lectotype of Asindulum montanum v. Röder, considered conspecific, Jean Laffoon 1952,” 1f ( ISUI) ; MINNESOTA: Hubbard Co., “ Kabekena ” [probably Kabekona] City, Sec 32, T 143 N, R 33 W, vii.24.65, D.L. Deonier, 1f ( ISUI) ; NEW HAMPSHIRE: White Mountains National Forest , 4 mi E of Benton, 1–4.viii.1980, A.E. Stubbs, 1f ( PCC) ; White Mountains National Forest , 2 mi N of Stinson Lake, 9.viii.1980, A.E. Stubbs, 1m ( PCC) ; Berlin , 26.VII.1930, C.A. Frost, 1f ( CNCI) ; Carr Co., 2 mi. NW Wonalancet , D.S. Chandler, Malaise trap, VII.27–VIII.1.1984, 1m ( DENH) , VIII.2–10.1984, 2m 2f, (1m 1f DENH, 1m 1f SFC) ; Carr Co., The Bowl, 2.5 mi. NW Wonalancet , D.S. Chandler, Malaise trap, VII.27–VIII.1.1984, 2m, VIII.17–22.1984, 1m (all DENH) ; Coos Co., 7 mi. S. Errol, VIII.16.1985, J.F. Burger & W.J. Morse, 2m ( DENH) ; Coos Co., Norton Pool , 2 mi. E. East Inlet, VIII.14.1984, Chandler & Burger, 5m 4f ( DENH) ; Grafton Co., Benton , VIII.4.1984, W.J. Morse, 1f ( DENH) ; Straf Co., 4 mi. W. Durham, R. M. Reeves, Malaise trap, VII.29–VIII.1.1982, 2m, VIII.2–5.1982, 3m, VIII.13–15.1982, 1m, VIII.23–26.1982, 1m, (all DENH) ; Straf Co., Spruce Hole , 3 mi. SW Durham, D. Chandler, Malaise, VII.24–VIII.6.1987, 1f, VIII.7– 20.1987, 2m, (all DENH) ; Straf Co., 1 mi. SW Durham , water tower, VII.24.1991, W.J. Morse, 1m ( DENH) ; NEW MEXICO: F.M. Hull, Frank M. Hull Collection, C.N.C. 1973, 1m ( CNCI) ; NORTH CAROLINA : Haywood Co., Pisgah Nat. Forest, Chestnut Bald, 5900’, 2.VIII1957, J.G. Chillcott, 1m ( CNCI) ; Clingman’s Dome, Grt. Sm. Mt. Nat. Park , 6.VIII.1957, C.J. Durden, 6m ( CNCI) ; Mt. Mitchell , 6800’, 12.VIII.1957, J.G. Chillcott, 3m ( CNCI) ; Gr. Sm. Mt. Nat. Park Tenn., Clingman’s Dome, 6600’, 22.VIII.1957, J.G. Chillcott, 3m ( CNCI) ; TENNESSEE: Gr. Sm. Mt. Nat. Park, Indian Gap to Clingman’s Dome , 5200–6600’, 6.VIII.1957, J.G. Chillcott, 6m ( CNCI) ; Indian Gap , 23.VII.1957, W. R. Richards, 1m ( CNCI) .

Redescription. Male. Body length ca. 6.5–9.0 mm (n = 2). Mouthparts as Figs. 3–4 ; long, about length of (or reaching just beyond) fore coxa. Thorax cream with three dark brown to black stripes on mesonotum (lateral stripes truncated anteriorly) that are sometimes entirely fused into a dark central area. Lateral portions of thorax with dark brown markings to mostly brown. Anterior spiracle without posterior setae. Legs cream, darkening to brown distally. Hind tibial trichia irregularly arranged. Wing 5.5–7.0 mm (mean = 6.6 mm, n = 10), often slightly brown fumose distally. CuP reaching wing margin. Abdomen with first three segments dark brown, fourth segment bright cream to orangish and usually brightest of all segments, remainder of segments orangish, brownish-orange, or rarely brown ( Fig. 38 ). Male terminalia as Figs. 39–46 . Male tergite 9 posteriorly medially emarginate, posterolateral corners developed into a pair of narrow, laterally-compressed, dorsally-hooked lobes. Ventrally, gonocoxites deeply and broadly medially emarginate with only a narrow strap connecting the two halves posteriorly (sometimes strap even narrowly divided medially). Lateral lobes of gonocoxites mitten-like, broadly rounded apically, dorsal edge with a short, dorsally-projecting, thumb-like lobe (dorsal process) dorsomedially. Gonostylus talon-like, apically-hooked and acute, with some strong subapical setae. Sperm pump (possibly fused with parameres?) complex, large and anteriorly elongated, with apodemes reaching into abdominal segments 6–5; notable are two pairs of very long, more laterally-positioned apodemes (one pair more ventral, one pair more dorsal) and an ejaculatory apodeme which is very strongly laterally compressed. The posterior apex of the sperm pump includes a pair of laterally flattened lobes that are dorsally connected, forming a U-shaped cradle.

