Our aim here is to revise the genus Neaspilota Osten Sacken, a strictly New World genus of the subfamily. The tergal 6/5 ratio has historical and taxonomic significance in the higher classification of the Tephritidae. Rearing records are especially scarce from the western United States, where about half of the known species of Neaspilota occur.
As they spread, speciation took place, culminating in the formation of the four species of Neaspilota, sensu stricto, all restricted more or less to eastern North America.
Neaspilota (Neaspilota) albidipennis (Loew)
DISTRIBUTION (Figure 27). – Northeastern part of the United States between 38° and 43° north latitude and between 72° and 100°. DISTRIBUTION (Figure 37). – Southeastern part of the United States; From Kansas to Pennsylvania, south to Texas and Florida.
Neaspilota (Neaspilota) vemoniae (Loew)
The head is considerably longer than high; haustellum elongate, about twice as long as antenna; labella spatulate; anterior supra-alar seta absent; pterostigma with basal half brown 16. Scutum with white setae arranged in 5 distinct longitudinal rows, area between rows almost glabrous; glowing belly; 5th tarsomere of male fore leg with anterobasal spinous projection; tergal-oviskapal mass 2.5; pterostigma with basal Vs to % brown. Pterostigma with black brown spot on basal tarsomere of male fore leg with transverse rows of spines; tergal-oviskapal mass 2; aculeus broadly rounded at tip; Ventral valves extending laterally beyond dorsal valve 10.
Hind tibia with 1-2 semierect, short but distinct setae preapically and posteroventrally; pterostigma with square or rounded brown spot at basal 0.33, usually not quite reaching vein Ri; abdominal terga mostly blackish 15. Head distinctly higher than long, height-to-length ratio about 1.15, with all cephalic setae usually concolorous, whitish; pterostigma opaque, yellow; 4th and 5th tarsomeres of male foreleg asymmetrical, 4th tarsomere with anteroapical spinose projection; tergal-oviscapal measure 2.0-2.8 7. Fifth tarsomere of male foreleg nearly symmetrical, with symmetrical claws and pulvilli; pterostigma usually hyaline or pale yellow; abdomen usually with terga more or less blackish basally, striated; spermatheca distinctly longer than wide 12.
Dorsocentral setae transversely aligned with or slightly in front of anterior supra-alar setae; distiphallus robust, heavily sclerotized, without long tubes; spermatheca about twice as long as wide; wing usually distinctly darkened, with dark pterostigma, cross veins, longitudinal veins (especially on distal half) and microtrichia (especially on anterior half), but sometimes only the pterostigma and the apices of the longitudinal veins dark 18. Tarsal crest of male with only 2 rows of 2-3 spines each; distiphallus with long double tube; preaedeagal tube blackish; pterostigma with a distinct brown spot basally; abdomen usually entirely yellow, sometimes with very narrow brown bands basally on terga 3-5; tergaloviscapal measure about 2 17. Legs: Hind tibia lacking semi-erect setae preapically and posteroventrally; forefoot of male with unusually long and thin setae along its length posteroventrally; mid femur with row of long, thin setae ventrally at basal V2 to %; 5th tarsomere of male foreleg (Figure 49) with longer crest, with 2 rows of about 8 spines each;.
Neaspilota (Neorellia) aenigma, new species
FIGURES 57-65. Neaspilota aenigma: 57, head, side; 58, male right forefoot, dorsal aspect; 59, ejaculatory apodema, lateral aspect; 60, epandrium, posterior aspect; 61, epandrium and cerci, lateral aspect; 62, distiphallus; 63, aculeus, dorsal aspect; 64, same, enlarged top;. Legs: Hind tibia without semi-erect setae preapically and posteroventrally; fifth tarsomere of male forelimb, typically modified (Figure 58), with 2 rows of about 8 spines in crest. Abdomen: Entirely yellow or with narrow black bands at the anterior edge of terga 4-5 in males, 3-6 in females; ejaculatory apodema as in Figure 59; epandrium and cerci as in Figures 60, 61; distiphallus as in Figure 62.
ETYMOLOGY.—The specific epithet, aenigma, is of Greek origin and refers to the difficulty and possible confusion in distinguishing this species. Hindtibia without semi-erect setae preapically and posteroventrally; appendages on ventral side of mid and hind femora relatively short but distinct; comb on hind tibia short, mainly prominent on mid-tibia; 5. tarsomere of male foreleg as v. Abdomen: Yellow; male sometimes with short, narrow, black band on anterior margin of 5th tergum; appendages on the rear edge of the terga brown in males, whitish in females; epandrium and cerci as in Figs 69, 70; distyphallus as in Fig. 71.
FIGURES 67-74.—Neaspilota albiseta: 67, head, lateral aspect; 68, male right foretarsus, dorsal aspect; 69, epandriuni, posterior aspect; 70, epandriuni and cerci, lateral aspect; 71, distiphallus;. ETYMOLOGY.-The specific epithet, albiseta, is of Latin derivation and refers to the whitish cephalic setae. The latter is not unlike the spinose projection on the fifth tarsomere of males of N.
