Aldrichiopa coracella ( Aldrich, 1934 )

Torres-Domínguez, Diana Marcela, Gallardo, Fabiana & Mulieri, Pablo R., 2024, Taxonomic review of the genus Aldrichiopa Guimarães, 1971 (Diptera: Tachinidae) with notes on antennal morphology and description of a new species, Zootaxa 5405 (3), pp. 354-380 : 357-362

Aldrichiopa coracella ( Aldrich, 1934) Figs. 1–4

Aphelogaster coracella Aldrich, 1934: 23 . Holotype male (NHMUK). Type locality: Lago Gutiérrez , Río Negro, Argentina.

References: Aphelogaster coracella : Aldrich (1934: 23), Fig. 4 , head of male in lateral view; Townsend (1940: 192), redescription and distribution; Cortés (1948: 122, 123), host information; Cortés & Hichins (1969: 17), distribution and host information in Chile; Hichins (1969: 6) specimens collected at “Quebrada de La Plata” in Chile.

Aldrichiopa coracella : Guimarães (1971:165) in catalogue of the Diptera of the Americas South of the United States; Guimarães (1977:19) host information; González (1992: 179) specimens collected at the “Reserva Nacional de Río Clarillo” in Chile; Gramajo (1998: 97), distribution record and host information in Argentina; Artigas (1994: 482) mention as biological controller of Chilecomadia moorei and Artigas (1994: 485), Baldini & Pancel (2002: 241) and Estay (2020: 189) cite as a natural enemy of Chilecomadia valdiviana ; Stireman et al. (2016: 27) specimens collected at “Calle Valle Nevado” in Chile; O’Hara et al. (2019: 102, 2020: 127) in world checklist; O’Hara et al. (2021: 54), in catalogue of the Tachinidae of Chile.

Diagnosis. Integument shiny dark brown to black. Parafacial with row of 6–8 setae. Distal region of pedicel pale, may be brown to yellowish brown up to a maximum of mid-length. Sternite 5 with distal region setulose, a deep median U-shaped cleft, one projection on inner margin closest to the distal region, and with well-developed and laterally expanded membranous transverse band. Pregonite plate more than 1.5x as long as wide, broadened from basal 1/3 and with distal edge straight, slightly cleft to cleft, subtly concave, and projecting slightly externally. Postgonite with smooth ventral edge. Hypandrium subtriangular, with convergent sides and acute to slightly rounded apex.

Redescription. Male: Body length: 3.5–4.8 mm, wing length: 2.4–3.1 mm (n=7)

Coloration ( Fig. 1 ): General coloration shiny dark brown to black. Frontal vitta brown to reddish brown. Scape black to shiny brown, pedicel black to dark brown, dorsally with light brown to yellowish region in apical third. Abdomen shiny black, sometimes with faint lateral silvery pruinosity on tergites 3 and 4.

Head ( Figs. 1C–E ): Row of 5 frontal setae reclinate and lateroclinate descending ventrally on parafacial to level of base of arista. Fronto-orbital plate with one lateroclinate and one proclinate setae in the anterior region and two proclinate orbital setae in the posterior region. Parafacial with row of 6–8 strong setae. Facial ridge with one setula above vibrissa. Postpedicel very long, about 3–5x as long as pedicel.

Thorax ( Figs. 1B, C ): Scutum with 2–3+4 acrostichal setae, 3–4+3 dorsocentral, 1+1–2 intra-alar; 1+3 supraalar setae.

Wing ( Fig. 1F ): R 4+5 dorsally with 4–5 setae, restricted to the basal region. Section of M between dm-cu and bend of M 1.2x the dm-cu length. Length of cs 4 1.3x the cs 2. Section of M between r-m and dm-cu equal or more than 1.2x longer than the section between dm-cu and bend of M.

Legs ( Figs. 1A, B ): Ventral surface of fore coxa bare. Fore femur with row of posterodorsal and posteroventral setae, mid femur with 1 ventral seta in 1/3 basal, 1 anteroventral seta in mid-femur and 1–2 posterior setae preapical; hind femur with an anterodorsal row of setae, 1 ventral seta in 1/3 basal and 2–3 ventral setae in 1/3 apical and 2 posteroventral setae in 1/3 basal. Preapical anterodorsal and preapical dorsal setae on fore tibia short and almost the same length. Mid and hind tibia with 3 strong anterodorsal setae. Preapical posteroventral seta of hind tibia much shorter than preapical anteroventral; anterodorsal and dorsal setae on hind tibia almost the same length.

