Phytomyza sempervirentis, Eiseman & Lonsdale, 2018

Eiseman, Charles S. & Lonsdale, Owen, 2018, New state and host records for Agromyzidae (Diptera) in the United States, with the description of thirty new species, Zootaxa 4479 (1), pp. 1-156 : 82-83

Phytomyza sempervirentis spec. nov.

( Figs. 51–52 , 203–204 , 353–359 )

Holotype. MASSACHUSETTS: Franklin Co., Montague, Montague Plains Wildlife Management Area , 25.v.2016, em. 6–14.vi.2016, C.S. Eiseman, ex Lonicera sempervirens , #CSE2553, CNC654263 (1♂) .

Paratypes. ALABAMA: Colbert Co., Tuscumbia, Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve , 7.iv.2013, em . 13– 23.iv.2013, C.S. Eiseman, ex Lonicera sempervirens , #CSE279, CNC392716–392738 (8♂ 15♀); MASSACHUSETTS: same collection as holotype, CNC654261–654262 , CNC654264–654275 (5♂ 9♀) ; NORTH CAROLINA: Durham Co., Durham, Leigh Farm Park , 23.iv.2016, em . 7–20.v.2016, T.S. Feldman, ex Lonicera sempervirens , #CSE2452, CNC654292, CNC654294 (2♂); Pelham Rd. , 2.iv.2017, em . 10.iv.2017, T.S. Feldman, ex Lonicera sempervirens , #CSE3440, CNC939804 (1♀); 23.ix.2017, em. ~ 11.x.2017, T.S. Feldman, ex Lonicera sempervirens , #CSE4330, CNC939822, CNC939823 (1♂ 1♀); Orange Co., Duke forest , 21.xii.2015, em. by iii.2016, T.S. Feldman, ex Lonicera sempervirens , #CSE2375, CNC634804 (1♂) ; Scotland Co., Laurinburg, St. Andrews University , 26.iv.2016, em . 11–14.v.2016, T.S. Feldman, ex Lonicera sempervirens , #CSE2454, CNC653935, CNC653936 (2♀); 18.v.2016, em. 29–31.v.2016, T.S. Feldman, ex Lonicera sempervirens , #CSE2516, CNC634809–634811 (3♀); OREGON: Lane Co., Blue River , 23.vii.2016, em . 14–15.viii.2016, M.W. Palmer, ex Lonicera ciliosa , #CSE3043.

Additional material examined. NORTH CAROLINA: Durham Co., Durham, The Rocks nature preserve, 2.iv.2017, em . 17–27.iv.2017, T.S. Feldman, ex Lonicera sempervirens , #CSE3511, CNC939839, CNC939840 (2♀).

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the host plant, Lonicera sempervirens L.

Hosts. Caprifoliaceae : Lonicera ciliosa (Pursh) Poir. ex DC., L. sempervirens L. A single leaf mine (with puparium) probably representing this species was found on L. japonica Thunb. by T. Feldman at Leigh Farm Park in North Carolina.

Leaf mine. ( Figs. 203–204 ) A whitish, upper surface, linear-blotch, terminating in a rounded blotch on the lower leaf surface. In some cases the upper surface portion is essentially linear throughout. Frass is in discrete but closely spaced grains, generally forming two rows. The lower surface blotch is far more substantial than the small pupal blister formed by other Phytomyza species. It contains some frass, and at least one example was found containing two puparia. The mines of the Massachusetts specimens were first observed on 18 May, at which time they consisted of small, white, stellate blotches with frass in a black central mass ( Fig. 203 ). The mines were complete when they were revisited seven days later ( Fig. 204 ).

Puparium. ( Fig. 52 ) White with a conspicuous dark band running centrally along the ventral surface; formed within the lower surface blotch with the anterior spiracles projecting through the lower epidermis. Occasionally the larva does not cross to the lower leaf surface and the puparium is formed with its ventral surface against the upper epidermis.

Distribution. USA: AL, MA, NC, OR.

Adult description. Wing length 2.1–2.2mm (♂), 2.2–2.4mm (♀). Eye height divided by gena height: 3.5–4.6. First flagellomere rounded. Orbital plate not defined. Cheek narrow. Posterior ocelli slightly displaced. Notum pruinose. Vein dm-cu absent.

