Notiphila avia Loew 1878

Notiphila (Notiphila) avia Loew

Notiphila avia Loew, 1878:193.

Notiphila (Notiphila) avia.—Cresson, 1946:236.

TYPE–MATERAL.—Holotype female: “H. B. T. (Hudson Bay Territory)/Loew Coll./avidm./Type 11135/Notiphila avia Lw, det W. Wirth ’61.” The holotype is deposited in the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, type number 11135.

DIAGNOSIS.—Specimens of Notiphila avia are very similar to those of N. robusta and are best distinguished from the latter only after comparing differences in the male genitalia (Figures 37–38). Externally, the third antennal segment of specimens of N. avia is often mostly pale, yellowish orange, and in many specimens it is entirely so.

DESCRIPTION.—Moderately large to large shore flies, 4.0 to 5.60 mm in length; with grayish brown to light brown background coloration and few darker markings.

Head: Head ratio 1:0.73; postfrons ratio 1:0.61; frons generally unicolorous or median triangle area slightly lighter in color, pollinose, area immediately laterad of median triangle often tinged with some charcoal coloration. Paravertical bristle large, approximately twice the length of postocellar setae; usually without distinguishable, proclinate, Fronto-orbital setae or at most with 1 pair. First and second antennal segments dark, usually black; third antennal segment variable, mostly pale but darkened apically and dorsally; arista with 8–10 dorsal branches. Face little differentiated from frons in color, lighter; facial setae strong, bristlelike, numbering 3–4; prefrons ratio 1:0.95. Eye ratio 1:0.77; eye-to-cheek ratio 1:0.28. Gena wide; genal bristle distinct, subequal to paravertical bristle. Maxillary palpus pale.

Thorax: Generally unicolorous, some specimens with slight indication of median mesonotal stripe or with maculation area on mesopleuron. Femora, tibiae, and front tarsi dark, black but pale apically; middle and hind tarsi pale. Setal fascicle of hind basitarsus dark, Wing ratio 1:0.42; costal vein ratio 1:0.35; M1+2, vein ratio 1:0.72.

Abdomen: Abdomen ratio of males 1:0.74; length of fourth tergum to fifth tergum of males 1:0.80; fifth tergum ratio of males 1:0.57. Abdominal terga fasciated, although weakly, with darker, blackish brown coloration. Female terminalia composed of well sclerotized segments 6, 7, and 8. Male terminalia as in diagnosis and in Figures 37–38.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED (273).—CANADA: ALBERTA: Banff (CNC); Lesser Slave Lake (USNM); McMurray (CNC); Nordegg (ANSP). BRITISH COLUMBIA: Ledum-Kalmia bog (CNC); Port Rupert (CNC). MANITOBA: Assiniboine River-Treesbank (CNC); Brandon (CNC); Churchill (CNC); Eastern Creek near Church (CNC); Farnsworth Lake near Churchill (CNC); Gillam (CNC); 8 km SW Shilo (CNC); Warkworth Creek near Churchill (CNC); Farnsworth Lake near Churchill CNC); Exmouth Lake, 65°0.2’N, 115°54’W (CNC); Fort McPherson (CNC); Fort Smith (CNC); Norman Wells (CNC). ONTARIO: Ottawa (CNC); Mer Bleue (CNC). QUEBEC: Berthierville (AMNH); Kazubazua (CNC); Montebello (AMNH); Rupert House (CNC). SASKATCHEWAN: Waskesiu River (USNM); Willows, 49°37’N, 105°52’W (CNC). YUKON TERRITORY: Otter Lake, 130°25’W, 62°30’N (CNC); Swim Lakes, 133°63’W (CNC). UNITED STATES: ALASKA: Anchorage, 48.3 km NE (USNM); 32.2 km W Glennallen (KSU); King Salmon-Naknek River (CNC); Matanuska Valley (CU, USNM); McKinley National Park near Teklanika Campground (KU). CALIFORNIA: Nevada Co., 1.6 km NW Hobart Mills (WNM); 4 km NW Hobart Mills (WNM). COLORADO: Boulder Co., Nederland (CSU); Mineral Co., Creede (KSU). IDAHO: Latah Co., Potlatch (ANSP). ILLINOIS: Du Page Co., Glen Ellyn (USNM). IOWA: Hamilton Co., Little Wall Lake (USNM). MICHIGAN: Livingston Co., Game Reserve (MSU, USNM); Muskegon Co. (USNM). MINNESOTA: Eaglenest (USNM); Cook Co., Grand Marais (UMN). MONTANA: Flathead Co., 1.6 km W Bigfork (KSU, USNM), 9.7 km NW Bigfork (KSU), 16.1 km NW Bigfork (KSU), 53.1 km N West Glacier (KSU), 8 km ENE Kalispel (KSU); Glacier Co., 3.2km E Babb (USNM), Glacier National Park-Avalanche Campground (USNM); Lake Co., 3.7 km E Polson (WNM), 4.8 km E. Polson (KSU), 24.2 km NE Polson (KSU), 4.8 km S Ronan (KSU. USNM), 5.2 km S Ronan (WNM), 1.6 km S Swan Lake (KSU), 8 km S Swan Lake (KSU), 4.8 km S Swan Lake (USNM), University of Montana Biological Station (MSU). OREGON: Linn Co., 33.8 km SE Idanha (WNM), 41.9 km SE Idanha (WNM). SOUTH DAKOTA: Tripp Co., Winner (ANSP). UTAH: Duchesne Co., Ashley National Forest-Lime Kiln Spring (WNM). WASHINGTON: Ferry Co., 24.2 km W Kettle Falls (UN).

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION (Figure 39).—Notiphila avia ranges throughout the northern half of North America. This is one of the few species of the subgenus Notiphila that occurs in the West, as far south as California, although usually at higher elevations. It has been collected from 28 May to 24 August.