Presenter: Jeremy Jensen, College of Science, Department of Biology
Authors: Jeremy Jensen, Dr. Joshua Jones, Dr. Heath Ogden
Faculty Advisor: Heath Ogden, College of Science, Biology
Institution: Utah Valley University
A new species of owlfly in the genus Ululodes from the Chiricahua mountains in Arizona, was found while comparing DNA sequence data within the genus. The several major differences in base pair identities are located on the 16s, 18s, and CO1 genes. Percent differences using pairwise comparison between the new species and the other known species, using a male and female for each species, further solidified the species as new. Intensive collecting efforts were then carried out and a small handful of additional specimens were acquired. Upon further investigation of the morphological appearance of the specimen, several distinguishing features were found that confirmed this was a new species. These features included differences in coloration on the head and thorax and in the shape of the wings. In particular the pedimalculae (a series of patterns found on the abdomen of Ululodes) were found to be unique in shape, color, and pattern. Dissections of both male and female specimens showed unique structures to the genitalia that would prohibit breeding among other species within the genus. Ululodes is the most species-rich genus in the owlfly subfamily Ululodinae (Jones & Oswald, 2013), and Arizona appears to be a particular hotspot for Ululodes diversification. Finding this new species in correlation to the ‘Sky Island Archipelago’ may be a biogeographic driver of speciation within Ululodes.