Phthinia neptunei Fitzgerald & Kerr, n. sp.
Creators: name: Fitzgerald, Scott J.
name: Kerr, Peter H.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2014
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Diptera
Mycetophilidae
Phthinia
Phthinia neptunei

description: Phthinia neptunei Fitzgerald & Kerr n. sp.
Figs. 30 –38
Type material. Holotype: ♂ (Fig. 30), complete specimen, point-mounted [specimen #12K570; CSCA], USA: CA: Tulare Co.: Whitaker Forest, E. Eshom Crk. Drainage, nr. tree#142, 36.7062ºN, - 118.9319ºW, 1650masl, YPT, 3.vi–16.vii.2010 P. H. Kerr, CSCA 10L258. Paratypes: ♂ [SEMC], AK: No. 23, 22 mi. N. Seward, Kenai Peninsula, 1 July 1957, G.W. Byers; ♂ [CNCI], USA: AK: Seward, 26 VI–18 VII 84, S. & J. Peck, Populus –Picea; ♂ [07Z135; CSCA], USA: CA: Amador Co.: Indian Grinding Rock St. Pk., dry wash nr. S. Nature trail, MT#2, 38º25’ N, 120º38’ W’, 715masl, 10–29.vi.2007 P. Kerr & M. Hauser, 07LOT315; 4 ♂♂, ♀ [12K573–12K575, 12K581, 12K583; CSCA], USA: CA: Humboldt Co., Prairie Creek SP, Cal Barrel Rd., appx. 41.3830ºN, 123.9985ºW, 275masl, 2.vi–25.vii.2009 P. Kerr & O. Lonsdale, 6m MT, CSCA 09L521; ♂ [09E043; CASC], ♀ [12K569; CSCA], USA: CA: Humboldt Co., Patrick’s Point SP, redwood grove behind visitor center, 41º08.11’N 124º09.28’W, ~10masl, 10.iv–18.viii.2008, P.Kerr, P.A. Nelson, CSCA 09L117; ♂ [12K572; CSCA], USA: CA: Humboldt Co., Humboldt Bay NWR, Lanphere Dunes, MT#3 (6m), ~6masl, 40º53.421’N 124º08.601’W, 10.iv–18.viii.2008 P. H. Kerr, P. Haggard, CSCA 09L107; ♂ [12K712; CSCA], USA: CA: Humboldt Co., Humboldt Bay NWR, Lanphere Dunes, MT#1 (6m), ~6masl, 40º53.488’N 124º08.580’W, 28.ix–2.xi.2007 P. H. Kerr, P. Haggard, 07LOT636; ♂ [12K571; CSCA], USA: CA: Tulare Co., same as holotype; ♂, in alcohol [12J529; CSCA], USA: CA: Marin: Pt. Reyes NS, Mt Vision Rd, 1.8mi E SF Drake Blvd, 6m MT, 38.1013ºN, - 122.8878ºW, 280masl, P. H. Kerr & C. J. Borkent, 13.iii–1.v.2012, CSCA 12L023; ♂ [14P027; CSCA] USA: CA: Sonoma Co., Annadel SP, 0.9mi from park lot, ravine near Warren Richardson trail, 38º26.11’N 122º36.67’W, 220masl, 6m MT, 16.iii–5.v.2010 P. Kerr, CSCA 10L011; ♂ [SFC], Benton Co., OR, Mary’s Peak, Hwy 30 @ Hwy 34, picnic area, 27 Sept. 2009, S. & G. Fitzgerald; ♂ [SFC], Benton Co., OR, Sulphur Springs, 6 Oct. 2009, S. &. G. Fitzgerald; ♂, ♀ [SFC], Multnomah Co., OR, 7 Sept. 2012, creek off E. Historic Columbia R. Hwy 1 mi. E. jct. 84 (exit 28), S.J. Fitzgerald; ♂ [SFC], Benton Co., OR, 3 Oct. 2012, Alsea Falls area, Fall Creek jct. trail 6, S. Fitzgerald; ♂ [000015910; OSAC], Seattle, O.B.J.; ♀ [SFC], USA: OR: Benton Co., McDonald –Dunn Forest, Oak Creek bank, sweeping, 44.6041ºN, - 123.3335ºW, 1 Oct. 2012, S. Fitzgerald; ♂ [SFC], USA: OR: Benton Co., Corvallis, Lewisburg Saddle, Old Growth trail, sweeping woods and creek, 44.6423ºN, - 123.2891ºW, 23 April 2013, S. Fitzgerald; ♂ [SFC], USA: OR: Lane Co., Alderwood State Park off Hwy 36, sweep woods, 44.1541ºN, - 123.4242ºW, 18 May 2013, S. Fitzgerald; ♂ [SFC], USA: OR: Benton Co., Mary’s Peak, upper Parker Creek nr. campground, 44.5087ºN, - 123.5583ºW, 1 June 2013, S. Fitzgerald; ♂ [ISUI], USA: OR: Clackamas Co., Mt. Hood Nat. For., Sandy R./Ramona Falls trailhead, ~ 45.3844ºN, - 121.8332ºW, 15 June 2013, S. Fitzgerald; ♂ [USNM], USA: OR: Benton Co., Corvallis, 1460 SW Allen St., 44.5509ºN, - 123.2700ºW, 