Female. As male except as follows: Body length ca. 7.0–10.0 mm (n = 2). Wing 7.0–9.0 mm (mean = 7.6, n = 9). Abdomen usually with first three segments dark brown, and remaining segments orange to orangish-brown, sometimes entire abdomen with slight orangish tinge ( Fig. 50 ). Abdomen broader than in male and often slightly expanded and flattened posteriorly. Segments beyond tergite 7 strongly telescoped internally (even after maceration, female terminalia strongly retracted and virtually concealed from dorsal and ventral views). Female terminalia as Figs. 47–49 . Cerci fleshy, setose, oval, pad-like. Sternite 10 notched posteriorly.

Diagnosis. Both sexes with mouthparts ending near apex of fore coxa. Male tergite 9 with posterolateral corners developed into a pair of narrow (broad in A. flavidum ), laterally-compressed, dorsally-hooked lobes. Female sternite 10 notched posteriorly.

Comments. This species is, by far, the most common and widely distributed species of Asindulum in the Nearctic Region. The type series was not examined, but the original description (which indicates the combination of large size and abdomen that has abdominal tergites 1–3 black and the remainder yellowish) is adequate to rule out all species except for the dark color morph of A. flavidum which appears to be restricted to the southeastern USA and does not get as far north as the type locality of A. montanum in northern New Hampshire. Material has also been examined from the White Mountains of New Hampshire, which is listed as the type locality. A female specimen from Michigan was “compared with male lectotype of Asindulum montanum v. Röder [and] considered conspecific [by] Jean Laffoon [in] 1952,” (ISUI); this female also matches the concept of this species utilized herein.

Distribution ( Fig. 84 ). Specimens were examined from Canada (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia) and USA (Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Tennessee, New Mexico). Additionally, Evenhuis (2006) records this species from USA: New Jersey, New York, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

Biology. As listed in the Material Examined, two specimens from Ontario, Canada ( PCC) were collected from golden rod flowers .

Figures

FIGURE 38. Asindulum montanum, male habitus. Scale = ca. 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 39–43. Asindulum montanum, male terminalia. 39. Dorsal. 40. Ventral. 41. Lateral. 42. Posterior. 43. Gonostylus, posterolateral. Scale bar = ca. 0.25 mm. Abbreviations: ce, cercus; dp, dorsal process of gonocoxite; gc, gonocoxite; gs, gonostylus; llgc, lateral lobe of gonocoxite; llt9, lateral lobe of tergite 9; sp, sperm pump; t8, tergite 8; t9, tergite 9.

FIGURES 44–46. Asindulum montanum, male terminalia including sperm pump. 44. Dorsal. 45. Ventral. 46. Lateral. Scale = ca. 0.5 mm. Abbreviations: da, dorsal apodeme; ea, ejaculatory apodeme; gc, gonocoxite; (pa)sp, posterior apex of sperm pump; t9, tergite 9; va, ventral apodeme.

FIGURES 47–50.Asindulum montanum, female terminalia and abdomen. 47.Terminalia, dorsal. 48. Terminalia, posteroventral. 49. Terminalia, posterolateral. 50. Abdomen, dorsal. Scale for Figs. 47–49 = ca. 0.25 mm and for Fig. 50 = ca. 1.0 mm Abbreviations: ce, cercus; s8, sternite 8; s10, sternite 10; t7, tergite 7.

FIGURE 84. Distribution map for Asindulum montanum.

FIGURES 1–4. Asindulum heads, males. 1. A. coxale, anterior. 2. A. coxale, lateral. 3. A. montanum, anterior. 4. A. montanum, lateral. Scale bars = ca. 0.5 mm. Abbreviations: asp, anterior spiracle; clyp, clypeus; cx1, coxa 1; hyphar, hypopharynx; lab, labium, lbl, labellum; lbr, labrum; mx, maxilla; plp, palpus.