Eucelatoria auriceps ( Aldrich, 1926 )

Burington, Zelia L., 2022, A taxonomic revision of the Eucelatoria ferox species group (Diptera: Tachinidae), Zootaxa 5143 (1), pp. 1-104 : 23-24

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5143.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F71553B2-7D58-4E61-A883-546B2A0124D5
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6958388
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/038687B6-695C-8F5A-FF1B-FDC2FA3E82AB
treatment provided by	Plazi (2022-06-01 06:02:18, last updated 2024-11-26 04:13:38)
scientific name	Eucelatoria auriceps ( Aldrich, 1926 )
status

Treatment

Eucelatoria auriceps ( Aldrich, 1926) View in CoL

( Figs 1F View FIGURE 1 , 6 View FIGURES 6–9 , 28 View FIGURES 26–29 , 51 View FIGURES 50–51 , 73 View FIGURES 72–73 , 96 View FIGURES 94–108 , 111 View FIGURES 109–123 , 125 View FIGURES 124–135 , 141 View FIGURES 136–155 , 158, 173 View FIGURES 156–173 )

Xiphomyia auriceps Aldrich, 1926: 11 View in CoL . Holotype, USA, Virginia, Shenandoah River (USNM). Other references: Sabrosky & Arnaud (1965: 1051).

Eucelatoria auriceps: Wood (1985: 42) View in CoL , O’Hara & Wood (2004: 88).

Type material examined. Holotype ♂, labeled “Shen. R./ Clarke Co. Va. / IX-3-23”, “ ♂?”, “JMAldrich/ Coll ”, “ Holotype No./ 28900/ U.S. N.M.”, “ Xiphomyia / auriceps” ( USNM).

Allotype ♀, “Shen. R./ Clarke Co. Va / IX-2-23”, “ Allotype No./ 28900/ U.S. N.M”, “USNM ENT 00039932”, “ZLB_E.Ferox 00030” ( USNM).

Other material examined. 13 ♀♀ and 2 ♂♂. USA — Arkansas : 1 ♀, “ Miss. Co., Ark / 29-vii-1971 ”, “Cotton-Corn/ Strip”, “Malaise/ Trap”, “ R. Kirkton / Wilson”, “USNM ENT 00039933”, “ZLB_E.Ferox 00078 [specimen ID]”( USNM). Georgia : 1 ♂ and ♀, “ Panthersville , Ga./ 6–6–48/ P. W. Fattig ”, the first labeled “USNM ENT 00039931”, “ZLB_E.Ferox 00029” [♀]; the second, “00039930” and “00028” [♂] ( USNM). Maryland : 1 ♀, “MD Calvert Co. / Port Republic / 12.VII.1994 / D.M. Wood ”, “auriceps? piercer is longer”, “ZLB_E.Ferox 00016” ( DMW). Ohio : 5 ♀♀, “ USA: OH: Hocking Co.,/ Crane Hollow (S. End )/ 39°25.5′ N, 82°34.1′ W / 17.vii.2012, JO Stireman”, the specimen IDs “ZLB_E.Ferox 00015”, “00014”, “00012”, “00410” [abdomen in vial below specimen], and “00011”; the second labeled “JOS712.46”; the fifth labeled “JOS712.54” ( JOSC) GoogleMaps . 1 ♀, “OH, Greene Co., Beavercreek / Twp. , Fairborn Marsh ,/ 39.7708 N, 84.0064 W, 12.vii.2012,/ IS Winkler”, “ISW0011”, “ZLB_E.Ferox 00017” ( JOSC) GoogleMaps . 1 ♀, as above except date “ 26.vii.2012 ”, no ISW number, and specimen ID “00013” ( JOSC) . 1 ♀, as previous locality except “ Fairborn Marsh Wtlds. / Malaise trap- Forest / 26-vii-2012 / ID# FBM 023 [voucher FMB023]/ J.O. Stireman III”, the specimen ID “00413” . 1 ♀, “ USA: OH: Greene Co. / Wright St. U. woods, / Malaise trap Edge / 5-VII-2011 / ID# WSU0301/ J. O. Stireman III”, “ZLB_E.Ferox 00411” ( JOSC) . 1 ♀, as previous except date “ 17-Aug-2011 ”, WSU number “0332”, and specimen ID “00412” ( JOSC). West Virginia : 1 ♂, “ USA: WV: Hampshire Co. / 3.5 km S. of Springfield / Co. Rt. 2814/ 5–6.vii.2013 / J.O. Stireman III”, “JOS713.7”, “ZLB_ E.Ferox 00018” [genitalia in vial under specimen] ( JOSC) .