Abdomen ( Figs. 1A, B ; 2A ): Long-oval. Syntergite 1+2 with 2–4 lateral marginal setae. Tergite 3 with 2 lateral marginal setae; tergite 4 with 2–4 lateral marginal setae. Tergite 5 with a row of 5 marginal setae.

Male terminalia ( Figs. 2–3 ). Sternite 5 with distal region setulose, a deep median U-shaped cleft, one projection on inner margin closest to the distal region, and with well-developed and laterally expanded membranous transverse band. Cerci slender, about the same length as surstylus. Surstylus widened at base and with arms wider than cerci. Pregonite plate more than 1.5x as long as wide, broadened from 1/3 basal and with distal edge straight to cleft, and projecting slightly externally. Postgonite with smooth ventral edge, apically sharp and concave to cover phallus. Hypandrium subtriangular with convergent sides and acute to slightly rounded apex. Basiphallus basally broad, darkened. Distiphallus basally broad, equal or longer than the basiphallus and truncate apex; darkened over the basal half, distally light to transparent.

Female. Body length: 3.8–4.5 mm, wing length: 2.3–3.1 mm (n=4) ( Fig. 1B )

Differs from male in the following characters: antenna with distal region of pedicel dark brown except for yellowish border. Postpedicel about 2.2–2.5x the pedicel length and narrowed medially and widened distally in some specimens. Parafacial setae are much thinner, shorter, and weaker than in males. Fore femur with longer and more defined setae on the anterior border than in males.

Female terminalia ( Fig. 4 ). Sternites 6–7 wider than long. Sternite 8 broad, distally medially cleft. Sternite 10 folded, with a cluster of strong setae on posterior edge and distal portion translucent in appearance (uncolored) with setae on its surface and distally tapering. Three spermathecae, rounded, smooth, without ornamentation or reticulation.

Intraspecific variation. The examined specimens showed some significant intraspecific variation in coloration: body varied from shiny black to dark brown; head with silver pruinosity on parafacial (near anterior margin of the eye) and the posterior margin of the eye and gena, which may be more extended or as a small spot. Pedicel in distal area light brown to yellowish, which may be restricted to only the tip or reach almost half of the segment. Frontal vittae varied from reddish-brown to brown. Males may have pregonite plate varying from a completely straight to a cleft in the posterior edge and hypandrium with the posterior edge varying from tapering to slightly rounded.

Type material. Aphelogaster coracella : holotype male, pinned and in good condition ( NHMUK). Examined by photographs. Available at the web link: https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/239117f1-903b-41c0-8e4b-f45d72dd9152 /1678838400000

Material examined: ARGENTINA: Buenos Aires, Carlos Casares, Ea. San Claudio, 34°94′17′′S, 61°25′05′′W; 16-XI-2016; P. Mulieri (1♂) ( MACN _En 34701). Chubut, PN Lago Puelo, Gendarmeria, 42°05,847′S, 71°40.937′W; I-2012; Malaise trap; Col. P. Mulieri, L. Patitucci (1♀ 5♂) ( MACN _En 34700, 36937, 36938, 36939, 36940, 36941). Chubut, PN Los Alerces, Cabaña La Cascada, 42°53′19.17′′S, 71°35′34.37′′W; 04-II-2013; 532 m; Malaise trap; Col. S. Olea, P. Mulieri, L. Patitucci (4♂) ( MACN _En 34674, 34680, 34681, 34687). Chubut, PN Los Alerces, Cabaña La Cascada, 42°53′19.17′′S, 71°35′34.37′′W; 05-II-2013; 532 m; Malaise trap; Col. S. Olea, P. Mulieri, L. Patitucci (1♀ 5♂) ( MACN _En 34667, 34676, 34682, 34686, 34690, 34696). Chubut, PN Los Alerces, Cabaña La Cascada, 42°53′19.17′′S, 71°35′34.37′′W; 06-II-2013; 532 m; Malaise trap; Col. S. Olea, P. Mulieri, L. Patitucci (1♀ 5♂) ( MACN _En 34668, 34670, 34671, 34672, 34679, 34683). Chubut, PN Los Alerces, Cabaña La Cascada, 42°53′19.17′′S, 71°35′34.37′′W; 07-II-2013; 532 m; Malaise trap; Col. S. Olea, P. Mulieri, L. Patitucci (6♂) ( MACN _En 34669, 34673, 34675, 34697, 34698, 34699). Chubut, PN Los Alerces, Cabaña La Cascada, 42°53′19.17′′S, 71°35′34.37′′W; 08-II-2013; 532 m; Malaise trap; Col. S. Olea, P. Mulieri, L. Patitucci (4♀ 5♂) ( MACN _En 34677, 34678, 34684, 34685, 34688, 34689, 34691, 34692, 34694). Chubut, PN Los Alerces, Cabaña La Cascada, 42°53′19.17′S, 71°35′34.37′′W; 08-II-2013; 532 m; direct capture; Col. S. Olea, P. Mulieri, L. Patitucci (1♂) ( MACN _En 34693). Chubut, PN Los Alerces, Puerto Mermoud, -42.723190, -71.748825; 25-X-2014; 521 m; Malaise trap; Col. P. Mulieri, L. Patitucci (1♂) ( MACN _En 34695). Río Negro, PN Nahuel Huapi, 41°36′5.8′′S, 71°36′24.8′′W; 01-XII-2008 / 14-I-2009; 468 m; Malaise trap; Col. Garré and Montes de Oca (3♀ 79♂) ( MLPA / MACN). CHILE: Santiago, Rinconada Maipú, 450m, 10-III-1966, Malaise trap, N. Hichins and M.E. Irwin, 33°31′S – 70°47′W. “ Aldrichiopa / coracella (Aldr) / R. Cortés det. 1978” (1♂) ( MLPA).

