Houghia triangularis Fleming and 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 : 84

Houghia triangularis Fleming and Wood , sp. nov.

Fig. 44 a–f

Diagnosis. One of a group of seven closely related species in Guanacaste, 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 ). Compared to the other species, the anterior portion of the ocellar triangle of this species is more sharply pointed apically, more distinctly gold pollinose, and is visible in both side and frontal views ( Fig. 44 b).

Description. Male. Antenna black. When viewed in profile, antenna arises approximately at level of middle of eye. Length of first flagellomere almost extending to facial margin (usually shorter by less than length of pedicel). 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 only at vertex, adjacent to ocellar triangle, the remainder silver (up to 25% coverage). Surface of fronto-orbital plate almost bare. Ocellar triangle when viewed from above appearing notched anteriorly. Diameter of anterior ocellus equal to, or greater 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 abdomen dark to black. Ground colour of ventral surface of abdomen entirely black. 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 many stout apical spines, tip with strong inwardly apical curve when viewed dorsally. Cerci sharply pointed or distinctly tapered, apex with blunt, hooked tip, ventral surface haired, separation between cerci deep narrow V shape, up to 85% 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, apical seta absent.

Hosts. Houghia triangularis has been reared only 6 times, from 3 species of satyrine Nymphalidae feeding on grasses ( Poaceae ), among a sample of 800+ caterpillars of these species.

Holotype. ♂, CNC. Type locality: Costa Rica, Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Prov. Guanacaste, Sector Pitilla, Ingas (11.00311°, -85.42041°), 580 m, 12/05/2011, Freddy Quesada, DHJPAR0048572.

Paratypes. 3 ♂, 2 ♀ ( CNC) Costa Rica, Prov. Guanacaste, ACG database codes: DHJPAR0042571, DHJPAR0027975, DHJPAR0048458, DHJPAR0015258, DHJPAR0046961.

Etymology. From the Latin adjective “ triangulus ”, meaning three-cornered, or triangular, referring to the pointed rather than notched anterior angle of the ocellar triangle.

Distribution. Costa Rica, ACG, Prov. Guanacaste, rain forest and dry forest, 290–675 m elevation.

Figures

FIGURE 44. General morphology of Houghia triangularis 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.