Acrotaenia otopappi (Doane)

Norrbom, Allen L., Sutton, Bruce D., Steck, Gary J. & Monzón, José, 2010, New genera, species and host plant records of Nearctic and Neotropical Tephritidae (Diptera) 2398, Zootaxa 2398, pp. 1-65 : 11-12

Acrotaenia otopappi (Doane)

Remarks. This species differs from other Acrotaenia species in a number of characters, in some of which it more resembles the “Higher Tephritinae ” (sensu Korneyev 1999), particularly some Eutretini . Despite the strong similarity to other Acrotaenia species in wing pattern, its classification should be considered tentative. The differences in A. otopappi include: lateral vertical seta slightly lanceolate, whitish, paler than and approximately 1/3 as long as medial vertical seta which is pale brown (in other Acrotaenia acuminate, same color as and 2/5–3/5 as long as medial vertical seta, both yellow to orange); frons setulose anteromedially (not setulose in other Acrotaenia and other Acrotaeniini ); postocular setae mixed large whitish lanceolate and small slightly darker pale brown acuminate (subequal, concolorous whitish, slightly lanceolate in other Acrotaenia , although also mixed in Acrotaeniacantha , Baryplegma , Neotaracia , and some Tetreuaresta species ); parafacial sometimes with brown spot at level of base of antenna (lacking in other Acrotaenia ); enlarged costal setae at subcostal break 3–4 times as long as other costal setulae and distinctly projecting, subequal to width of cell c (in other Acrotaenia poorly differentiated or less than 3 times as long as other costal setulae and no more than half width of cell c, not distinctly projecting); cell r 1 with 1–2 medial (nonmarginal) ovoid white spots near apex of vein R 1 (lacking in other Acrotaenia ; probably autapomorphy of A. otopappi ); vein R 2+3 sinuous on distal half (nearly straight or gradually curved in other Acrotaenia ); lobe of cell bcu short, at most 1/3 width of cell (more than 1/2 width of cell in other Acrotaenia and other Acrotaeniini ); subbasal hyaline area across basal cells continuous from costa to anal lobe or at most narrowly interrupted in cell br (lacking in other Acrotaenia ); aculeus tip notched (entire in other Acrotaenia , South American species not checked); glans with acrophallus long and slender, closely associated with broader bluntly pointed lobe, and with 1–2 shorter, somewhat blade-like lobes arising near midlength, sclerotized outer sheath distally with row of teeth-like projections (in other Acrotaenia , Neotaracia , Caenoriata , Pseudopolionota , and Eutretopsis species examined, acrophallus composed of single, broader tube, and glans without other lobes on distal half, with only short inward projections from outer sheath, sheath without apical teeth-like projections).

Distribution. Norrbom et al. (1999) reported this species from “ Mexico (Sinaloa & Durango SE to Morelos)”. Data supporting these records are listed below. We have also collected it in Chiapas and Guatemala.

Biology. Specimens were reared in Guatemala from flowerheads of Perymenium grande Hemsl. and P. ghiesbreghtii B.L. Rob. & Greenm. , and in Mexico from flowerheads of Perymenium gracile Hemsl. The only previously reported host plant for this species is Otopappus acuminatus S. Watson based on a “female found dead in head” of the plant ( Doane 1899). Both plant genera belong to the Asteraceae : Heliantheae : Ecliptinae .

Material examined. GUATEMALA: Sacatepéquez: Cerro Alux , 14.60552°N 90.64293°W, 2178 m, emerged 10–20 Dec 2007 reared ex flowerheads of Perymenium grande (07G01) collected 11 Nov 2007, B.D. Sutton, A.L. Norrbom, J. Monzón, 1♂ 3♀ ( USNM USNMENT00671230–33 ) , 3♀ ( FSCA) , 1♀ ( UVG) ; Volcan de Agua, trail from Santa Maria de Jesus , 14.47464°N 90.71904°W, 2415 m, emerged 26 Dec 2007 reared ex flowerheads of Perymenium grande (07G11) collected 13 Nov 2007, B.D. Sutton, A.L. Norrbom, J. Monzón, 1♀ ( USNM USNMENT00212025 ) . Zacapa: road to plateau N of San Lorenzo , 15.10894°N 89.67796°W, 2097 m, reared ex flowerheads of Perymenium ghiesbreghtii (07G27A), 18 Nov 2007, B.D. Sutton, G.J. Steck, A.L. Norrbom, J. Monzón, 1♀ ( USNM USNMENT00104322 ) , 1♂ ( FSCA) , 1♂ ( UVG) ; road to plateau N of San Lorenzo , trail beyond campsite, 15.11561°N 89.68412°W, 2218 m, emerged 23–30 Jan 2008 reared ex flowerheads of Perymenium ghiesbreghtii (07G27) collected 17 Nov 2007, B.D. Sutton, G.J. Steck, A.L. Norrbom, J. Monzón, 1♂ 3♀ ( USNM USNMENT00654013–16 ) . MEXICO: Chiapas: between Chiquihuites & Union Juarez, 15°5'N 92°5'W, 1500–1800 m, reared ex flowerhead of Perymenium gracile Hemsl. (93M4) collected 30 Oct 1993, A. L. Norrbom & C. Estrada, 1♀ ( USNM USNMENT00104373 ) . Durango: 10 mi. W of La Ciudad, Buenos Aires , 9000 ft., 11 Jun 1964, J. F. McAlpine, 1♂ ( CNC) ; Durango, 30 mi. W of, 8000 ft., 6 Jun 1964, J.F. McAlpine, 1♀ ( CNC) ; El Salto , 11 mi. E of, 8000 ft., 13 Jun 1964, J. F. McAlpine, 3♂ 1♀ ( CNC) ; El Salto , 20.4 mi. NE of, 21 Jul 1982, 1♀ ( SDNHM) ; La Ciudad , 24 mi. W of, 7000 ft., 25 Jun 1964, J. F. McAlpine, 1♀ ( USNM USNMENT00214257 ) ; La Ciudad , 30 mi. W of, 6506 ft., Malaise trap, 25 Jul 1964, J. F. McAlpine, 1♂ ( CNC) . Morelos: Cuernavaca , Nov 1944, N. L. H. Krauss, 8♂ 5♀ ( USNM USNMENT00104403–15 ) ; Cuernavaca , Nov 1944, N. L. H. Krauss 116, 2♀ ( USNM

USNMENT00104416–17); El Vigía, 5 km N of, on Rt. 142, Km 48–50, 28 Sep–1 Oct 1991, A. L. Norrbom, 2♂ 2♀ ( USNM USNMENT00214354–57 ) ; Tres Cumbres , 2.5 mi. S of, 1 Aug 1962, P. D. Hurd, 1♀ ( UCB) . Sinaloa: Concordia , 20 mi. E of, 3000 ft., 8 Aug 1964, 1♂ ( CNC) , 1♂ ( USNM USNMENT00053820 ) ; El Palmito , 4.5 mi. W of, 6300 ft., 15 Jul 1964, J. F. McAlpine, 1♂ ( CNC) .