Houghia biseriata Fleming & Wood

Fleming, Alan J., Wood, Monty, Smith, Alex, Hallwachs, Winnie & Janzen, Daniel H., 2014, Revision of the New World species of Houghia Coquillett (Diptera, Tachinidae) reared from caterpillars in Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica, Zootaxa 3858 (1), pp. 1-90 : 35-37

Houghia biseriata Fleming & Wood , sp. nov.

Fig. 13 a–f

Diagnosis. One of a group of seven closely related species in ACG, and many more in Central and South America, the H. crypta group, in which the second postsutural dorsocentral seta is missing, leaving a gap between first and third setae ( H. omissa , H. confinis , H. triangularis , H. destituta , H. crypta , H. biseriata , H. bivittata ). Houghia biseriata shares with H. bivittata the presence of a pair of wide dark scutal stripes ( Figs. 13 a, 14a) as a result of dark brown tomentosity between the two longitudinal dark scutal stripes on each side. The gold tomentosity on the fronto-orbital plate is confined to the vertex, not extending forward beyond anterior proclinate fronto-orbital seta ( Fig. 13 b), thus distinguishing this fly from H. bivittata .

Description. Male. Antenna black. When viewed in profile, antenna arises, approximately at level of middle of eye. Length of first flagellomere extending to facial margin. Facial ridge bare except for a few (usually 3–5) decumbent small setae above vibrissa. Palpus pale, usually distinctly yellowish. Postgena behind postoccipital row, above level of lower facial margin, with a small patch of few black setae. Parafacial silver. Colour of fronto-orbital plate gold on upper half, from vertex to midway down face (up to 50% coverage). Surface of fronto-orbital plate almost bare. Ocellar triangle, when viewed from above appearing to be notched anteriorly. Diameter of anterior ocellus less than diameter of base of adjacent ocellar seta. Ocellar setae arising beside, or slightly in front of, anterior ocellus. Eye bare. Postpronotum restricted to the three main postpronotal setae. Dark stripes on either side of dorsocentral row of setae, separated from one another by yellow tomentosity. Median and lateral stripes on either side of scutum separate from each other posteriorly. Postsutural dorsocentral setae 3, with a gap between first and third seta. Anterior quadrant of anepisternum covered with short setae except for usually 3 to 5 distinctly larger setae. Katepisternum bearing three setae, the middle one always the smallest. Vein R1 bare dorsally. Legs ranging from reddish brown to yellow tinged but overall dark. Coxae dark usually concolourous with remainder of leg. Ground colour of dorsal surface of abdominal tergite 3 and in some specimens parts of other tergites as well, dark medially but reddish laterally. Ground colour of ventral surface of abdomen partially or entirely reddish or yellowish. Sex patches present on tergites 4 and 5. Ground colour of sex patches shiny black. Terminalia: surstylus equilaterally oblong shaped, posterodorsal half haired, apex bearing few short apical spines, tip with light inwardly apical curve when viewed dorsally. Cerci sharply pointed or distinctly tapered, apex with blunt, hooked tip, ventral surface bare, separation between cerci deep narrow V shape, about as long as surstylus. Lobe of sternite 5 large and rounded apically, inner margin covered in dense tomentosity appearing darker than surrounding cuticle, internal edge inwardly curved, single long apical seta emanating from apex.

Hosts. Houghia biseriata has been reared 31 times, from a sample of 1244 caterpillars of Dubiella belpa Evans (20X) and Carystina aurifer (Godman & Salvin) (11X) ( Hesperiinae , Hesperiidae ) feeding on the foliage of 6 species of rain forest understory small palms ( Arecaceae ).

Holotype. ♂, CNC. Type locality: Costa Rica, Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Prov. Guanacaste, Sector Pitilla, Sendero Naciente (10.98705°, -85.42816°), 700 m, 04/30/2008, Manuel Rios, DHJPAR0024455.

Paratypes. 26 ♂, 18 ♀ ( CNC) Costa Rica, Prov. Alajuela and Guanacaste, ACG database codes: DHJPAR0045599, DHJPAR0011533, DHJPAR0008785, DHJPAR0021026, DHJPAR0008783, DHJPAR0042554, DHJPAR0010325, DHJPAR0008555, DHJPAR0008554, DHJPAR0019540, DHJPAR0008835, DHJPAR0030162, DHJPAR0029650, DHJPAR0008788, DHJPAR0035779, DHJPAR0034611, DHJPAR0040697, DHJPAR0008513, DHJPAR0016112, DHJPAR0011536, DHJPAR0023652, DHJPAR0008512, DHJPAR0035715, DHJPAR0035831, DHJPAR0035790, DHJPAR0011515, DHJPAR0029698, DHJPAR0011491, DHJPAR0008516, DHJPAR0008517, DHJPAR0008547, DHJPAR0011493, DHJPAR0011494, DHJPAR0011512, DHJPAR0011492, 07-SRNP-32205, 09-SRNP-67518, 05-SRNP-42322 06-SRNP-43586, 08-SRNP-31164.

Etymology. From the Latin adverb,” bis ”, “ bi- ” meaning two, and the adjective “ seriatus ” derived from “ series ”, meaning row, in reference to the pair of broad dark stripes on the scutum.

Distribution. Costa Rica, ACG, Prov. Alajuela & Guanacaste, rain forest and dry forest, 96–900 m elevation.

Figures

FIGURE 13. General morphology of Houghia biseriata sp. nov. a. Dorsal habitus. b. Frontal view of head. c. Lateral habitus. d. Posterior view of male terminalia. e. Lateral view of male terminalia. f. Ventral view of sternite 5 + segments 7 + 8.