Rhagoletis

Martínez-Alava, Javier O., Serna, Francisco & Norrbom, Allen L., 2017, New records of Rhagoletis (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Colombia, with discussion on the morphological variations of some species, Zootaxa 4273 (4), pp. 549-558 : 553-556

Rhagoletis sp., psalida group

( Figs. 4–7 )

First record from Colombia.

Material examined. COLOMBIA: Cundinamarca: Bogotá, Barrio Argelia II, N04°34' W74°11', 2553 m, 22–Abr–2014, T. Cárdenas, 1♀ [ UNAB No. Catal. 1019] ; Bogotá, N05°00'03" W74°28'29", 1537 m, 10–Nov– 2003, W. Pérez, 1♀ [ UNAB No. Catal. 1059] ; Bogotá, Monserrate ( Arrayán ), N4°36' W74°03', 3161 m, 15–Ago– 1943, H. Osorno, 1♀ [ UNAB No. Catal. 1610] ; Bogotá, Universidad Nacional , N4°38' W74°05', 2558 m, 21–May– 2014, E. Espitia, 1♂ [ UNAB No. Catal. 1610] ; Bogotá, Universidad Nacional, Greenhouses , N4°38'10.59'' W74°05'18.35'', 2557 m, 7–Ago–2014, J. Martínez, 2♀ and 5♂ [ UNAB No. Catal. 1611] ; Bogotá, Universidad Nacional , greenhouses, N4°38'10.59'' W74°05'18.35'', 2557 m, 22–Ago–2014, J. Martínez, 1♀ and 2♂ [ UNAB No. Catal. 1611] ; Bogotá, Universidad Nacional , greenhouses, N4°38'10'' W74°05'18.21'', 2557 m, 16–Mar–2015, L. Pérez, 1♀ [ UNAB No. Catal. 1610] ; Bogotá, Universidad Nacional , greenhouses, N4°38'10.59'' W74°05'18.35'', 2557 m, 1–Sep–2015, J. Martínez, 3♀ and 4♂ [ UNAB No. Catal. 1611] ; Bogotá, Universidad Nacional , greenhouses, N4°38'10.59'' W74°05'18.35'', 2557 m, 1-Sep-2015, J. Martínez, 31♀ and 24♂ [ UNAB No. Catal. 687]; Chía, Vereda Bojacá, flower crop, La Fontana, N04°51'49" W74°03'48", 2646 m, 10–Abr–2002, B. Romero, 1♀ [ UNAB No. Catal. 1059]; Madrid, Vereda Puente Piedra, N4°49' W74°13', 2554 m, 16–Nov–2009, L. Arévalo, 1♀ [ UNAB No. Catal. 1610]; Mosquera, Finca Centro Agropecuario Marengo, N04°43'50" W74°16'02", 2530 m, unknown date and collector, 1♀ [ UNAB No. Catal. 1059]; La Mesa, N04°38'05" W74°27'57", 1298 m, 11–Sep– 2003, M. Rios, 1♀ [ UNAB No. Catal. 1059] . Meta: Acacías, Barrio Las Acacias, Kra. 31 Empty lots, N3°59' W73°46', 548 m, 29–Nov–2009, J. Jiménez, 2♂ [ UNAB No. Catal. 1610].

Distribution. The psalida group is known from Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela ( Norrbom et al. 1999). Here, we report a species of this group for the first time from Colombia, from the departments of Cundinamarca (the Bogotá savanna, in the Cordillera oriental high–plateau), and Meta (eastern foothills of the Cordillera oriental), between 1298 and 3161 m altitude in the former, and at 548 m in the latter.

Host plant. Unknown.

Comments. Three species are currently recognized within the Rhagoletis psalida group: R. metallica ( Schiner, 1868) , R. psalida Hendel, 1914 , and R. rhytida Hendel, 1914 ( Foote 1981) ; however, their status is uncertain (Norrbom, unpublished). The group itself is distinctive, but the key of Foote (1981) does not appear to work very well to distinguish the species, and the characters that he considered diagnostic appear to vary in local populations.

A thorough revision of this group, including an investigation of the host plants, is needed. Specimens from Colombia vary in attributes used in the key of Foote (1981) to distinguish R. rhytida and R. metallica , as follows:

Scutellar dorsum shape. In the Foote (1981) ´s key, it is stated that R. rhytida has at least the anterior half of the scutellar dorsum flat, with longitudinal wrinkles, whereas R. metallica has all of the dorsal scutellar surface flat and smooth. However, it is unclear how Foote determined this character state to be present in the latter species, as he did not examine the holotype and the publications he cited of the authors who did examine it ( Schiner 1868, Hardy 1968) do not mention this character. The Colombian specimens have the scutellum almost entirely flat, slightly convex posteriorly, with the dorsal surface with weak to noticeable longitudinal wrinkles ( Figs. 4 A–B).

Abdominal markings. According to Foote (1981), female abdominal tergites II–V, and male tergites II–IV of R. rhytida have narrow yellow bands on their posterior margins, whereas at least the female of R. metallica lacks these bands. All analyzed males from Colombia have the aforementioned condition ( Fig. 5 C). Conversely, although some Colombian females have bands from syntergite I+II to tergite V, as indicated by the description of Foote (1981) ( Fig. 5 A), but in others (males and females) there are no bands on any tergites. Specimens from Bogotá, D.C. (Cundinamarca), have bands only on syntergite I+II ( Fig. 5 B), and in both males and females these bands may be yellowish or whitish ( Figs. 5 A–C).

Wing pattern. All bands in the Colombian specimens are narrow. The subbasal, discal and subapical bands are uninterrupted (subapical band interrupted at the level of vein R4 + 5 in 1 of 91 specimens examined). The discal and subapical bands are not connected posteriorly (except connected near to posterior wing margin in cell cu 1 in 1 of 91 specimens examined). The anterior apical band is strongly tapered proximally and is narrowly connected to the subapical band ( Fig. 6 B), or is separated and represented by an isolated spot on the apex of vein R4+5 ( Fig. 6 A), in several specimens extending to the apex of vein M ( Fig. 6 B,C). The posterior apical band is represented by a single spot on the middle of the apical sector of vein M, sometimes extending almost to the posterior wing margin. The accesory costal band is present ( Figs. 6 A–C).

Figures

FIGURE 4. Dorsal view of mesonotum of Rhagoletis sp., psalida group from Bogotá, Cundinamarca.

FIGURE 5. Abdomens of Rhagoletis sp., psalida group from Bogotá, Cundinamarca; A, Female, posterodorsal view; B, Female, posterolateral view; C, Male, posterolateral view. T: abdominal tergite.

FIGURE 6. Wings of Rhagoletis sp., psalida group from Bogotá, Cundinamarca. ACB: Accessory costal band.

FIGURE 7. Collection sites for Rhagoletis jamaicensis and Rhagoletis sp., psalida group in Colombia.