Houghia macilenta 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 : 66-67

Houghia macilenta Fleming & Wood , sp. nov.

Fig. 32 a–f

Diagnosis. This small species is one of four with vein R1 setose along its entire dorsal surface, and that lack sex patches on the ventral surfaces of the abdomen (the other three are H. griseifrons , H. nigrofemur , and H. ochrofemur ). A unique feature of H. macilenta is the yellowish tomentosity along the edges of the frontal vitta, leaving only a narrow brown stripe down the middle, and entirely obscuring it between fronto-orbital plates and ocellar triangle.

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. 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 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 with brownish or gray tomentosity, appearing paler than stripes, but darker than remainder of scutum. 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 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. 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 equilaterally oblong shaped, posterodorsal half haired, apex bearing few short apical spines, tip with light inwardly apical curve when viewed dorsally. Cerci sharply pointed or distinctly tapered, apex with blunt, hooked 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 inwardly curved, multiple apical setae emanating from lobe.

Hosts. Houghia macilenta has been reared 4 times in ACG rain forest, only from Dalceridae : Acraga hamata Schaus (2X) and two species of Dalcerides Neumogen & Dyar , among a sample of 600+ dalcerid caterpillars.

Holotype. ♂, CNC. Type locality: Costa Rica, Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Prov. Guanacaste, Sector Pitilla, Pasmompa (11.01926°, -85.40997°), 440 m, 07/19/2006, Manuel Rios, DHJPAR0021031.

Paratypes. 20 ♂, 12 ♀ ( CNC) Costa Rica, Prov. Alajuela & Guanacaste, ACG database codes: DHJPAR0021007, DHJPAR0010482, DHJPAR0040153, 06-SRNP-33004, 07-SRNP-32683, 10-SRNP-41667, 07- SRNP-42025.

Etymology. From the Latin adjective, “ macilentus ”, meaning thin, meagre, in reference to the extremely slender gena and to the narrow dark central stripe of frontal vitta bordered by golden tomentosity on the frontal vitta itself.

Distribution. Costa Rica, ACG, Prov. Alajuela & Guanacaste, rain forest and dry forest, 410–440 m elevation.

Figures

FIGURE 32. General morphology of Houghia macilenta 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.