Amiota hsui Máca, 2003

Figures 4A–B, 5A, 6, 81A

Amiota hsui Máca, 2003: 265 (original description); Malloch and McAtee, 1924: 41, plate VIII, figs. 2–5 (figure of male genitalia, referred to as A. humeralis); Brake and Bächli, 2008: 252 (world catalog).

DIAGNOSIS: Medium-sized fly (ThL 1.20–1.28 mm), dark brown to almost black; frons slightly pollinose; outer paraphysis long, laterally flattened, in lateral view bent at nearly 90°, with apical hook; inner paraphysis heavily sclerotized, projecting laterally, the apex serrated; similar to Amiota hyalou, but A. hsui differing by larger male genital complex; aedeagal apodeme of A. hsui well developed, widely flared distally, heavily sclerotized, with pair of rounded anterolateral projections on either side.

DESCRIPTION: Medium-sized fly (ThL 1.20– 1.28 mm), dark brown to almost black, legs dark yellow. Frons slightly pollinose, upper half of frons dark, almost black, fading to light brown just above ptilinal suture. Eyes nearly globose anteriorly. Palp yellow. Arista: Long plumose; longest branch D2; A.R. 0.52; 4 long dorsal, 2 ventral branches; none pointed mediad/laterad; arista trunk with short microtrichia along most of length. Male genitalia: Epandrium not dorsally split, covered with 10–12 ventrolateral setae and 3–4 sparse setae in row along cercus margin to dorsal apex. Cercus grading dorsally into surrounding membrane. Surstylus with row of 9 prensisetae, apices blunt; 10–12 setulae sparsely arranged; small thumblike lobe adjacent to lateralmost prensisetae. Subepandrial sclerite Y-shaped, behind surstyli, with thickened outer arms. Outer paraphysis laterally flattened, with small cluster of 4–6 sensilla on lateral portion near distal end; prominent preapical claw present, with small, proximal tooth, relatively sclerotized and fading toward ventral portion. Inner paraphysis heavily sclerotized, distal end serrated, at nearly 90° relative to outer paraphysis. Aedeagal apodeme width and length nearly equal, distal end flared, the margin slightly concave, with lateral projection on either side. Hypandrium U-shaped, simple. Ejaculatory apodeme relatively long, approximately 0.6× length of epandrial lobe. Head and thorax measurements: (n = 5; Am 68, 355, 405, 421, 712): FL/FW 0.81 (0.77–0.92), EL/EW 1.3 (1.15–1.38), EL/CW 15.89 (12.2–22), FML/FMW 0.3 (0.28– 0.33), PR /RR 0.52 (0.45–0.60), ThL 1.23 (1.20– 1.28 mm).