3 March 2013, S. Fitzgerald; ♂ [OSAC #0000770507], same as previous record except 9 April 2013; ♂ [SFC], same as previous record except 6 April 2013, barn window; ♂ [OSAC #0000770506], same as previous record except 29 March 2013, barn window; ♂ [SFC], same as previous record except 1 April 2013, barn window; ♂ [USNM], same as previous record except 31 March, 2013, barn window; ♂ [ISUI], same as previous record except 25 March 2013, barn window; ♂ [SFC], USA: OR: Klamath Co., Deschutes Nat. For., woods N. of Meek Lake, 29–31 Aug. 2013, 43.4652, -122.0860, sweeping, S. Fitzgerald; ♂ [SFC], USA: WA: Lewis Co., Tatoosh Range, FR5270 ~mi. 5.6, woods and mossy rocks along Butler Creek, ~ 46.6927ºN, - 121.7070ºW, 17 June 2013, S. Fitzgerald; ♂ [CNCI], CANADA: BC: Pt. Grey, Vancouver, 15.8.1972, J.R. Vockeroth; ♂ [CNCI], CANADA: BC: Pt. Grey, Vancouver, 8 VIII 1972, J.R. Vockeroth; ♂ [CNCI], CANADA: BC: Capilano 300m, N. Vancouver, 17 X 1972, J.R. Vockeroth.
Additional material examined: ♂ [UCDC], Sagehen Crk, Nevada Co. CA, VII–16–80 / R M Bohart Colr; ♂ [SFC], USA: OR: Clackamas Co., Mt. Hood Nat. For., S. side Sandy R. nr. jct. trails 770 & 2000, woods/hillside seeps, ~ 45.3897ºN, - 121.8141ºW, 14 June 2013, S. Fitzgerald; ♂ [CASC], CANADA: BC: Upper Carmanah Valley, UTM: 10U CJ 803006, 12 VIII-27 VIII 1991, N. Winchester, TZ.MT3; ♂ [CASC], CANADA: BC: Upper Carmanah Valley, UTM: 10U CJ 803006, 28 VIII-9 IX 1991, N. Winchester, TZ.MT1.
FIGURE 31. P. neptunei n. sp., head and thorax [holotype male, # 12K570]. Scale bar = 0.1 mm • Etymology. This species is named after the Roman god of the sea, Neptune, as it is found patrolling the western edge of the Pacific states, from California to Washington, bearing a trident-shaped gonostylus.
Diagnosis and comments. Phthinia neptunei n. sp. is most similar to P. hyrcanica Zaitzev (described from Azerbaijan), but is easily distinguished by the trifurcate versus bifurcate gonostylus, respectively. In the Nearctic region P. neptunei n. sp. is most similar to P. ramificans, but can be distinguished by the structure of the male terminalia. Both species have the gonostylus trilobate. However, in P. neptunei n. sp. the gonostylus is more compact, with three straight, apically acute, saber-like lobes projecting in roughly the same plane, which gives the impression of a trident or the thumb and two fingers of a hand with the palm facing up (Fig. 36). In contrast, the three lobes in P. ramif icans are quite different from each other; an elongate slightly outwardly-curving saber-like lobe apically, a shorter spatulate lobe basally, and a smaller, rather insignificant lobe, between the two (Figs. 39–40, 42–43; see also Zaitzev 1993: 36, Figs. 1–2). Additionally, P. neptunei has the apex of the gonocoxites adorned with numerous, inwardly-directed, strong, spine-like, setae (Fig. 37) whereas P. ramificans lacks such setae, and has the gonocoxites apically tapered and elongated into a spine-like lobe (Figs. 43, 40). In California and Oregon, where only P. neptunei and P. cascadica have been recorded, females of these two species can be distinguished by the different distribution of macrotrichia on the wing, the relative divergence of A1 from the petiole of the cubital fork, and the presence/absence of posterior setae on the hind tibia (see couplet 1 in key).
