Notiphila sicca Cresson 1940

Notiphila (Dichaeta) sicca Cresson

Notiphila sicca Cresson, 1940:8.

Notiphila (Agrolimna) sicca.—Cresson, 1946:233.

TYPE-MATERIAL.—Holotype female: “Owens, Nev(ada). Clark Co. 8–23 ’(19)19, 3000 ft [910 m]/ /TYPE Notiphila sicca E. T. Cresson, Jr. 6597.” The holotype is deposited in the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, type number 6597. Cresson also listed a second female paratopotype. The type number was published as 6543 but the number on the type specimen is 6597.

DIAGNOSIS.—Evidently, N. sicca is closely related to N. pallidipalpis, to which it is very similar. However, specimens of N. sicca may be distinguished from those of N. pallidipalpis or any other species of the subgenus by the following combination of characters: Antenna entirely black except for base of third segment, which is pale orange; maxillary palpus black; both mesonotum and mesopleuron immaculate; setal fascicle of hind basitarsus pale; abdominal fascia, which are blackish brown to black, well defined with distinct posterior margin. Terminalia of N. sicca males also distinctive: Hypandrial process very similar to that of N. deserta males but surstyli differing considerably; surstyli also distinct from males of N. sicca and N. pallidipalpis.

DESCRIPTION.—Moderately small to medium-sized shore flies, length 2.87 to 3.93 mm; with brownish gray to olive gray coloration and dark brown to black markings.

Head: Head ratio 1:0.71; postfrons ratio 1:0.49; frons more or less totally subdued, grayish, pollinose, but with outline indications of median triangular area and the lateral margins; median triangular area often lighter in color, grayer. Paravertical bristle larger than postocellar setae, subequal to genal bristle; 2 pair of proclinate, fronto-orbital bristles. Antenna entirely black except for base of third segment which is pale, orange; arista with usually 9–12 dorsal branches. Face yellow, subdued; facial setae hairlike; prefrons ratio 1:0.60. Eye ratio 1:0.78; eye-to-cheek ratio 1:0.12. Gena narrow, gray except for anterior portion which is concolorous with face. Genal bristle as noted above. Maxillary palpus black.

Thorax: Light brownish gray to olive gray; mesonotum and mesopleuron immaculate. Femora and tibiae black with some gray dusted areas; tarsi pale, yellow; setal fascicle of hind basitarsus pale. Wing ratio 1:0.44; costal vein ratio 1:0.46; M1+2 vein ratio 1:1.

Abdomen: Abdomen ratio of males 1:0.82; length of fourth tergum to fifth tergum ratio of males 1:0.84; fifth tergum ratio of males 1:0.58. Fascia of third and fourth terga well defined, rectangular; fifth segment mostly concolorous with fascia, but with some gray areas toward venter on lateral margins. Male terminalia as in Figures 190–192.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED (654).—ARIZONA: Apache Co., (KU); Cochise Co., Chiricahua Mountains (KU); Coconino Co., (KU); Yavapai Co., Montezuma Wells National Monument (USNM, UA). CALIFORNIA: Inyo Co., Deep Springs (UCD, UCR, USNM), Little Lake (USNM), Lone Pine (UCB, CAS), Panamint Springs (CNC); Kern Co., South Inlet-Lake Isabella (UCR); Mono Co., Mammoth Lakes (KU); Riverside Co., Aguanga (USNM); San Bernardino Co., Baker (ANSP, USNM), Victorville (CU); San Diego Co., 3.2 km N Warner Springs (CUR). COLORADO: Fremont Co., (KNSU); Huerfano Co., Walserburg (CSU); Larimer Co., Fort Collins (ANSP, CSU, WSU); Montezuma Co., 12.9 km W Cortez (WNM); Otero Co., 8.1 km N Rocky Ford along Arkansas River (ISU); Pueblo Co., (USNM); Weld Co., Greeley (CSU). IDAHO: Gooding Co., Bliss (KU). IOWA: County number 3 (?)(USNM); Dickinson Co., fen SW Silver Lake (ISU), Excelsior Fen (ISU). KANSAS: Scott Co., (KU). MASSACHUSETTS: Clearwater Co., (UMN); Cook Co., Grand Marais (UMN); Hennepin Co., (UMN); Ramsey Co., (UMN). MONTANA: Flathead Co., 12.9 km NW Bigfork (KSU). NEBRASKA: Chase Co., Champion (UN), 16.1 km SW Imperial (UN); Frontier Co., Curtis (UN). NEVADA: Nye Co., Ash Meadows (ANSP). NEW MEXICO: Catron Co., Apache Creek (WNM), Zumi Salt Lake 32.2 km W Quemado (USNM); Guadalupe Co., Santa Rosa (KU); Otero Co., Alamogordo (KU), 40.3 km W Tularosa (KU); Sandoval Co., Jemez Mountains (ANSP); San Juan Co., 1.6 km S Bloomfield (WNM); San Miguel Co., 0.8 km NE Montezuma (WNM); Socorro Co., Blue Springs (USNM); Valencia Co., Belen (KU). OHIO: Erie Co., Sandusky (ANSP). OREGON: Jefferson Co., Culver City (USNM); Harney Co., 14.5 km N Andrews-Alvord Hot Springs (WNM). SOUTH DAKOTA: Cascade Springs (ANSP). TEXAS: Galveston Co., Galveston (AMNH, FSCA). UTAH: Naples (ANSP); Beaver Co., Beaver (UMN), Beaver Canyon (UMN); Box Elder Co., Honeyville (UMN), Locomotive Springs (USU); Carbon Co., S. Price (WNM); Emery Co., 0.8 km N Castle Dale (WNM), Green River (UMN); Grand Co., Moab (ISU, USNM); Iron Co., Cedar City (KU, USNM); Kane Co., Kanab (ISU), Kanab Creek Canyon (ISU); San Juan Co., Indian Creek (USU), 10.5 km N LaSal Junction (WNM); Sanpete Co., Manti (ANSP); Sevier Co., 14.5 km E Cove Fort in Fish Lake National Forest (ISU), Fish Lake (KU); Utah Co., American Fork (USU), Goshen (USU), Goshen Ponds (WNM), Provo (UMN), Payson (UMN), Spanish Fork (ISU); Wayne Co., Capital Reef (USU); Weber Co., Hooper (USU). WYOMING: Yellowstone National Park, U. Geyser Basin (ANSP, USNM).

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION (Figure 193).—This species occurs in most of the United States west of the 100th parallel except for the extreme Northwest. I have also examined specimens from Minnesota and Ohio. Collection dates are from 10 March to 7 October.