Geographic distribution ( Fig. 7 , Table 1 ). ARGENTINA (Buenos Aires, Chubut, Río Negro), CHILE (Biobío, Los Lagos, Metropolitana Santiago, Valparaiso). Distribution records were taken from Aldrich (1934), Cortés & Hichins (1969), González (1992), Stireman et al. (2016) and O’Hara (pers. comm. 2023).

Hosts. LEPIDOPTERA : COSSIDAE : Chilecomadia sp. ( Guimarães 1977, Gramajo 1998), Chilecomadia moorei ( Artigas 1994) and Chilecomadia valdiviana in forests native to Chile ( Artigas 1994; Baldini & Pancel 2002; Estay 2020), and Langsdorfia sp. ( Cortés 1948, Cortés & Hichins 1969).

Remarks. González (1992) in a study of the tachinid fauna of the Reserva Nacional del Rio Clarillo in Chile reported 12 specimens of A. coracella collected during spring (September and October). On the other hand, in Argentina, specimens studied were captured during the summer (December, January, and February). A specimen collected in Buenos Aires, Argentina was captured on flowers of Conium maculatum ( Apiaceae ).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Aldrichiopa coracella (Aldrich, 1934). Habitus, lateral view (A) Male; (B) Female; Male, Head (C) Lateral view; (D) Dorsal view; (E) Frontal view; (F) Wing (scale bars = 1 mm).

FIGURE 2. Terminalia of Aldrichiopa coracella (Aldrich, 1934). Male (A) Sternite 5; Genitalia: (B) lateral view, (C) Posterior view, (D) Ventral view (scale bars = 100 μm). Abbreviations: bph: basiphallus; cer: cerci; dph: distiphallus; ep: epandrium; eph: epiphallus; hyp: hypandrium; pgn: postgonite; prgn: pregonite plate; ph: phallapodem; sur: surstylus.

FIGURE 3. SEM micrographs of the male genitalia of Aldrichiopa coracella. (A) Complete, dorsolateral view (B) Basiphallus+epiphallus and distiphallus detail, lateral view. Color coding, yellow: epandrium, red: cerci, green: surstylus, purple: postgonite; blue: basiphallus+epiphallus, light blue: distiphallus (scale bars A= 100 µm; B= 50 µm).

FIGURE 4. Terminalia of Aldrichiopa coracella (Aldrich, 1934). Female (A) Dorsal view, (B) Lateral view, (C) Ventral view, (D) Spermathecae (scale bars = 100 μm), red dotted line indicates the S8 limits. Abbreviations: Cer: cerci; T7: tegite 7; S7: sternite 7; S8: sternite 8; S10: sternite 10.

FIGURE 7. Known distribution of the genus Aldrichiopa Guimarães, 1971, see Table 1.