Amiota antitormentum, 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 : 34-40

Amiota antitormentum , sp. nov.

Figures 16A–B , 19A , 20 , 83A

DIAGNOSIS: Medium-sized fly (ThL 1.15– 1.29 mm), black; similar to Amiota tormentum , but differing externally as follows: deeper cheek, subalar spot fainter, lower frons slightly broader (i.e., inner margins of eye not as convex); genitalia of A. antitormentum with stouter epandrium (not as tall), ventral lobe with margin oblique; subepandrial sclerite more quadrate; outer paraphysis with slightly smaller preapical dorsal claw; inner paraphysis with asymmetrical spines in mirror image of A. tormentum , anteriormost spines forming forked structure, spines close and nearly parallel, oriented to the right side.

DESCRIPTION: Medium-sized fly (ThL 1.15– 1.29 mm), black, legs yellow. Frons nearly black dorsally, brown ventrally. Facial marking small, depth 0.3× width. Subalar spot somewhat faint. Palp brown. Arista: Long plumose; longest branch D2; A.R. 0.38; 4 long dorsal, 3 shorter ventral branches, none pointed mediad/laterad; arista trunk with medium microtrichia for entire length. Male genitalia: Epandrium fused at midline, margins distinct, not grading into surrounding membrane. Cerci large, crescentic, distinct from surrounding membrane; occupying much of space surrounded by epandrium. Surstylus nearly wedge shaped; proximal half with several dozen small scales, circular; several large scales more distally, long, oval shaped; 11 prensisetae, apices blunt, closely arranged; setulae scattered about between prensisetae and large oval scales, without lateral fingerlike lobe. Subepandrial sclerite quadrate, broad; posterior margin upturned into small rim. 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 right side; posterior lobe consisting of 4 spines; 2 large lateral spines, spine on right side bent at distal end, other 2 spines smaller, arising near bases of larger lateral spines, oriented in opposite directions. Aedeagal apodeme straight, barely curving; slender, long, length 2× width; distal end barely flared, deeply notched; 2 processes on basal portion, heavily sclerotized, projecting laterally. Hypandrium simple, of uniform thickness, apex curving up slightly. Ejaculatory apodeme not studied. Head and thorax measurements: (n = 5; Am 52, 59, 89, 116, 710) FL/FW 0.83 (0.77– 0.92), EL/EW 1.32 (1.15–1.42), EL/CW 18.91 (16.5–22.33), FML/FMW 0.33 (0.28–0.37), PR / RR 0.56 (0.45–0.62), ThL 1.24 (1.15–1.29 mm).

TYPE MATERIAL: Holotype: male: 12 mi. N. Silver City, N.M. [New Mexico], [33.019248, -108.263582], MR Wheeler, Aug. 1950, “2051,” Am 55 [specimen glued to paper point, dissected]. Deposited in the American Museum of Natural History ( AMNH) . Paratypes: 12 mi. N. Silver City, N.M. [New Mexico], MR Wheeler, Aug. 1950, “2051,” 4♂ (Am 52*, 57*, 59*, 61*, AMNH) .

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: USA: Arizona: Cave Creek nr. Portal, 1951-06, leg. M. R. Wheeler and W.B. Heed, 1♂ (Am 116*, AMNH) ; Cochise Co., Vicinity of SWRS, nr. Cave Creek , 31.882018, -109.206636, 2019-07-19, leg. L.E. Jones and J.L. Hughes, 1♂ (Am 710*, AMNH) ; Ramsey Canyon Huachua Mts., 1951-06, leg. M. R. Wheeler and W.B. Heed, 2157.11, 1♂ (Am 89*, AMNH). New Mexico: Mill Canyon Magdalena Mts. , S. Magdalena, 1951-06- 26 through 1951-06-27, leg. W.B Heed and M. R. Wheeler, 2171.9, 1♂ (Am 78*, AMNH) .

ETYMOLOGY: Formed from anti, Greek for “opposite,” and tormentum , from A. tormentum . In reference to the chiral variance of the inner paraphyses of this species, as compared to A. tormentum .

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

COMMENTS: Amiota antitormentum is very closely related to A. tormentum , 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 in regard to the inner paraphysis, the only instance in this study when chirality was expressed in more than one structure. Amiota antitormentum is easily separated by the distinctive forked structure with close and nearly parallel spines, which are oriented to the right side of the fly. This species exhibits the characteristic behavior of attraction to the eyes and face common to many Amiota .

Figures

FIG. 16. Heads and lateral views, A. mariae species group. A–B. A. antitormentum, sp. nov. (Am 55, holotype, lateral image flipped). C–D. A. brayi, sp. nov. (Am 322, holotype). E–F. A. cruciatum, sp. nov. (Am 83, lateral image flipped). Lack of white spots is likely an effect due to preservation.

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. 20. Male terminalia, A. antitormentum. A. Epandrium and cerci, subepandrial sclerite shaded. B. Lateral view. C. Aedeagal apodeme and hypandrium, ventral view. D. Surstylus. E. Sternite 6 sac. F. Paraphyses, lateral view. G. Paraphyses, posterior view. (Am 710).

FIG. 83. Distribution maps, A. mariae species group. A. A. antitormentum. B. A. brayi. C. A. cruciatum.