Blepharella lateralis Macquart, 1851

Shima, Hiroshi & Tachi, Takuji, 2019, The genus Blepharella Macquart (Diptera: Tachinidae) in Japan, with notes on the Oriental species B. lateralis Macquart, Zootaxa 4615 (1), pp. 131-144 : 139-141

Blepharella lateralis Macquart, 1851

( Figs 21–26 , 35–36, 41–42 )

Blepharella lateralis Macquart, 1851: 177 [also 1851: 203]. Lectotype male (Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris; not examined), by fixation of Crosskey (1971: 264). Type locality, Puducherry [as “ Pondichéry ”], India.

Eurygaster setosa Doleschall, 1858: 102 . Lectotype male (NHMW; examined), by fixation of Crosskey (1966: 102). Type locality: Ambon [as “Amboina”], Indonesia.

Masicera rubriventris Wulp, 1881: 37 . Holotype female (NBDC; examined). Type locality, Simauoeng [as “Simau”], Sumatra, Indonesia.

Masicera elongata Wulp, 1881: 37 . Holotype male (NBDC; examined). Type locality, Simauoeng [as “Simau”], Sumatra, Indonesia.

Blepharella tenuparafacialis Chao & Shi, 1982: 272 . Holotype male ( Institute of Zoology , Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing; not examined). Type locality: Taiwan. Syn. nov.

[For other synonyms see Crosskey (1977: 672–673) and Cantrell & Crosskey (1989: 776).]

This species was redescribed in detail by Mesnil (1952: 236–237) under the name Blepharella munda (Wiedemann) [misidentification, see Crosskey (1963)]. We here describe the male and female terminalia and egg and provide a revised body length range based on newly examined material.

Diagnosis. Rather large grayish fly; abdomen with grayish pruinosity on anterior 3/5 of each tergite; palpus yellowish and scutellum reddish-brown in apical half; facial ridge with strong downcurved setae at least on lower 1/2; prosternum bare; male claws and pulvilli shorter than 5th tarsomere.

Description. Body length. 9–13 mm.

Male terminalia. Cerci in dorsal view evenly narrowed from base to apex, slightly swollen near middle, dorsal portion of apical 1/2–1/4 concave medially, rather narrowly separated in apical 3/8; in lateral view dorsal margin curved anteriorly from basal 1/4 to apical 1/4, ventral margin nearly straight, apex rounded; surstylus broad in lateral view, narrowed from basal 1/2 to apex, with fine, short, rather sparse hairs on outer surface; epiphallus weak, only slightly expanded dorsally.

Female terminalia. Sixth tergite broadly separated into two nearly rectangular hemitergites, with rather sparse strong hairs on posterior portion; 6th spiracle on anteroventral margin and 7th spiracle on mid-ventral margin of 6th hemitergite; 6th sternite slightly shorter than 7th sternite, nearly quadrate, with several strong setae on ventral margin; 7th tergite divided into small hemitergites, with a strong seta and some short fine hairs on posterior margin; 7th sternite well narrowed posteriorly from basal 1/2 to apex, apex rather pointed, with several fine hairs in posterior half; 8th hemitergite curved, C-shaped, without hairs; cerci rather broad.

Egg. Length 0.20–0.23 mm. Light brown to brown; nearly spherical or weakly narrowed apically in dorsal view, in lateral view heightened near middle; chorion with polygonal cells which are only weakly ridged, and with dense small punctuations; aeropylar structure rather small and weakly raised.

Type material examined. LECTOTYPE ♂ of Eurygaster setosa Doleschall : Dr / Doleschall / 1859 / Amboina [ Ambon] ( NHMW) ; HOLOTYPE ♀ of Masicera rubriventris Wulp : Simau [Simauoeng, Sumatra] / 6.44 ( NBDC) ; HOLOTYPE ♂ of Masicera elongata Wulp : Simau [Siamueong, Sumatra] / 6.44 ( NBDC) .