Recognition. This North American species possesses thin, fine thoracic vittae, strong ocellar setae, and a relatively long piercer in common with E. texana and E. sabroskyi sp. nov., but is distinct from them in the yellow color of the head and thorax tomentum. The sometimes sympatric E. borealis sp. nov. can be distinguished additionally by its indistinct thoracic vittae and weak ocellar setae.

Redescription. [Redescribed from 9 ♀♀ and 2 ♂♂; head measurements from 5 ♀♀.] Length 6.2–7.9 mm (mean = 6.9 mm).

Head. Parafacial, fronto-orbital plate, vertex, post-ocular plate, and vibrissal angle tomentum dense yellow. Genal dilation, postgena, and occiput tomentum ash-gray, darker on genal dilation, sometimes extending to ventral part of post-orbital plate. Pale occipital setae light gray, no longer than setulae of genal dilation. Ocellar setae subequal to one-half length of posterior reclinate orbital setae. Gena with 4 setae, subvibrissal ridge with 2 setae. Facial ridge with setulae on lower third or less. Postocellar setae divergent, one-half length of ocellar setae. Paravertical seta three-fourths to subequal with postocellar setae. Outer vertical setae lateroclinate, distinctly longer than adjacent post-orbital setae. Reclinate orbital setae 3. Frontal setae 7, last frontal seta just ventral to arista base. Eye apparently bare. Eye height to head height ratio 0.82–0.85 (mean = 0.84). Postpedicel length 0.43–0.44 height of head. Facial ridge length 0.51–0.58 (mean = 0.55) height of head. Parafacial width 0.08–0.12 (mean = 0.11) lateral length of head. Pedicel 0.28–0.34 (mean = 0.32) length of postpedicel. Postpedicel 1.5–2.2 (mean = 1.8) width of parafacial in lateral view. Vertex 0.24–0.26 (mean = 0.25) width of head in dorsal view. Palpus yellow to tan, sub-cylindrical at tip in males, slightly expanded in females, with short, stout apicodorsal setae.

Thorax. Dorsomedial length roughly equal to width. Lateral tomentum ash-gray, merging to yellow-gray on dorsal part of anepisternum. Dorsal tomentum dense yellow, appearing gold, sometimes grayer, merging to ash-gray near vittae, especially medially on postsutural area. Presutural outer vitta triangular, distinctly connected to anterior margin. Postsutural outer vitta fusiform, wider anteriorly than presutural vitta. Inner thoracic vittae linear, slightly divergent, not connected to outer vittae and unbroken at suture, extending posterior to level of first postsutural acrostichal setae. Scutellar dorsal tomentum yellow, appearing gold, short, extending nearly to base. Postpronotum with 3 setae. Presutural area with 2 supra-alar setae. Postsutural area with 4 dorsocentral setae, rarely 3. Fore tibia with 1 posterodorsal seta. Wing hyaline. Calypters tan to cream colored.

Abdomen. Cuticle and setulae entirely black. Dorsal tomentum bands dirty gray, appearing bronze in some light; one-third to one-half length of T3–5; with distinct median vitta. Ventral tomentum bands ash-gray, appearing blue in some light; one-half to three-fourths length of T3–5. T4 with 1 pair of median marginal setae and 1–3 pairs of lateral marginal setae, the lateral setae usually weaker than the median setae and decumbent.

