Bittacomorphella jonesi Johnson 1905

Fasbender, Andrew & Courtney, Gregory W., 2017, A revision of Bittacomorphinae with a review of the monophyly of extant subfamilies of Ptychopteridae (Diptera), Zootaxa 4309 (1), pp. 1-69 : 50-53

Bittacomorphella jonesi Johnson 1905

Bittacomorpha jonesi Johnson, 1905: 75 –76 (original description)

Bittacomorpha (Bittacomorphella) jonesi Johnson, Alexander 1916: 546 (key) Bittacomorphella jonesi Johnson, Alexander 1919: 781 , 790 (catalog) Bittacomorphella jonesi Johnson, Alexander 1920: 780 –783 (redescription) Bittacomorphella jonesi Johnson, Alexander 1927: 9 (catalog)

Bittacomorphella jonesi Johnson, Peus 1958: 11 (catalog)

Bittacomorphella jonesi Johnson, Alexander 1965: 98 (catalog)

Diagnosis. Adult ( Figs. 7 h, 16). Legs with two white bands, narrow proximal band around upper portion of tibia, second band distal tip of 1st, 2nd & 3rd tarsomeres. Epandrium subquadrate, epandrial claspers with basal lobe.

Description. Adult. Measurements (n=5). Overall length 10.45mm (9.68–11.16mm), head width (n=3) 0.77mm (0.67–0.82mm), height 0.70mm (0.67–0.75mm), length 0.40mm (0.36–0.43mm); antenna flagellum length 6.48mm, flagellomere proportions 1.00, 1.00, 1.13, 1.22, 1.19, 1.19, 1.19, 1.05, 1.11, 1.05, 1.00, 1.00, 0.91, 0.91, 0.86, 0.69, 0.61, 0.61, 0.22; maxillary palpus length 1.23mm, segment proportions 0.19, 1, 1.26, 0.92, 1.34; thorax length 1.35mm (1.28–1.43mm), height 1.31mm (1.29–1.37mm); wing length 6.73mm (6.25–7.10mm), width 1.46mm (1.23–1.61mm), R3+4+5 stem 0.53mm, R4+5 stem 1.61mm, R4 after fork 1.22mm, R5 after fork 1.27mm, R3+4+5:R4+5-stem:R4 1.00, 3.03, 2.3; r-m 0.18mm, M distal to r-m 2.72mm, Mdistal:R3+4+5 5.13, 1.00; R4:Mdistal 0.06, 1.00; CuA2 1.29mm; leg proportions, femur 1.0, 1.06, 1.15; tibia 0.97, 0.94, 1.06; tarsomeres, foreleg 0.57, 0.20, 0.14, 0.04, 0.04; midleg 0.58, 0.22, 0.14, 0.04, 0.04; hind leg 0.64, 0.23, 0.15, 0.03mm, 0.04; abdomen length 8.7mm (8.04–9.30mm), male tergite proportions 1.00, 2.88, 1.85, 1.74, 1.53, 0.75, 0.19; male genitalia width 0.59mm, height 0.59mm. Frons with medial suture strong, extending between antennal bases to dorsal margin of face. Antennal scape with three setiform sensilla subdorsally along anterior margin; 18–19 flagellomeres. Face shallowly incised by clypeus. Clypeus margins pinched at junction with face; 2x longer than wide, somewhat inflated. Hypopharynx short, foliform triangular, anteriorly directed and closely associated with apex of clypeus. Labium absent, hidden by clypeus. Labella free medially, not forming pad. Antepronotum trapezoidal with two small fleshy triangular lobes on dorsal margin. Scutum glabrous, shining, russet limited dull orange highlights of transverse suture. Narrow prescutellum present, preceded by deep fold. Scutellum muddy yellow, ovoid. Mediotergite faded yellow. Paratergite broad, semi-circular narrowing anteriorly. Anepisternal cleft inverse triangular in shape, with well sclerotized semicircular disk at anterio-ventral apex; anepisternal suture well developed. Metapleuron with suture terminating nearly at halter; setose prominence below halter. Episterum, epimeron and paratergite russet colored, darkening at ventral apices; laterotergite and metapleuron light yellow. Wing membrane with macrotrichia on distal 1/10 of wing, in cells R1+2, R3, R4, R5, M; veins C to wing apex, Sc, R s, R1, R3, R4 & R5 after forking and distal portion of M with macrotrichia; alula undeveloped. Posthalter weakly developed, free of webbing. Coxae yellow, femur yellow fading to overall leg coloration of brown. Two white bands, first