TYPE MATERIAL: Holotype: Description from Máca (2003): “ ♂: USA, Arizona: Cochise Co., Huachuca Mts, Ash Cyn., 5100 ft., 9.8.1991, leg. Y.F. Hsu” [not examined]. Coll. Jan Máca, to be deposited in National Museum of Prague, Czech Republic (NMPC). Paratypes: “Same data,” 4♂ (Coll. Jan Máca, intended for NMPC).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: Canada: Ontario: Lambton Co., Port Franks, Watson Property nr L-lake, 1996-07-12 through 1996-07-15, leg. J. Skevington, pans, 1♂ (Am 631*, DEBU); Picton, 1970-07-07, leg. J.F. McAlpine, 2♂ (Am 1557*, 1560*, CNC); Sandbanks Pk, nr Picton, 1970-07-01, leg. J.F. McAlpine, 2♂ (Am 1561*, 1567*, CNC); Smith’s Bay, nr. Picton, 1970-07-01, leg. J.F. MAlpine, 1♂ (Am 1185*, CNC); Windsor, Ojibway Prairie Reservation, 1983-08-18, leg. K.N. Barber, 1♂ (Am 624*, DEBU). Quebec: Lac Phillipe, 45 37 N, 76 W, 1955-07-30, leg. J. R. Vockeroth, “ Paratype ” [never published], 1♂ (Am 1347*, CNC). USA: Alabama: Clay Co., Talladega Nat. For., 33.443496, -85.839339, 2018-08-15, leg. L.E. Jones, swept around head, 1♂ (Am 657*, AMNH). Arizona: Catalina Highway near Tucson, along creek in pine forest, 1725 m, 2007-08-07, leg. J. Skevington, CNC Diptera #9933, 1♂ (Am 1304*, CNC). Chiricahua Mts., 1940-07-04, leg. D.E. Hardy, 1♂ (Am 439*, SEMC); Cochise Co., campground nr. SWRS, 31.872506, -109.233923, 2019-07-19, leg. L.E. Jones and J.L. Hughes, swept around head, 1♂ (Am 712*, AMNH); Cochise Co., Vicinity of SWRS, 31.882018, -109.206636, 2019-07- 18, leg. L.E. Jones and J.L. Hughes, swept around head, 4♂ (Am 714*, 717–719*, AMNH); 2019-07- 19, leg. J.L. Hughes and L.E. Jones, swept around head, 2♂ (Am 709*, 711*, AMNH). Arkansas: Logan Co., Magazine Mt. 2750 ft, 1992-07-06, leg. D. Grimaldi, 11♂ (Am 323*, 326, 331, 339, 340, 347, 353, 355*, 356, 358, 361*, AMNH). California: 5 mi W. Willow Creek, 1951-07, leg. M. Wasserman and W.B. Heed, 2182.7, 1♂ (Am 68*, AMNH); Los Angeles Co., Angeles National Forest, vicinity of BYA Harmony Pines Camp, 2017-06-05 through 2017-06-17, leg. D. Grimaldi, flying about head, 1♂ (Am 525*, AMNH). Georgia: Towns-White Cos., Unicoi Pk., 1954-10-02, leg. H. R. Dodge, net, 3♂ (Am 410*, 412, 415, WSU). Illinois: Carlinville, 1954-08-23, [collector unknown], 1♂ (Am 65*, AMNH); Hardin Co., Shawnee Nat. For., 37.594631, -88.382478, 2018-08-08, leg. L.E. Jones and J.L. Hughes, 1♂ (Am 649*, AMNH); 2018-08-08, leg. J.L. Hughes and L.E. Jones, 1♂ (Am 735*, AMNH); Savoy, 1916-05-23, [leg. J. R. Malloch], on sap, 1♂ (Am 1587, INHS); Henderson Co., 3.0 mi E Oquawka, 1989-08-30, leg. E.A. Lisowski, malaise trap, 1♂ (Am 1596*, INHS); Vermilion Co., Forest Glen Forest Pres., 5 mi. SE Westville, 1977-08-08, leg. D.W. Webb, 1♂ (Am 1598*, INHS); White Heath, 1915-08-08, [leg. J. R. Malloch], 1♂ (Am 1588, INHS). Missouri: Carter Co., Ridge Road at Road C, 4.5 mi SW of Van Buren, 1967-08-04, leg. H.B. Leech, 1♂ (Am 381*, CAS); Taney Co., Mincy Conservation Area, ex. Bear Mtn., 36 32 55.74 N, 4 33.60 W, 350 m, leg. B.J. Sinclair, CNC 1450106, 1♂ (Am 1297*, CNC). New Mexico: Gila National Forest, Cherry Creek campground, 32.914167 S, 108.22500 W, 2103 m, 2007-08-14, leg. S. Kelso, Diptera #58837, 1♂ (Am 1288*, CNC); 12 mi N Silver City, 1950-08, leg. M. R. Wheeler, 2051, 1♂ (Am 58*, AMNH). New York: Jeff Co., Wellesley Is., 1963-08- 22, leg. L.L. Pechuman, 1♂ (Am 37*, AMNH); Sta. Study Insects, Tuxedo, 1928-06-25, leg. C.H. Curran, 1♂ (Am 43*, AMNH); Tompkins Co., Texas Hollow, 1983-07-26, leg. D. Grimaldi and L.L. Pechuman, flying about head, 2♂ (Am 24*, 35*, AMNH); Orange Co., Cornwall, Black Rock Forest, 2014 -09- 06 through 2014-09-07, leg. D. Grimaldi, 1♂ (Am 421*, AMNH). North Carolina: Cumberland Co., Fort Bragg, 1967-05-14, leg. J.D. Birchim, 1♂ (Am 405*, AMNH); 1967-05-15, leg. J.D. Birchim, 1♂ (Am 403*, AMNH); 28 v-3, 1967-06, leg. J.D. Birchim, 1♂ (Am 404*, AMNH). Ohio: Sand Run Pk., 1938-09-10, leg. G.E. Shewell, “ Paratype - No. 8018 Paratype ” [not published], 1♂ (Am 1348*, CNC); Vinton, 1900-06-05 through 1900-06-12, [collector unknown], 1♂ (Am 466*, SEMC). Oklahoma: Woods Co., 3 mi W. Waynoka, old road to Herman, 1967-08-12, leg. H.B. Leech, 1♂ (Am 378*, CAS). Virginia: Giles Co., #98 Mt. Lake Biol. Sta., 1973-07-27, leg. G.W. Byers, 1♂ (Am 437*, SEMC) Prince William Co., 0.5 km NE Thorofare Gap, vic. Haymarket, 1966-06-25, leg. P.H. Arnaud Jr., 1♂ (Am 402*, CAS).

DISTRIBUTION: Amiota hsui is very widespread, inhabiting most of Eastern North America, with populations as far west as Arizona and California. Populations in southern as well as northern California suggest this species may possibly be more extensively distributed in western United States than current collections show.

COMMENTS: It is likely that most male flies referred to as A. humeralis in older literature are of the then undescribed A. hsui, likely the identity of “ Amiota species A ” in Wheeler (1952). Amiota setigera Malloch is now known to be the male of A. humeralis. In their treatment of Drosophilidae in the D.C. area, Malloch and McAtee (1924) figured the male genitalia of A. hsui (erroneously referred to in the text as A. humeralis). This species exhibits the characteristic behavior of attraction to the eyes and face common to many Amiota.