Amiota tibialis, Jones & Grimaldi, 2022

Amiota tibialis View in CoL , sp. nov.

Figures 47C–D View FIG , 48B View FIG , 50 View FIG , 90C View FIG

DIAGNOSIS: Large fly (ThL 1.63–1.79 mm), black; cheek very deep; middle tibia with comb of ~12 setae; hind tibia with comb of ~8 setae; male genitalia distinctive, heavily sclerotized and complex: aedeagal apodeme deeply lobed with lateral pockets; subepandrial sclerite with large, curved appendage having 2 distal valves, each valve bearing a serrated distal edge with a proximal large spine; similar to Amiota byersi but significantly differing in the subepandrial appendage.

DESCRIPTION: Large fly (ThL 1.63–1.79 mm), black, legs yellowish. Frons dark, slightly lighter ventrally, pollinose. Cheek deep (EL/CW 0.07– 0.09mm), whitish-gray. Middle tibia with comb composed of ~12 setae (length of longest setae ~0.7× width of tibia). Hind tibia with comb composed of ~8 setae (length of longest setae ~0.7× width of tibia). Tergites 1 and 2 lightly colored. Arista: Short, plumose; longest branch D3; A.R. 0.30; 5 long dorsal, 3 shorter ventral branches, none pointed medially/laterally; arista trunk with short microtrichia, bare on apical half. Male genitalia: Epandrium dorsally incomplete in middle. Cercus distinct from surrounding membrane, each crescentic. Surstylus with lateral thumblike projection, 9 prensisetae, apices blunt, comblike, becoming slightly smaller medially. Subepandrial sclerite complex, forming a semicircle, each half with ostium and 4 anteriorly facing lobes; an elaborate heavily sclerotized appendage present, heavily sclerotized, arching ventrally and the apex directed posteriorly; apex with pair of serrated valves, in lateral view with 2 prominent spines, flanked above and below with smaller serrations; each subepandrial appendage in ventral view flanked by a faintly striated membranous sac. Outer paraphysis long and acuminate, no visible sensilla, oriented posteroventrally, bent ~ 90° at base. Inner paraphysis slightly sinuous and pointed anterolaterally. Aedeagal apodeme very distinctive, length and width nearly equal, scalloped, deeply lobed and bent in lateral; prominent lateral lobes forming scoop, constricted on all 4 sides and concave in dorsal view; no obvious flanges. Hypandrium thick, heavily sclerotized; lateral arms thick coming to a very wide gonopod, nearly triangular; apex a strong mucronate point ventral to aedeagal apodeme. Ejaculatory apodeme long, length slightly shorter than depth of epandrium; bent near middle of shaft, heavily sclerotized. Head and thorax measurements: (n = 5; Am 7, 470, 482, 489, 556) FL/FW 0.65 (0.55–0.72), EL/EW 1.46 (1.37–1.54), EL/ CW 10.30 (8.77–11.71), FML/FMW 0.39 (0.35– 0.43), PR /RR 0.54 (0.50–0.72), ThL 1.73 ( 1.63– 1.79 mm).

TYPE MATERIAL: Holotype: male: UTAH, Cache Co, Logan Cyn [canyon], Turner CG [campground], [ 41.883204, -111.572736], 10–20 Jun 85, W.J. Hanson, Am 470, [reglued directly pin, dissected]. Deposited in the American Museum of Natural History ( AMNH) GoogleMaps . Paratypes: UTAH, Cache Co, Logan Cyn [canyon], Turner CG [campground], 5–17 Jul 85, W.J. Hanson, 3♂ ( Am 472, 481, 482*, LACM) ; 20–27 Jun 85, W.J. Hanson, 1♀ ( Am 483) ; 27 Jun –5 July 85, W.J. Hanson, 3♂ ( Am 475, 478, 489*, LACM) .

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: Canada: Ontario: Low Bush, Lake Abitibi , 1925-08-08, leg. N.K. Bigelow, 3♂ ( Am 1352*, 1353, 1354*, CNC) ; Petawawa Reservation , 1935-06-26, leg. D. Gray, 1♂ ( Am 556*, DEBU) . Saskatchewan: Mankota , 1952- 01-30, [collector unknown], Prob ex. Tort. In apple fungus ( Daldinia grandis ), 1♂ and 1♀ ( Am 1350, 1351*, CNC) . USA: Utah: Cache Co., W. Hodges Canyon, 1978-08-15 through 1978-08-21, leg. Knowlton and W.J. Hanson, 1♂ ( Am 495*, LACM) ; 1985-07-18 through 1985-07-23, leg. W.J. Hanson, 2♂ ( Am 485*, 486, LACM) ; 1985-07-23 through 1985-08-03, leg. W.J. Hanson, 1♂ ( Am 488, LACM) ; 1985-08-16 through 1985-08-30, leg. W.J. Hanson, 1♂ ( Am 473, LACM) ; 12 mi W Long Junction, Dixie N. For. Ut., 1953-08-18, leg. W.B. Heed, 1♂ and 1♀ ( Am 1*, 6*, AMNH) ; 1953-08, leg. W.B. Heed and F.A. Cowan, 2356.4, 1♂ ( Am 7*, AMNH) .

ETYMOLOGY: From tibia, Latin for “leg,” in reference to the tibial comb on the hind leg.

DISTRIBUTION: Amiota tibialis is known from Utah, specifically the Wasatch and Uinta Montane Forests which stretch from north to south in the state, as well as eastern and central Canada.

COMMENTS: Of note are the two specimens from Saskatchewan (CNC) found to be associated with apple fungus, Daldinia grandis Child. Amiota alboguttata (Wahlberg) has been reared from Daldinia concentrica ( Bolton) Ces. and De Not. in the United Kingdom ( Buxton, 1960; Hingley, 1971).