on tibia near femoral joint, second distal tip of 1st, 2nd & 3rd tarsomeres. Empodium unnotched. Abdomen dark brown. Male. Epandrium 1.5x wide vs. long; subquadrate with convex posterior margin, heavily bowed, not bilobate; epiproct absent, hypoproct broadly triangular tongue-like, extending posteriorly beyond margin. Epandrial claspers with corners of of posterior margin directed medioposteriorly, tapering to acute point, curved hooklike medially; medial margin with short triangular lobe at base. Subepandrial sclerite undivided, Vshaped, extending entire length of epandrium. Parameres laterally compressed, medial margin adhered to superaedeagal membrane nearly to apex; approximately halfway along length paramere bifurcated, divergence rounded, dorsal branch longer, directed at oblique dorsoposterior angle; ventral spine 3/4 length of upper spine, directed posteriorly. Gonocoxite conical, expanding to gonostylus, shorter than gonostylus. Gonostylus rounded at tip, inner apex sensilla dorsal row 4, ventral row 3. Gonopod not closely associated with hypandrium. Basal division of hypandrium sub-hemispherical band, weakly emarginate anterior margin, slightly emarginate below gonocoxite, lateral trough absent, medial suture absent; terminal division well-articulated with small membranous region, spade-shaped, narrowly ovoid in cross-section. Lateral lobes prominent near posterior apex, fingerlike, directed dorsally. Superaedeagal membrane inflated. Sperm pump with membranous windows; ejaculatory apodeme large, approximately half the length of lateral ejaculatory processes, scythe like, with pointed apex. Lateral ejaculatory process broadly triangular, lateral lobe swept anterior and slightly dorsally with apex rounded, mediodorsal margin extended dorsally as a thin square ridge, lower margin straight; ventral lobe subquadrate, swept back anteriorly, lower edge very straight. Aedeagal sclerites not tapering, curving weakly dorsally near apex; apical apodemes with dorsal portion subequal to ventral portion, apex hooked posteriorly, convergent; ventral portion of apical apodeme broadening ventrally, divergent, platelike and very thin, ventral apex closely articulated with sub-apical sclerite. Sub-apical sclerite anteriorly a flat dorsal transverse plate articulated with the apical apodemes of aedeagus, the lateral edges of the plate extended laterally nearly to the ventral spine of the paramere; posterior the dorsal plate forming roof of ringlike complex, sides and base formed by two parallel tongue-like lateral lobes extending posteriorly over terminal division, forming trough ventrally, curving slightly dorsally to squared apex; ventral arm projecting from anterior apex of lateral lobes, fingerlike lobe directed anterolaterally, tapering and curving weakly ventrally towards apex. Female. Epigynium trapezoidal, flat dorsally, posterior margin straight, lateral margins straight, medial suture absent. Cerci with base indistinct, dorsal margin weakly rounded, apex rounded, ventral margin weakly potbellied anteriorly, tapering posteriorly; cercus with single elongate trichoid sensilla medially; cercus epigynium ratio 0.46: 1. Hypoproct broad triangule, fused to ventral surface of epigynium. Genital fork not visible on specimens examined. Hypogynium trapezoidal, lobe at posterior corner weak, rounded; hypogynial valves with base indistinct, hypogynial valves triangular, medial notch Ushaped, 1.4x as deep as broad.

Type material examined. Holotype. NORTH CAROLINA. Transylvania Co. Mt. Toxaway , alt 3000–4000, coll. C.W. Johnson [pinned 1 ♂; MCZ] .