Neaspilota (Neorellia) appendiculata, new species
In addition, males have an antero-apical spinose projection on the fourth tarsomere of the forelimb, which is apparently unique. San Bernardino Co., Barton Flats, S. Lemhi Co., Double Springs Pass, Patterson, July 15, 1968, on Cercocarpus ledifolius, M.M. The holotype is double mounted. ETYMOLOGY. The species name, appendiculata, is of Latin origin and refers to the elongated, posteroventral projection of the male epandrium.
HOST PLANTS.—Some of the specimens recorded by Foote and Blanc (1963:34) as reared from Aster spinosus and which we examined were misidentified and are N. REMARKS.—In the original description, Doane (1899) did not designate a holotype , nor did he specifically state where the specimens of the syntype series came from. Males are characterized by having a transverse crest on the fifth tarsomere of the foreleg.
DISTRIBUTION (Figure 120).—The known distribution of this species forms a broad, inverted U, i.e., along both coasts and along southern Canada (Canada: Ontario, Saskatchewan. United States: Alabama, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia). ETYMOLOGY.—The specific epithet, footei, is a Latinized patronymic to honor and recognize our colleague and friend, Dr. Males are more easily characterized, using the external characters of the female, as well as the almost symmetrical foretarsus and the absence of a tube. in distyphallus.
Neoaspilota (Neorellia) isochela, new species
Although the distribution of this species compared to others of the genus is questionable, we found no significant differences between eastern and western populations. The distribution pattern, however, could be an artifact resulting from insufficient collection in the Midwest and South-Central United States. The holotype is double-mounted (glued to a paper tip), is in good condition, and is deposited in the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution.
The first specimen listed is in poor condition, especially its forertarsi, which is tangled in the mounting glue. ETYMOLOGY.-The specific epithet, isochela, is of Greek derivation and refers to the symmetrical claws of the male foretarsus. Females have the longest oviscape in the genus compared to the preabdomen, averaging five terga.
The holotype is double-mounted (minute mount in paper base), is in good condition, and is deposited in the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution. DISTRIBUTION (Fig. 138).—Southern California south of 35° N. latitude and west of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. In addition, the abdomen is more shiny than most species of the genus, and some of the usually dark cephalic brushes are often whitish.
Neaspilota (Neorellia) punctistigma Benjamin
The male foretarsus has an anterobasal, spinose projection on the fifth tarsomere, an apparently unique character. There is no specimen in the USNM with the data on the label as given by Benjamin, although there is a female in the collection with the allotype label from Bithle, Florida, 14 June 1930. The holotype is double-mounted (minute insert in cork block), in good condition and is deposited in the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution.
Numerous other paratypes, all from Florida and bred from Pluchea foetida, are in the collection, although not labeled. REMARKS.—This species differs from congeners in having one or two semierect, posteroventral setae inserted preapically on the hind tibia. This character is sometimes difficult to see because of the location and small size of the setae.
Neaspilota (Neorellia) signifera (Coquillett)
In addition, the head is relatively long (about as high in profile), as is the haustelum (about as long as the antenna), and the tergae are predominantly black. T Y P E MATERIAL.—The male lectotype herein designated is labeled “Los Angeles Co., CAL[ifornia]./Coquillett Collector/Cotype No. The lectotype is directly mounted (the uppermost specimen of four males on the same stick), is in poor condition (left foreleg missing, belly fat, stiff covering much of thorax) and is deposited in the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, USNM 912.
REMARKS.—This species is distinguishable among congeners and any other species of the subfamily by lacking anterior supra-alar setae and by having an elongated proboscis, the haustellum of which is about twice as long as the antenna. Legs: Hindtibia lacking semierect preapically and posteroventrally; Fifth tarsomere of male foreleg typically modified (Figure 159), with 2 rows of 2-3 spines in a comb. Abdomen: Entirely yellow or with narrow brown bands mainly on terga 3 to 5; epan-drium and cerci as in figures 160, 161; distyphalus as in figure 162.
The holotype is double mounted (glued to a paper point), is in good condition and is deposited in the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution. Steck, the collector of the holotype of this species, as well as numerous other specimens we studied as part of this review. In females the oviscape is clearly shorter; the tergal-oviscapal size is about two (more than three in N. aenigma), and the apex of the aculeus is much broader.
Neaspilota (Neorellia) viridescens Quisenberry
REMARKS.-Most studied specimens of this species are quite easily characterized by the dark appearance of the wings (see description). In addition to the holotype, we examined seven of the 16 paratypes listed in Blanc and Foote (1961). A catalog of the types of diptera in the collection of the California Academy of Sciences.
Smith, editor, Insects of New Jersey; A list of the species found in New Jersey with notes on those of economic importance. XIII, Western Diptera: Descriptions of New Genera and Species of Diptera from the Region West of the Mississippi and Especially of California. An annotated host catalog of the fruit flies of America north of Mexico (Diptera: Tephritidae).
Synonymy in zoology must use the short form (taxon, author, year: page), with full citation at the end of the article below. Extensive notes should be collected and placed in a notes section at the end of the text. For titles of books and articles, capitalize sentences according to the rules of the language used (exception: capitalize all important words in English).
