Houghia destituta 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 : 48-49

Houghia destituta Fleming & Wood , sp. nov.

Fig. 21 a–f

Diagnosis. One of a group of seven closely related species in ACG, and many more in Central and South America, 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 ) ( Figs. 7 b, 21d) (a characteristic of the H. crypta group). Differentiates itself from the rest of the crypta group by the depth of the dorsal notch ( Fig. 21 d) on the cerci in posterior view, that appears to be as high as the apical portion ( Fig. 21 d).

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 on upper half, from vertex to midway down face (up to 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 less 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 united to one another 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 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 present on tergites 4 and 5. Ground colour of sex patches shiny black. Terminalia: surstylus bayonet shaped, posterodorsal half bare, apex bearing apical spines along lower half only, tip with strong inwardly apical curve when viewed dorsally. Cerci rounded, apex with blunt, hooked tip, ventral surface bare, separation between cerci straight, up to 85% as long as surstylus. Lobe of sternite 5 small and pointed apically, inner margin covered in dense tomentosity appearing darker than surrounding cuticle, internal edge inwardly curved, single long apical seta emanating from apex.

Hosts. Houghia destituta has been reared 9 times, from a sample of 284 caterpillars of the rain forest Antiblemma ceras (Druce) (Noctuidae) feeding on Conostegia xalapensis (Bonpl.) (Melastomataceae) .

Holotype. ♂, CNC. Type locality: Costa Rica, Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Prov. Alajuela, Sector Rincon Rain Forest, Sendero Venado (10.89678°, -85.27001°), 420 m, 11/17/2008, Anabelle Cordoba, DHJPAR0030015.

Paratypes. 3 ♂, 6 ♀ ( CNC) Costa Rica, Prov. Alajuela and Guanacaste, ACG database codes: DHJPAR0042295, DHJPAR0007013, DHJPAR0008787, DHJPAR0030010, 00-SRNP-20618, DHJPAR0016245, DHJPAR0036549, 00-SRNP-20588.

Etymology. From the Latin participle “ destitutus ”, derived from the verb “ destituo ” meaning deserted, devoid of, or lacking, referring to the paucity of distinguishing features.

Distribution. Costa Rica, ACG, Prov. Alajuela & Guanacaste, rain forest and dry forest, 135–461 m elevation.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Dorsal view of thorax showing differing number of postsutural dorsocentral setae. Red circles indicate positions of these setae. a. Houghia fimbriata sp. nov., with four postsutural dorsocentral setae. b. Houghia omissa sp. nov., with three postsutural dorsocentral setae.

FIGURE 21. General morphology of Houghia destituta 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.