Amiota occidentalis Jones & Grimaldi 2022, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Jones, Lance E.
name: Grimaldi, David A.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Diptera
Drosophilidae
Amiota
Amiota occidentalis

description: Amiota occidentalis, sp. nov.
Figures 52A–B, 53E, 57, 60C, 92A
DIAGNOSIS: Very large fly (ThL 1.93–2.09 mm), dark brown to black; outer paraphysis with 2 long dorsal spines in lateral view, nearly parallel, equal length, proximal one blunt; apical hook bifid; basalmost spine long, apex with small notch; inner paraphysis lost.
DESCRIPTION: Very large fly (ThL 1.93–2.09 mm), dark brown to black, uniformly so, glossy; legs dark yellow. Frons dark, nearly black; with lighter brown central band, running laterally. Facial marking large (FML/FMW 0.30–0.43), semicircular. Cheek very wide (EL/ CW 6.29–11.62), white posteriorly. Palp brown. Marking under wing base somewhat faded. Haltere light yellow. Tergites 1 and 2 lightly colored. Arista: Very short, plumose; longest branch D2; A.R. 0.25; 5 dorsal, 0 ventral branches, none pointed mediad/laterad; arista trunk with long microtrichia along entire length. Male genitalia: Epandrium separated at midline, ventral margin of dorsal arch distinct from surrounding membrane; ventral portion densely hairy, with a line of single setae ascending ventrally; small anterolateral projection. Cercus thin, crescentic; distinct from surrounding membrane. Surstylus approximately rectangular, middle portion and ventrolateral edge with setulae; 7–9 short, peglike prensisetae, apices blunt; small lateral lobe present, not extending beyond prensisetae. Subepandrial sclerite C-shaped in lateral view, well sclerotized; with subepandrial appendage that is heart shaped in posterior view, apex broad and round. Outer paraphysis laterally flattened, slightly hooked at apex; 3 long spines in lateral view; 2 along middle portion at angle, nearly parallel to each other, distal spine blunt; proximal spine with pointed apex and small preapical tooth; basalmost spine long, apex with small notch. Male sternite 6 moderately sclerotized, developed into sac with faintly cobbled surface. Inner paraphysis lost. Aedeagal apodeme longer than wide, width 0.75× length; curved 90° in lateral view, curved portion forming inflated pockets; distal end with a deep emargination. Hypandrium thickened; apex notched, accommodating outer paraphysis; lateral arm with gonopod, bulging, oriented posteriorly. Ejaculatory apodeme of moderate length, 0.7× length of epandrium. Head and thorax measurements: (n = 5; Am 375, 406, 409, 625, 666) FL/FW 0.62 (0.57–0.66), EL/EW 1.44 (1.32–1.72), EL/CW 8.33 (6.29–11.62), FML/FMW 0.37 (0.30–0.43), PR /RR 0.57 (0.40–0.70), ThL 1.99 (1.93–2.09 mm).
TYPE MATERIAL: Holotype: male: UTAH, Cache Co, Logan Cyn [canyon], Turner CG [campground], [41.883204, -111.572736], 27 Jun-5 Jul 85, W.J. Hanson, Am 476, [glued directly to pin, dissected]. Deposited in the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH). Paratypes: UTAH, Cache Co, Logan Cyn [canyon], Turner CG [campground], 27 Jun–5 Jul 85, W.J. Hanson, 4♂ (Am 474*, 477*, 479, 480, LACM).
OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: Canada: British Columbia: Ainsworth, 1980-07-31, leg. S.A. Marshall, sweep, 1♂ (Am 625*, DEBU); Six Mile [Point?], 1959-07-28, leg. H. R. Foxlee, 1♂ (Am 1399*, CNC). USA: California: L.A. Co., Angeles Nat. For., 34.389176, -117.716479, 02017-06-05, leg. C.M. Cohen, 1♂ (Am 524*, AMNH); Siskiyou Co., McBride Springs, 1524 m, 1976-08-08, leg. P.H. Arnaud Jr., 1♂ (Am 374*, CAS); Trinity Co., Swift Cr. 3900 ft., 1972-07-06, leg. T. Griswold, 1♂ (Am 375*, CAS). Montana: Missoula Co., Lubrecht Experimental Forest, 46 53.61 N, 113 27.08 W, 1250 m, 2017-06-28, leg. J.E. O’Hara, malaise, CNC821145, 1♂ (Am 1282*, CNC). Oregon: Baker Co., U. Goose Vrk., 34 mi. SE Union, 4160 ft., 1977-06-19 through 1977-06-22, leg. E.J. Davis, malaise baited with CO2, 1♂ (Am 409*, WSU). Utah: Box Elder Co., 1 mi N Mantu, 1969-07-21 through 1969-07-27, leg. W.J. Hanson, malaise trap, 1♂ (Am 672, LACM); Cache Co., Green Canyon, Cache Co., Green Canyon, 1985-06-12 through 1985-06-15, leg. N.N. Youssef, 1♂ (Am 469*, LACM); 1985-06-15 through 1985- 06-19, leg. N.N. Youssef, 1♂ (Am 468*, LACM); Cache Co., Logan Canyon, Turner C.G., 1985-06-10 through 1985-06-20, leg. W.J. Hanson, 1♂ (Am 471, LACM); 1985-06-20 through 1985-06-27, leg. W.J. Hanson, 1♂ (Am 484*, LACM); Cache Co., Logan Canyon, Twin Creek, 1988-07-08 through 1988-07- 15, leg. W.J. Hanson, 1♂ (Am 667*, LACM); Cache Co., Mendon Cold Spg., 1977-06-20 through 1977- 07-04, [collector unknown], malaise trap, 1♀ (Am 496, LACM); 1977-07-12 through 1977-07-19, [collector unknown], malaise trap, 1♂ (Am 494*, LACM); Cache Co. Sardine Canyon, 1969-06-18, leg. W.J. Hanson, malaise trap, 1♂ (Am 666*, LACM); Cache Co., Tony Grove Jct., 1983-07-27 through 1983-08-02, [collector unknown], malaise trap, 1♂ (Am 492*, LACM); 1984-07-03 through 1984-07-11, [collector unknown], malaise trap, 1♂ (Am 490, LACM); 1984-07-11 through 1984-07-25, [collector unknown], malaise trap, 2♂ (Am 487, 491*, LACM). Washington: Okan Co., 4 mi E. Twisp, Rt. 20, 1972-07-19, leg. W.J. Turner and W.B. Garnett, malaise trap dry ice, 1♂ (Am 408*, WSU); Skagit Co., 6.5 mi. E Marblemount, 48 31 57 N, 121 19 17 W, 1052 ft, 2018-06-08 through 2018-06-17, leg. J.M. Cumming and S.E. Brooks, MT across crk, CNC1109319, 1♂ (Am 1227*, CNC); Skykomish, 1954-07-05, leg. R. Moree, 1♂ (Am 406*, WSU).
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin occidens for “west” in reference to the distribution of this species, which is throughout western North America.
DISTRIBUTION: Amiota occidentalis is found widely throughout western North America from southern California to British Columbia and east to Utah and Montana. It extends more easterly in the northern parts of its range.
COMMENTS: It is unknown whether Amiota occidentalis is attracted to the face and eyes. According to specimen data, it has apparently been collected only by general sweeping and malaise traps, sometimes baited with dry ice (CO 2), a method used to collect tabanids, mosquitoes and other blood-feeding flies. Attraction to CO 2 suggests it is attracted to humans, and that Amiota may use cues other than visual (e.g., mammal eyes) or perspiration scent.
description: Published as part of Jones, Lance E. & Grimaldi, David A., 2022, Revision Of The Nearctic Species Of The Genus Amiota Loew (Diptera: Drosophilidae), pp. 1-181 in Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2022 (458) on pages 105-106, DOI: 10.1206/0003-0090.458.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7400026