Amiota cervites Jones & Grimaldi 2022, sp. nov.

Amiota cervites, sp. nov. Figures 29A–B, 30A–B, 31, 86A

DIAGNOSIS: Large fly (ThL 1.39–1.48 mm), dark brown, nearly black; thorax and abdomen glossy; frons blackish brown on rest of frons, ventral third shiny, silvery; spines of outer paraphyses forming a cross-shaped structure (in posterior view), the most ventral portion consisting of an anterior, posterior, and lateral spine; dorsal spine with a lateral spine as well as a bifurcated posterior spine; inner paraphysis small and cuplike.

DESCRIPTION: Large fly (ThL 1.39–1.48 mm), dark brown, nearly black; legs dark yellow. Thorax and abdomen glossy. Frons shiny, with silvery band along ptilinal margin on ventral third. Cheek whitish to light brown. Palp brown. Tergite 1 lightly colored. Arista: Short to medium, plumose, most branches decumbent; longest branch D1–D2; A.R. 0.31; 3 dorsal, 0 ventral branches; branches D1–3 pointed mediad; arista trunk with long microtrichia grading shorter toward apex. Male genitalia: Epandrium dorsally separated, margins in this area discrete from membrane; row of long setae along posterolateral margin. Cercus oval shaped, long though not pendulous, ventral margin extending approximately to lower level of epandrium; most margins discrete from surrounding membrane (except for dorsal most portion); setae long. Surstylus curved, lateral convex; cluster of setulae along preapical-ventral margin; 15 prensisetae, apices blunt, closely arranged, comblike. Subepandrial sclerite large, subepandrial appendage arising from a thin stalk, expanding into a large scoop-shaped structure, as wide as long; moderately sclerotized. Outer paraphyses complex, virtually symmetrical (except for 2 dorsal spines): entire complex approximately cross shaped; ventralmost portion with anterior, posterior, and lateral spines; anterior portion with spine oriented toward the opposite direction of the lateral appendage; anteroventral spine with two sensilla near midpoint, on tiny tubercles; dorsal portion of outer paraphysis with pair of longer lateral spines and pair of bifurcated posterior spines; paraphysial complex heavily sclerotized, except bases of pair of posterolateral spines (which are membranous). Inner paraphysis small, heavily sclerotized, simple and cuplike with anterior rim; lying lateral to outer paraphysis. Aedeagal apodeme long, width 0.60× length, moderately sclerotized; curved 90° in lateral view. Hypandrium approximately following contours of cross-shaped outer paraphyses in ventral view, forming 3 lobes; the most anterior lobe thinner than the lateral lobes, with a small, rounded projection at the apex; in lateral view hypandrium gently S-shaped, without lobe on posterior margin. Ejaculatory apodeme half the length of the epandrium. Head and thorax measurements: (n = 5; Am 1267, 1447, 1526, 1530, 1532) FL/FW 0.75 (0.72–0.79), EL/EW 1.23 (1.17– 1.29), EL/CW 13.29 (11.6–17.25), FML/FMW 0.26 (0.24–0.28), PR /RR 0.55 (0.45–0.58), ThL 1.43 (1.39–1.48 mm).

TYPE MATERIAL: Holotype: male: 14 mi SW. El Salto, Dgo. [Durango] MEX., [23.786449, -105.597725], 8000′, June “26” 1964, J.F. McAlpine, attracted to man, Am 1526, [glued directly to pin, dissected]. Deposited in the Canadian National Collection (CNC). Paratypes: 14 mi. SW El Salto, Dgo. [Durango] MEX., 8000′, June “26” 1964, J.F. McAlpine, attracted to man, 6♂ (Am 1447*, 1484*, 1495*, 1512*, 1524*, 1532*, CNC).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: Mexico: Durango: 10 mi W. El Salto, 9000′, 1964-06-08, leg. J.F. McAlpine, attracted to man, 1♂ (Am 1267, CNC); 1964-06-12, leg. J.F. McAlpine, 2♂ (Am 1530*, 1555*, CNC); 14 mi. SW El Salto, 8000′, 1964-06-09, leg. J.F. McAlpine, attracted to man, 3♂ (Am 1498*, 1523*, 1528*, CNC).

ETYMOLOGY: Formed from cervus, Latin for “deer.” Meaning “deerlike,” in reference to the posterior view of the male genitalia, which resemble a deer skull.

DISTRIBUTION: Amiota cervites is currently only known from the state of Durango in Mexico.

COMMENTS: This species exhibits the characteristic behavior of attraction to the eyes and face common to many Amiota.