Additional material examined. [All in KUM except otherwise noted.] Bangladesh: 1 ♀, Chittagon, Kararhat Forest, 28.v.1989, H. Kurahashi leg. China: 1 ♂, Yunnan Prov., Dêqên, Benzilang , 2100 m, 23.viii.1996, H. Shima leg. ; 3 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, Yunnan Prov., Simao , 15 km E Jinggu, 900 m, 17.viii.1990, H. Shima leg. ; 1 ♂, Yunnan Prov., Simao, Jiangchen, Huangjianglin , 1200 m, 12.iii.1995, B. Yang leg. ; 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Yunnan Prov., Xishuangbanna, Mengla, Menglong , 8.iii.1990, S. Lin leg. India: 1 ♂, Amaldiha, Amalkantak , 7.ix.1987, R. R. Tewari leg. ; 2 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, Orissa State, Bangriposi , 200–500 m, 29.ix.1993, H. Kurahashi, S. Shinonaga & H. Shima leg. ; 1 ♂, Daitari , 400–500 m, 29.ix.1993, R. R. Tewari leg. ; 1 ♂, Karnataka State, Bandipur , 900–1200 m, 5.x.1993, H. Shima leg. ; 1 ♀, Karnataka State, Nagarahole , 720 m, 9–11.x.1993, H. Shima leg. ; 1 ♀, Kerara State, Ponmudi , 16–19.vi.1989, H. Kurahashi leg. Indonesia: 1 ♀, North Sumatera, Pankur Batu , 26.vii.1990, K. Hara leg. ; 1 ♀, West Java, Karawang, Jatisari , 23.ix.1991, ex Chrysodeixias chalcites, K. Konishi leg .; 4 ♂♂, Lombok, Sembella , 300 m, 22.xii.1972, H. Kurahashi leg. ; 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, Surawesi Utara, Toraut, Taman Nasional , 7–17.vi.1985, H. Kurahashi leg. Malaysia: 1 ♂, W. Malaysia, 30 mls N Tapah , 300–600 m, 28.x.1975, H. Shima leg. ; 1 ♀, West Malaysia, Pahang, Tembeling , 50 m, 26.v.1979, S. Asahina leg. ; 1 ♂, Sabah, 50 km S Kota Kinabalu, Papar , 13–15.xi.1975, H. Shima leg. ; 2 ♂♂, Sabah, Crocker Range, Melalap , 300 m, 31.viii.2002, T. Tachi leg. ; 1 ♂, Sabah, Danum Valley, West trail, 150 m, 28.xi.2002, T. Tachi leg. ; 1 ♂, Sabah, Serinsim, Kota Marudu, 27.i.2003, T. Tachi leg. ; 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Sabah, Sandakan, Imbak , 10–12.vi.2004, T. Tachi leg. ; 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, Sarawak, 100 km N Kuching, Balai Ringgin , 22–24.xi.1975, S. Shinonaga leg. ; 1 ♂, Sarawak, NE of Kuching, Muara Mongkos , 120 m, 22–24.xi.1975, S. Shinonaga leg. ; 1 ♀, Sarawak, Mili, Bario Pa Ukat , 1020 m, 7.ix.2007 (Jabatan Mus., Sarawak). Nepal : 1 ♀, Pokahra, Phedi , 28.vii.1992, R. Kano leg. ; 1 ♂, Godavari Ashram , 9–11.ix.1987, M. Limbu leg. ; 5 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, 15 km S of Hetauda, Hetauda– – Bharatpur , 21–25.vii.1990, S. Shinonaga leg. ; 1 ♀, Hetauda– – Chitwan , 23.vii.1990, K. Kanmiya leg. ; 1 ♂, E. Nepal, Tiwa– – Takwa , 1400 m– – 1500 m, 30.v.1972, H. Shima leg. ; 1 ♀, Dharan, Sunsar 400 m, 9.ix.1992, H. Shima