Chaetotaxy: Two ors, two ori (anterior ori never as long as posterior ori, usually ¼–½ length, sometimes minute and setula-like). Ocellar and postvertical setae slightly longer than ors. Four dorsocentral setae, decreasing in length anteriorly. Acrostichal setulae in six scattered rows, disappearing just behind level of second dorsocentral.

Coloration: ( Fig. 51 ) Setae dark brown. Body pale brown with light pruinosity that is grayer on thorax, especially notum and sometimes pleuron, where pruinosity is almost bluish in parts; antenna darker with first flagellomere dark brown; frontal vitta sometimes more darkly mottled, contrasting paler lunule, at least anteriorly; face darker; venter of gena with dark brown line; back of head dark brown; ocellar spot dark brown, broadly ovate, slightly larger than tubercle, surrounded by pale halo; orbital plate slightly darker, mostly along eye margin and at base of vertical setae, usually with wider dark stripe to level of ors; cheek sometimes darker, at least posteriorly; notopleuron and postpronotum paler brown to yellowish, sometimes with faint yellow mottling; legs paler, apex of fore femur light yellow (base of spot ill-defined, spot nearly as long as wide), base of fore tibia yellowish, base of mid tibia less yellowish. Wing veins light brown to yellowish. Calypter margin dirty white, hairs brown. Haltere light yellow.

Genitalia: ( Figs. 353–359 ) Surstylus small, rounded, fused to epandrium; epandrium with very small thin plate on posterior margin. Hypandrium broadly rounded, with three small setae apically on inner lobe. Postgonite simple, slender, with one medial seta. Phallophorus flanked by one pair of small, band-like sclerites. Basiphallus divided into one pair of narrow band-like sclerites with apices truncated; left sclerite with short basal arm wrapping around shaft; right sclerite dorsally fused to phallophorus, with rounded dorsobasal lobe. Hypandrium entirely membranous and clear with long anteromedial flagellum. Paraphallus absent. Mesophallus indistinct, incorporated into distiphallus as shallow base. Distiphallus flat, dark, angled dorsally, divided past base into dark V-shaped sclerite with broad, paler apices and one pair of flat, shallow laterobasal lobes.

Variation: Massachusetts specimens slightly darker, with black tint; wing length 1.8–2.1mm (♂), 1.9–2.2mm (♀); eye height divided by gena height 4.6–5.9; frontal vitta always darkly mottled; face sometimes paler or reddish-brown dorsally; narrow light yellow apices on mid and hind femora distinct, sometimes slightly longer than wide. Distiphallus appearing slightly longer and more pointed apically, with laterobasal lobes semicircular.

Comments. For features relating to diagnosis, see comments under Phytomyza palmeri .

Phytomyza nigrilineata (Griffiths) , known only from Alberta, forms similar mines in leaves of Lonicera dioica L. and likewise has a white puparium with a black central stripe ( Griffiths 1974a).

Figures

FIGURES 51–57. Figures 51–52. Phytomyza sempervirentis spec. nov.; 51: adult male; 52: puparium. Figure 53: P. tarnwoodensis spec. nov., adult female. Figure 54: P. tigris spec. nov., adult female, with puparium inset. Figure 55: P. triangularidis spec. nov., adult male. Figure 56: P. tarnwoodensis, puparium. Figure 57: P. triangularidis, empty puparium.

FIGURES 200–207. leaf mines; 200: Phytomyza persicae Frick in Prunus persica (transmitted light; puparium at bottom left); 201: P. plumiseta (Frost) in Thalictrum pubescens; 202: P. ranunculi (Schrank) in Ranunculus repens; 203: P. sempervirentis spec. nov. in Lonicera sempervirens, young mines; 204: same, completed mines; 205: P. solidaginivora Spencer in Doellingeria umbellata; 206: P. solidaginophaga Sehgal in Solidago rugosa; 207: P. spondylii heracleiphaga Spencer in Heracleum maximum (transmitted light).

FIGURES 353–359. Phytomyza sempervirentis spec. nov., male genitalia; 353: external components, posterior; 354: postgonite, left lateral; 355: hypandrium, ventral; 356: distiphallus, ventral (#CSE2553); 357: phallus, left lateral (#CSE2553); 358: distiphallus, ventral (#CSE279); 359: phallus, left lateral (#CSE279).