Houghia ochrofemur 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 : 72-73

Houghia ochrofemur Fleming & Wood , sp. nov.

Fig. 36 a–f

Diagnosis. This species is one of four with vein R1 setose along its entire dorsal surface, and that lack sex patches on the ventral side of the abdomen (the other three are Houghia macilenta , H. griseifrons , and H. nigrofemur ). The pedicel and most of the first flagellomere are orange and the latter is medially incurved and extends well below the lower facial margin. The facial ridge is strongly curved, nearly obliterating the parafacial ventrally. The femora are orange basally but black apically (all black in H. nigrofemur ), and the tibiae and tarsi are black.

Description. Male. Pedicel and upper portion of first flagellomere pale orange. When viewed in profile, antenna arises distinctly above middle of eye. Length of first flagellomere extending to facial margin. First flagellomere distinctly S-shaped, the lower curve parallelling strongly curved facial ridge. 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, without black setae. Parafacial silver. Colour of fronto-orbital plate pale brassy to gold on its entire length from vertex to base of antenna (more than 50% coverage). Surface of fronto-orbital plate almost bare. Ocellar triangle when viewed from above appearing to be sharply pointed anteriorly. Diameter of anterior ocellus equal to, or greater than, diameter of base of adjacent ocellar seta. Ocellar setae arising distinctly behind anterior ocellus, approximately midway between anterior and posterior ocelli. 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 4. Anterior quadrant of anepisternum covered with short setae except for usually 3 to 5 distinctly larger setae. Katepisternum with two setae. Vein R1 with a row of small recumbent setae along its entire length. Legs ranging from reddish brown to yellow tinged but overall dark or distinctly pale, often light yellow. Coxae distinctly yellow tinged, usually contrasting with darker remainder of legs. Ground colour of dorsal surface of abdomen dark to black. Ground colour of ventral surface of abdomen entirely black. Sex patches absent. Terminalia: surstylus bayonet shaped, posterodorsal half haired, apex bearing many stout apical spines, tip with light inwardly apical curve when viewed dorsally. Cerci sharply pointed or distinctly tapered, apex with straight tip, ventral surface bare, separation between cerci deep narrow V shape, up to 85% as long as surstylus. Lobe of sternite 5 small and pointed apically, margins bare or not so densely pollinose as to be darkened, internal edge straight, multiple apical setae emanating from lobe.

Hosts. Houghia ochrofemur has been reared 13 times, exclusively from 7 species of rain forest Antaeotricha Zeller (Elachistidae) feeding on 8 species of plants in 6 plant families, among a sample of 8000+ caterpillars of this genus.

Holotype. ♂, CNC. Type locality: Costa Rica, Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Prov. Guanacaste, Sector Pitilla, Estacion Quica (10.99697°, -85.39666°), 470 m, 6/14/2008, Oscar Siezar, DHJPAR0027919.

Paratypes. 5 ♂, 6 ♀ ( CNC) Costa Rica, Prov. Alajuela and Guanacaste, ACG database codes: DHJPAR0035678, DHJPAR0049551, DHJPAR0046695, DHJPAR0035692, DHJPAR0037568, DHJPAR0036585, DHJPAR0046696, DHJPAR0036578, DHJPAR0048657, DHJPAR0036572, DHJPAR0042640.

Etymology. From the Latin adjective “ ochra ”, meaning pale yellow, and “ femur ”, meaning thigh, thus a noun in apposition.

Distribution. Costa Rica, ACG, Prov. Alajuela & Guanacaste, rain forest, 123–475 m elevation.

Figures

FIGURE 36. General morphology of Houghia ochrofemur 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.