leg. ; 1 ♂, Birganji, Patlaiya , 11.viii.1992, R. Kano leg. New Caledonia: 1 ♀, 15 km W of Thio, Col de Petcheraca , 19.ii.1978, H. Shima leg. Pakistan: 1 ♀, NWF Prov., Shangula Pass , 1700 m, 9.viii.1988, H. Kurahashi leg. ; 1 ♀, 34 km S of Dir, Daroa , 1800 m, 12–13.viii.1987, H. Kurahashi leg. ; 1 ♀, Kashmir, Ayubia Nat. Park ., 2300 m, 25–30.vii.1988, H. Kurahashi leg. ; 1 ♀, 15 km W of Balakot, Kot Gali , 1000 m, 23.vii.1987, H. Kurahashi leg. ; 1 ♀, Punjab, 20 km S of Murree, Tret , 500 m, 26.vi.1989, H. Kurahashi leg. Papua New Guinea: 4 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Wau , 1300 m, 1.i.1978, 17.vii.1982, S. Shinonaga leg. ; 1 ♀, Kuku, 1500 m, Mt. Hagen , 13.viii.1982, S. Shinonaga leg. ; 1 ♀, Port Moresby, Sogeri , 4.i.1978, R. Kano leg. Philippines: 1 ♀, Palawan, Montibls , 100 m, 29.x.1975, H. Kurahashi leg. ; 1 ♂, Bohol Is., Bilar , 7.v.1980, N. Kashiwai leg. Solomon Islands: 1 ♂, New Georgia Gp., Munda , 0–50 m, 26–29.i.1978, H. Shima leg. ; 1 ♀, Malaita Is., 20 km S of Auki, Bina , 29.i.1978, S. Shinonaga leg. ; 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, San Christobal Is., Kirakira , 26–29.i.1978, H. Kurahashi leg. Sri Lanka: 1 ♀, Ratonapura , 300 m, 1.x.1987, H. Kurahashi leg. Taiwan: 1 ♂, Nantou Hsien, Nanshanchi , 22.vi.1970, H. Kurahashi leg. ; 1 ♀, Tainan Hsien, Kuantsuling , 8.v.1970, H. Kurahashi leg. Thailand: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Doi Inthanon, Ban Yang, 1400 m, 10.ix.1975, R. Kano & W. Tumrasvin leg. ; 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, Fang, nr. Burma Border , 1200 m, 26.ix.1975, W. Tumrasvin leg. ; 1 ♂, Fang, Fang Exp. St. , 500 m, 25.ix.1975, R. Kano leg. ; 2 ♂♂, 10 km NE Doi Saket, Ban Pong Din , 20.ix.1975, R. Kano & H. Kurahashi leg. ; 1 ♂, Chiang Mai, Maehongson , 4.viii.1978, H. Suzuki leg. ; 1 ♂, 30 km S Sara Buri, nr Ban Sap Bon , 4.x.1975, W. Tumrasvin leg. ; 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Khao Yai , 60 km S Pak Chong, R. Kano & H. Kurahashi leg. ; 20 ♂♂, 20 ♀♀, Kanchana Buri, nr. Sai Yok , 500 m, 5–11.ix.1975, 7–8.x.1975, 9–13.xii.1975, 27–29.xii.1975, R. Kano, S. Shinonaga, H. Kurahashi, H. Shima & W. Tumrasvin leg. ; 2 ♂♂, Kanchana Buri, River Kuwai , 18.vii.1978, S. Suzuki leg. ; 1 ♀, Bangkok, Mahidon Univ. , 14.ix.1975, S. Tumrasvin leg. ; 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, Ngao, Lampang Prov., Teak Improvement Center , 22.x.1986, ex Pericyma cruegeri, Surachai leg. Vietnam : 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, 15 km NW Bao Lok, Danbri , 800 m, 29.v–1.vi.2002, S. Shinonaga leg. ; 1 ♂, Nghe An Prov., Que Phong , 250 m, 7–8.vii.1997, H. Kurahashi leg.