Male terminalia ( Figs 125 View FIGURES 124–135 , 141 View FIGURES 136–155 , 158 View FIGURES 156–173 ): sternite 5 basal plate with median teeth separated 0.4 width of basal notch; apical lobes 1.5 times length of basal plate. Postgonite gradually curved, anterior emargination narrow, crescent shaped, less than width of postgonite at mid length. Surstylus widely rounded, paddle-shaped, apex blunt; longer than cercus; 0.6 times as wide as long; gradually curved posterobasally. Cercus in lateral view nearly parallel sided, not dilated at tip, with slight point at apex; in caudal view lateral margin curved from base, narrowed to mid length, then subparallel to blunt subquadrate apex. Upper lobe subtriangular, blunt at outer angle, angled on inner margin to small median projection; 0.2 length of cercus. Median section 0.5 length of cercus. Apical cleft margins slightly divergent, greatest width subequal apex of cercus; 0.2 length of cercus. Syncercus apex width in caudal view 0.4 width of syncercus base.

Female terminalia ( Figs 96 View FIGURES 94–108 , 111 View FIGURES 109–123 ): piercer generally extending past apex of abdominal segment 1+2, in lateral view gradually curved along basal two-thirds, gradually bent at tip; in posterior view, parallel sided on basal third, then narrowed gradually to tip. Aculeate lobe 2.25 times height of segment 7 base. End tergite rectangular, elongate, blunt ended, more than 4 times as long as wide. Cercus with 5 setae; ventral elongation 2–3 times length of cercus. Postgenital plate with 12 setae.

Host(s). Unknown.

Geographic extent and seasonal occurrence. Individuals of E. auriceps are known only from the eastern United States, collected as far west as Arkansas, as far south as Georgia, and as far north as southern Ohio ( Sabrosky & Arnaud 1965; O’Hara & Wood 2004) ( Fig. 173 View FIGURES 156–173 ). It is likely that E. auriceps occurs throughout the southeastern United States. Specimens were collected primarily in July in the northern part of its range and in June in Georgia. The holotype and allotype were collected in Virginia in September.

Discussion. It is difficult to confuse the female of this species with another North American species of Eucelatoria , or, indeed, any Nearctic tachinid. The combination of bright gold head and nearly abdomen-length piercer distinguishes it from both the northern E. borealis and the southern E. texana , which have shorter piercers and gray parafacials. Both E. sabroskyi sp. nov. and E. rivalis have a long piercer but also have gray parafacials. Central American species with gold heads and long piercers have distinctly different thoracic vittae patterns. Specimens from Crane Hollow, Ohio were collected on lush deciduous vegetation surrounding a small creek (J.O. Stireman, pers. comm.), which suggests that the host of E. auriceps lives in or adjacent to humid deciduous forests. Individuals are also often collected while they are nectar feeding in old fields (J. Brown, I.S. Winkler, pers. comm.). Genetic data places this species as sister to E. sabroskyi sp. nov. and without genetic clusters by geographical locality ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 ).

References

Aldrich, J. R. (1926) Descriptions of new and little known Diptera or two-winged flies. Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 69 (22), 1 - 26. https: // doi. org / 10.5479 / si. 00963801.69 - 2648.1

O'Hara, J. E. & Wood, D. M. (2004) Catalogue of the Tachinidae (Diptera) of America north of Mexico. Memoirs on Entomology, International, 18, 1 - 405.

Sabrosky, C. W. & Arnaud, P. H. J. (1965) Family Tachinidae. In: Stone, A., Sabrosky, C. W., Wirth, W. W., Foote, R. H. & Coulson, J. R. (Eds.), A Catalog of the Diptera of America North of Mexico. United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C., pp. 961 - 1108.

Wood, D. M. (1985) A taxonomic conspectus of the Blondeliini of North and Central America and the West Indies (Diptera: Tachinidae). Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada, 132, 1 - 130. https: // doi. org / 10.4039 / entm 117132 fv

Figures

FIGURE 1. CO1-based neighbor-joining tree of 12 species of the Eucelatoria ferox species group, with inset illustrations of mesonota. The outgroup is Eucelatoria armigera (Coquillett). Node labels indicate support values over 60. Scale bar = 2% genetic difference. The E. charapensis (Townsend) sequence with the axial break is of poor quality but is included to show unity of El Bigal specimens with the rest of the metapopulation. Mesonota are illustrated with setal annuli only for clarity. A. E. gustavogutierrezi sp. nov. B. E. kopis sp. nov. C. E. ritavargasae sp. nov. D. E. ferox (Townsend). E. E. huitepecensis sp. nov. F. E. auriceps (Aldrich). G. E. gladiatrix (Townsend). H. E. borealis sp. nov. I. E. yanayacu sp. nov.