Description. Male. Body length: 5.4–6.6, 6.1 [6.6] mm (n=10). Head. First flagellomere longer, about 1.5 times the length of flagellomere 2. Thorax. Laterotergite bare. Scutellum with 4 stronger bristles (although sometimes only 2–3 apparent and sometimes all setae are shorn off). Legs. First tarsomere of foreleg about 2.3x length of foretibia, first tarsomere of midleg about 1.2x as long as midtibia, and first tarsomere of hind leg about 0.7x as long as hind tibia. Hind tibia with 7–10 minute anterior setae and 13–20 minute dorsal setae, and posterior setae absent (n=4); midtibia also with a small number of minute anterior and dorsal setae. Wings (Fig. 32). Length: 3.7–4.5, 4.2 [4.3] mm (n=10). Membrane densely covered with macrotrichia and microtrichia. C extending about 2/5 of the distance between R5 and M1; Rs about 1/5 length r-m; petiole of medial fork 2/5–2/3 length of r-m; medial fork complete though basal 2/3 of M 1 may be faint; A1 running quite divergent from stem of CuA (Fig. 32). Abdomen. Terminalia (Figs. 33–37). Terminalia brown, not contrasting color of abdomen. Tergite 9 well developed (Fig. 35), basally narrowly fused with gonocoxites laterally. Cerci slender elongate, apically acute and each with a very strong seta apically (Fig. 35). Hypoproct small, posterior margin medially emarginate, forming a pair of small rounded, setose lobes ventral to cerci (Fig. 35). Gonocoxite developed beyond point of articulation of gonostylus into an apical (posteriorly directed) lobe bearing very strong, spine-like setae on inner (mesal) surface (Figs. 34, 36–37). Gonostylus (Fig. 36) apically trifurcate; all lobes blade-like, apically acute, with longest blade anteriorly and shortest posteriorly; blade-like lobes dark-brown to black contrasting with lighter brown base of gonostylus. Paramere (Fig. 36) strongly sclerotized with four short, digitate, apically-rounded lobes. Aedegal complex small, apically tapered.
Female. Body length: 6.0 mm (n=1). Similar to male; terminalia as Fig. 38.
FIGURS 38. P. neptunei n. sp., wing [paratype female, # 12K891]. Scale bar = 0.1 mm.
Discussion. A single male specimen in ANSP from Mt. Rainier, Washington labeled as the type of “ Phthinia nanicra Fisher ” was examined and found to be conspecific with P. neptunei n. sp. The male terminalia of this specimen had deteriorated into just fragments found embedded within a black tar-like mass (we were only able to identify a gonostylus and parameres from the fragments). The name “ nanicra ” is apparently a manuscript name used by Fisher though no associated manuscript of Fisher’s was found in the archives of ANSP or USNM.
Bionomics. Phthinia neptunei n. sp. is known from western California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska at elevations from 6m – 1706m. It has been collected from redwood forests in coastal California, from both coniferousconiferousous and mixed woods in Oregon, and from Populus –Picea woods in Alaska. Specimens have been taken on dunes, swept from undercut creek banks, taken in Malaise traps, and found resting on the inside of windows in an old barn. The seasonal distribution is March–November with the greatest number of records June–July.
description: Published as part of Fitzgerald, Scott J. & Kerr, Peter H., 2014, Revision of Nearctic Phthinia Winnertz (Diptera: Mycetophilidae), pp. 301-325 in Zootaxa 3856 (3) on pages 316-320, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3856.3.1, http://zenodo.org/record/251697