Known hosts. Lymantria ampla (Walker) ( Lepidoptera : Lymantriidae ); Argina astrea (Drury) [as “ A. cribraria ” in Crosskey (1976) ], Chrysodeixia chalcites (Esper) , Heliothis Ochsenheimer sp., Mocis frugalis (Fabricius) , Penicillaria Guenée sp. [as “ Bombotelia ” sp. in Crosskey (1976)], Pericyma cruegeri (Butler) , Plecoptera reflexa (Guenée) , Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) (all Lepidoptera : Noctuidae ) ( Crosskey 1976; Shima 1995).

Distribution. Oriental Region: Bangladesh *, China (widespread from Xizang to southern areas), India (Andra Pradesh, Assam, Karnataka, Kerala, Madras, Mysore, Orissa, Puducherry, Utter Pradesh), Indonesia ( Ambon, Java, Lombok, Sumatra, Sulawesi *), Malaysia (Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak), Nepal, Pakistan *, Philippines (Bohol, Palawan), Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam. Australian & Oceanian regions: Australia (Northern Territory, Queensland), New Caledonia *, Papua New Guinea; Solomon Islands.

Remarks. This is one of the commonest and most widely distributed Blepharella species in the Indo-Australasian Region. It is a known parasitoid of some agricultural pests in the region, but it is also found in natural forests. The examined specimens from Papua New Guinea (Wau) and the Solomon Islands ( San Cristobal Islands) are somewhat different in their male terminalia from those from the Oriental areas. It may be necessary to examine more material from these areas and Australia to determine if they all belong to a single species.

Blepharella tenuparafacialis Chao & Shi , described from Taiwan, Guandong (Hainan), Henan and Xizang, is synonymized with B. lateralis because it shares the same characters, such as bare prosternum, strong setae on facial ridge, yellowish palpus, fine ocellar setae, dense sexual hair patches on the venter of the 4th abdominal tergite of the male, and short claws in the male ( Chao & Shi 1982: 272, 280 [English summary], fig. 53). Chao et al. (1998) did not cite this species in their “Flies of China ”.

Figures

FIGURES 15–26. Male and female terminalia of Blepharella spp. 15–20. Blepharella nigra Mesnil (Saitama, Japan, KUM). 21–26. Blepharella lateralis Macquart (♂ from Sandakan, Malaysia; ♀ from Yunnan, China; both KUM). 15. Male 5th sternite in ventral view (hairs omitted on left side). 16. Epandrium, surstylus and cerci in lateral view (hairs omitted on epandrium). 17. Same in dorsal view (hairs omitted). 18. Hypandrium, pre- and postgonite and phallus in lateral view. 19. Female terminalia in lateral view. 20. Same in ventral view (hairs omitted). 21. Male 5th sternite in ventral view (hairs omitted on left side). 22. Epandrium, surstylus and cerci in lateral view (hairs omitted on epandrium). 23 Same in dorsal view (hairs omitted). 24. Hypandrium, pre- and postgonite and phallus in lateral view. 25. Female terminalia in lateral view. 26. Same in ventral view (hairs omitted). Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 27–42. Blepharella spp. 27–36. Adult habitus. 37–42. Eggs in dorsal (37, 39, 41) and lateral (38, 40, 42) view; scale bars: 0.1 mm. 27–28. Blepharella bomolocha sp. nov. male (paratype, Fukuoka, Japan, KUM), lateral (27) and dorsal (28) view. 29–30. Blepharella grisescens sp. nov., male (paratype, Fukushima, Japan, KUM), lateral (29) and dorsal (30) view. 31–32. Blepharella yaeyamana sp. nov., male (paratype, Ishigaki Is., Japan, KUM), lateral (31) and (32) dorsal view. 33–34. Blepharella nigra Mesnil, male (Saitama, Japan, KUM), lateral (33) and dorsal (34) view. 35–36. Blepharella lateralis Macquart, male (Yunnan, China, KUM), lateral (35) and dorsal (36) view. 37–38. Blepharella bomolocha sp. nov. (paratype, Fukuoka, Japan, KUM). 39–40. Blepharella nigra Mesnil (Saitama, Japan, KUM). 41–42. Blepharella lateralis Macquart (Orissa [Odisha], India, KUM).