FIGURES 6–9. Female habitus photographs of Eucelatoria ferox group spp., dorsal view. 6. E. auriceps (Aldrich), Crane Hollow (ZLB_E.Ferox 00011) (JOSC). 7. E. borealis sp. nov., allotype (ZLB_E.Ferox 00022) (DMW). 8. E. charapensis (Townsend), Chapare Province (ZLB_E.Ferox 00400) (DMW). 9. E. charapensis (Townsend), El Bigal Reserve (ZLB_E.Ferox 00394) (JOSC).

FIGURES 26–29. Habitus photographs of Eucelatoria ferox group spp., dorsal view. 26. Female of E. tenebrionis sp. nov., holotype (ZLB_E.Ferox 00216) (DMW). 27. Male of E. aurata (Townsend), Nova Teutonia (ZLB_E.Ferox 00227) (DMW). 28. Male of E. auriceps (Aldrich), Panthersville (ZLB_E.Ferox 00028) (USNM). 29. Male of E. borealis sp. nov., holotype (ZLB_E.Ferox 00037) (DMW).

FIGURES 50–51. Female habitus photographs of Eucelatoria ferox group spp., lateral view. 50. E. aurata (Townsend), Nova Teutonia (ZLB_E.Ferox 00232) (DMW). 51. E. auriceps (Aldrich), Crane Hollow (ZLB_E.Ferox 00011) (JOSC).

FIGURES 72–73. Male habitus photographs of Eucelatoria ferox group spp., lateral view. 72. E. aurata (Townsend), Nova Teutonia (ZLB_E.Ferox 00227) (DMW). 73. E. auriceps (Aldrich), Panthersville (ZLB_E.Ferox 00028) (USNM).

FIGURES 94–108. Female seventh abdominal segment of Eucelatoria ferox group spp., lateral view. Numbers are “ZLB_ E.Ferox” specimen IDs. 94. E. ferox (Townsend), Santa Cruz (00398) (USNM). 95. E. aurata (Townsend), Nova Teutonia (00250) (DMW). 96. E. auriceps (Aldrich), Crane Hollow (00410) (JOSC). 97. E. borealis sp. nov., Sheffeld (00041) (DMW). 98. E. charapensis (Townsend), Chapare Province (00393) (DMW). 99. E. falcata sp. nov., Nova Teutonia (00274) (CNC). 100. E. fordlandia sp. nov., Fordlandia (00311) (USNM). 101. E. gladiatrix (Townsend), Guanacaste Province (00376) (CNC). 102. E. sabroskyi sp. nov., Herb Martyr Campground (00084) (CNC). 103. E. strigata (Wulp), Trinidad (00138) (CNC). 104. E. texana (Reinhard), Madera Greaterville Rd. (00048) (JOSC). 105. E. yanayacu sp. nov., Yanayacu (no “E.Ferox” number, labeled “DIP328”) (USNM). 106. E. gustavogutierrezi sp. nov., Guanacaste Province (00007) (CNC). 107. E. kopis sp. nov., Avispas (00217) (CNC). 108. E. sica sp. nov., Yanayacu (00211) (CNC).

FIGURES 109–123. Female abdominal segments eight through ten of Eucelatoria ferox group spp., dorsal view. Numbers are “ZLB_E.Ferox” specimen IDs. 119. E. ferox (Townsend), Santa Cruz (00398) (USNM). 110. E. aurata (Townsend), Nova Teutonia (00250) (DMW). 111. E. auriceps (Aldrich), Crane Hollow (00410) (JOSC). 112. E. borealis sp. nov., Sheffeld (00041) (DMW). 113. E. charapensis (Townsend), Chapare Province (00393) (DMW). 114. E. falcata sp. nov., Nova Teutonia (00274) (CNC). 115. E. fordlandia sp. nov., Fordlandia (00311) (USNM). 116. E. gladiatrix (Townsend), Guanacaste Province (ZLB_ E.Ferox 00379) (CNC). 117. E. sabroskyi sp. nov., Herb Martyr Campground (00084) (CNC). 118. E. strigata (Wulp), Trinidad (00138) (CNC). 119. E. texana (Reinhard), Madera Greaterville Rd. (00048) (JOSC). 120. E. yanayacu sp. nov., Yanayacu (no “E.Ferox” number, labeled “DIP328”) (USNM). 121. E. gustavogutierrezi sp. nov., Guanacaste Province (00007) (CNC). 122. E. kopis sp. nov., Avispas (00217) (CNC). 123. E. sica sp. nov., Yanayacu (00211) (CNC).

