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 .