Houghia velutina 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 : 85-87

Houghia velutina Fleming & Wood sp. nov.

Fig. 45 a–f

Diagnosis. Similar to H. latigena , and part of the H. latigena group of related species in which the gena is 1/10 head height ( H. longicercus , H. latigena , H. latilobus , and H. velutina ). The height of the V-shaped apical notch of the cerci, in posterior view, is only 1/3 of the height of the cerci, as in H. latigena , but differs from that species by being more evenly tapered to its apex rather than being slightly constricted at midlength (compare Figs. 27 d, 28d, 30d).

Description. Male. Antenna black. When viewed in profile, antenna arises approximately at level of 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, with a small patch of few 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 covered with small recumbent hairs, especially near margin of eye. Ocellar triangle, when viewed from above appearing rounded anteriorly. Diameter of anterior ocellus less than diameter of base of adjacent ocellar seta. Ocellar setae arising behind anterior ocellus but closer to anterior than to posterior ocelli. 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 4. Anterior quadrant of anepisternum covered with short setae except for usually 3 to 5 distinctly larger setae. Katepisternum with three setae, the middle one always the smallest. Vein R1 bare dorsally. Legs ranging from reddish brown to yellow tinged but overall dark. Coxae dark, usually concolourous with remainder of leg. 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 wedge shaped, posterodorsal half haired, apex devoid of apical spines, tip straight. Cerci rounded, apex with blunted hook tip, ventral surface haired, separation between forming a deep narrow V shape, about as long as surstylus. Lobe of sternite 5 large and rounded apically, inner margin covered in dense tomentosity appearing darker than surrounding cuticle, internal edge straight, single long apical seta emanating from apex.

Hosts. This rare fly has been reared only two times, and from 1081 caterpillars of Yanguna cosyra Druce (Pyrginae, Hesperiidae ) feeding on Clusia L. and Chrysochlamys Poeppig (Clusiaceae) , in ACG rain forest.

Holotype. ♂, CNC. Type locality: Costa Rica, Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Prov. Alajuela, Sector Rincon Rain Forest, Jacobo (10.94076°, -85.31770°), 461 m, 06/17/2009, Keiner Aragon, DHJPAR0035853.

Paratypes. 5 ♂, 2 ♀ ( CNC) Costa Rica, Prov. Alajuela, ACG database codes: DHJPAR0020985, 09-SRNP- 69334, 07-SRNP-41564.

Etymology. An adjective derived from the Latin noun “ vellus ”, meaning fleece, or wool when shorn off, referring to the velvety appearance of the sex patches.

Distribution. Costa Rica, ACG, Prov. Alajuela, rain forest, 405–461 m elevation.

Figures

FIGURE 27. General morphology of Houghia latigena 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.

FIGURE 45. General morphology of Houghia velutina 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.