Other material examined. UNITED STATES. GEORGIA. Gilmer Co. Chattahoochee Nat. For. seepage off Wilderness Rd. 34.81298°N, 84.58371°W, 15.v.2013, coll. A. Fasbender [alcohol 1 ♂; ISIC] ; Lumpkin Co. De Soto Falls , 21.vi.1967, coll. G.W. Byers [pinned 4 ♂; KU] ; Neels Gap , 6.vi.1946, coll. P.W. Fattig [pinned 1 ♂; USNM] ; Union Co. Neel’s Gap , 21.vi.1967, G.W. Byers [pinned 1 ♂; KU] . MAINE. Hancock Co. Bar Harbor , vii.1921, no collector [pinned 1 ♂; USNM] . MICHIGAN. Cheboygan Co. No locality, 8.vii.1940, coll. R.I. Sailer [pinned 3 ♂; KU] ; No locality, 4.vii.1949, coll. J. D. Lattin [pinned; 1 ♂; ISIC] ; Gogebic Co. 8.viii.1920, coll. J.S. Rogers [slide 1 ♂; USNM] . NEW YORK. Fulton Co. Woodworth’s Lake , 15.vi.1911, coll. C.P. Alexander [slide 1 ♂; USNM] Gloversville , coll. C.P. Alexander [pinned 1 ♂; USNM] . NORTH CAROLINA. Burke Co. Linville Falls , 21.vi.1939, coll. C.P. Alexander [slide 1 ♂; USNM] ; Linville Falls , 10.vi.1960, coll. G.W. Byers [pinned 2 ♂; KU] ; Macon Co. Highlands , 16.vi.1958, 35.0533°N, 83.1883°W, coll. J.L. Laffoon, various dates dates 16.vi– 15.vii.1958 [pinned 6 ♂; ISIC] ; Van Hook Glade, 11– 12. vi.1 960, coll. G.W. Byers [pinned 8 ♂; KU] ; Van Hook Glade, 30.v.1977, coll. Byers, May, Young [pinned: 2 ♂; KU] ; Nantahala Nat. For. seepage @ Van Hook Glade , 35.0731°N, 83.2385°W, 13.v.2013, coll. A. Fasbender [alcohol 1 ♀; ISIC] ; Yancey Co. Crabtree Meadows Camp , BRP mi. 339.5, 31.v.1977, coll. Byers, May & Young [pinned 2 ♂; KU] . TENNESSEE. Sevier Co. Great Smoky Mts near Indian Gap , 35.6100°N, 83.4516°W, 7.vii.1958, coll. J.L. Laffoon [pinned 1 ♂; ISIC] . VIRGINIA. Giles Co. White Rock Br. 1.5 mi. SE Kire, 4.vii.1969, G.W. Byers [pinned 1 ♂, 1 ♀; KU] . WEST VIRGINIA. Preston Co. Cathedral State Park , 28.vi.1960, coll. G.W. Byers [pinned: 1 ♂; KU].

Taxonomic notes. Bittacomorphella jonesi is easily distinguished from other Nearctic Bittacomorphella by the distinctive white band located proximally on the tibia, as well as features of the male genitalia such as the posterior margin of the epandrium being convex (a character novel for the entire family) and the epandrial claspers having a small basal lobule. Alexander described the larva and pupa of this species in the Crane Flies of New York pt. 2 ( Alexander 1920).

Distribution. Fig. 19 d.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Bittacomorphine male wings. a. Bittacomorpha clavipes; b. Bi. occidentalis; c. Bittacomorphella pacifica Alexander; d. Bl. sackenii Von Röder; e. Bl. furcata sp. nov.; f. Bl. esakii Tokunaga; g. Bl. fenderiana; h. Bl. jonesi Johnson; i. Bl. nipponensis Alexander; d. Bittacomorphella thaiensis Alexander. All scale bars 1 mm except “ b ” (2 mm).

FIGURE 19. Nearctic Bittacomorphella distributions. a. Bl. pacifica; b. Bl. furcata (star & square) and Bl. sackenii (circles); c. Bl. fenderiana; d. Bl. jonesi. Stars indicates type locality.