Amiota multiplex, 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 : 65-66

Amiota multiplex , sp. nov.

Figures 29E–F , 30E–F , 33 , 86C

DIAGNOSIS: Large fly (ThL 1.65 mm), black; frons silvery on ventral half, especially ventrolateral corners; epandrium tall, dorsally complete, cerci situated low; outer paraphysis heavily sclerotized, consisting of 2 lobes with 5 pairs of narrow, curved spines; inner paraphyses small, clavate, distal end setose, covered in 6–8 fine setulae; ejaculatory apodeme small.

DESCRIPTION: Large fly (ThL 1.65 mm), black, legs dark yellow. Frons dark and rather shimmering, especially at ventrolateral corners. Cheek somewhat deep for size (EL/CW 9.25); anterior half dark yellow, posterior half brown. Palp yellow. Arista: Very short, plumose, branches decumbent; longest branch D1; A.R. 0.24; 3 dorsal, 0 ventral branches; branch D3 pointed mediad; arista trunk with medium-length microtrichia nearly to apex. Male genitalia: Epandrium tall, height ~1.25× width; fused at midline, not grading into surrounding membrane; ventral lobes setose, line of setae along medial margin of epandrium. Cercus position low, with large triangularshaped membranous region above; pendulous, not grading into surrounding membrane; slightly narrowed ventrally. Surstylus wide at base, tapered distally; ventral half with very long, fine scattered setulae; 8 short prensisetae, apices blunt. Subepandrial sclerite rounded, U-shaped with an acute, mucronate point; inner margin thickened; subepandrial appendage not well developed. Outer paraphysis heavily sclerotized; consisting of 2 large lobes with a thickened lip on posterior margin; 5 pairs of zygomorphic appendages; most apical pair slender, sinuous, pointed posteriorly; second pair arising medially to apical pair, oriented laterally; third pair ventral to apex, appendages curved, oriented posteriorly; fourth pair arising proximally, curved downward, oriented ventrally; fifth pair most proximal, sinuous, slender, oriented anteriorly; 2 appendages arising between fourth and fifth pairs, each oriented laterally, crossing midline. Inner paraphysis clavate, slender; distal end expanded to rounded pad, setose, with 6–8 fine setulae. Aedeagal apodeme nearly bent at 90° angle; basal region with widely flared flanges; middle region constricted; distal end round, with a minute medial cleft running to the midpoint, but no significant emargination. Hypandrium U-shaped, width consistent; apex notched, accommodating paraphyses; lateral arm with a small, thickened swelling. Ejaculatory apodeme very small, 0.25× length of the epandrium, barely sclerotized. Head and thorax measurements: (n = 1, Am 1552) FL/FW 0.75, EL/EW 1.14, EL/CW 9.25, FML/FMW 0.31, PR /RR 0.60, ThL 1.65 mm.

TYPE MATERIAL: Holotype: male: 11 mi. E. El Salto, Dgo. [Durango] MEX., [23.785100, -105.536622], June 13, 1964, J.F. McAlpine, 8000′, Am 1552, [pinned specimen, dissected]. Deposited in the Canadian National Collection ( CNC).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: Known only from the holotype.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin, meaning “complex, multilayered,” in reference to the outer paraphysis.

DISTRIBUTION: Amiota multiplex is known only from Durango State in Mexico.

COMMENTS: It is unknown whether this species is attracted to the face and eyes as other Amiota .

Figures

FIG. 29. Heads and lateral views, A. cervites species group. A–B. A. cervites, sp. nov. (Am 1526, holotype). C–D. A. elsaltoensis, sp. nov. (Am 1455, holotype). E–F. A. multiplex, sp. nov. (Am 1552, holotype).

FIG. 30. Aristae, A. cervites species group. A–B. A. cervites. C–D. A. elsaltoensis. E–F. A. multiplex. Not the same scale.

FIG. 33. Male terminalia, A. multiplex. A. Epandrium and cerci. B. Lateral view. C. Aedeagal apodeme. D. Paraphyses, lateral view. E. Posterior view. F. Surstylus. (Am 1552, holotype).

FIG. 86. Distribution maps, A. cervites species group. A. A. cervites. B. A. elsaltoensis. C. A. multiplex.