FIGURES 124–135. Male terminalia of Eucelatoria ferox group spp., left lateral view. Numbers are “ZLB_E.Ferox” specimen ID numbers. 124. E. aurata (Townsend), Nova Teutonia (00100) (CNC). 125. E. auriceps (Aldrich), Springfield (00018) (JOSC). 126. E. borealis sp. nov., St. Lawrence Island (00032) (CNC). 127. E. charapensis (Townsend), Chiapas (00202) (DMW). 128. E. falcata sp. nov., Nova Teutonia (00271) (CNC). 129. E. fordlandia sp. nov., Fordlandia (00361) (USNM). 130. E. gladiatrix (Townsend), Guanacaste Province (00375) (CNC). 131. E. sabroskyi sp. nov., Greaterville Rd. (00071) (USNM). 132. E. strigata (Wulp), Trinidad (00147) (CNC). 133. E. texana (Reinhard), College Station (00048) (CNC). 134. E. woodorum sp. nov., Xochipala (00201) (DMW). 135. E. yanayacu sp. nov., Yanayacu (00189) (USNM).

FIGURES 136–155. Male terminalia of Eucelatoria ferox group spp., left lateral view, and caudal view of cerci and surstyli. Numbers are “ZLB_E.Ferox” specimen ID numbers. Specimen information for caudal views is identical to that for Figs 124– 139. 136. E. gustavogutierrezi sp. nov., lateral view, Guanacaste Province (00008) (CNC). 137. E. hafelei sp. nov., lateral view, Chapare Province (00386) (DMW). 138. E. ritavargasae sp. nov., lateral view, Narupa (00215) (USNM). 139. E. sica sp. nov., lateral view, Yanayacu (00213) (CNC). 140. E. aurata (Townsend), caudal view. 141. E. auriceps (Aldrich), caudal view. 142. E. borealis sp. nov., caudal view. 143. E. charapensis (Townsend), caudal view. 144. E. falcata sp. nov., caudal view. 145. E. fordlandia sp. nov., caudal view. 146. E. gladiatrix (Townsend), caudal view. 147. E. sabroskyi sp. nov., caudal view. 148. E. strigata (Wulp), caudal view. 149. E. texana (Reinhard), caudal view. 150. E. woodorum sp. nov., caudal view. 151. E. yanayacu sp. nov., caudal view. 152. E. gustavogutierrezi sp. nov., caudal view. 153. E. hafelei sp. nov., caudal view. 154. E. ritavargasae sp. nov., caudal view. 155. E. sica sp. nov., caudal view.

FIGURES 156–173. Male terminalia and fifth abdominal sternite of Eucelatoria ferox group spp. Specimen information for fifth sternites is identical to that for Figs 124–139. 156. Generic male terminalia, left lateral view (left) and caudal view (right), setae and membrane omitted.Abbreviations: aed, aedeagal apodeme; bas, basal lobe of surstylus; C, depth of postgonite anterior emargination; cer, cercus; epa, epandrium; hyp, hypandrium; pha, phallus; pos, postgonite; pre, pregonite; sur, surstylus. 157. E. aurata (Townsend). 158. E. auriceps (Aldrich). 159. E. borealis sp. nov. 160. E. charapensis (Townsend). 161. E. falcata sp. nov. 162. E. fordlandia sp. nov. 163. E. gladiatrix (Townsend). 164. E. sabroskyi sp. nov. 165. E. strigata (Wulp). 166. E. texana (Reinhard). 167. E. woodorum sp. nov. 168. E. yanayacu sp. nov. 169. E. gustavogutierrezi sp. nov. 170. E. hafelei sp. nov. 171. E. ritavargasae sp. nov. 172. E. sica sp. nov.