Houghia crypta

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 : 45-46

Houghia crypta ( Townsend, 1934 402)

Fig. 19 a–f

Carceliocephala crypta Townsend, 1934: 402 . Holotype female (USNM) [examined by DMW]. Type locality: Brazil, Para, Río Tapajós, Bôa Vista.

Diagnosis. One of a group of seven sibling species in ACG, and many more in Central and South America, that we have called the H. crypta group (Townsend’s monotypic genus Carceliocephala ), 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 ). We interpret this species as conspecific with the holotype of Houghia crypta (Townsend) described from Brazil. It may be distinguished from the remaining 6 species by the presence of a sex patch on tergite 5 (absent in H. omissa ), two distinctly separated stripes on either side of the scutum (these stripes united by dark tomentosity in H. bivittata and H. bistrigata thus appearing as a single broad stripe on each side, or partially united posteriorly, as in H. confinis ), by the truncated or notched ocellar triangle, by the long dagger-like surstylus, and by the shape of the cerci (explained in couplet 17). However, the holotype has not been dissected, so comparisons of the terminalia with those of the holotype have not been made.

Description. Male. Antenna black. When viewed in profile, antenna arises approximately at level of middle of eye. Length of first flagellomere shorter than facial margin, (usually shorter by at least the length of the 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 notched 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 with 4 or 5 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 separate from each other 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 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 equilaterally long dagger-like, posterodorsal half bare, apex bearing many stout apical spines, tip with strong inwardly apical curve when viewed dorsally. Cerci rounded, 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, inner margin covered in dense tomentosity appearing darker than surrounding cuticle, internal edge inwardly curved, apical seta absent.

Hosts. Houghia crypta has been reared 18 times, from a sample of 896 caterpillars of Callopistria floridensis (Guenée) (Noctuidae) feeding on seven species of dry forest and rain forest ferns in 5 families.

Type Material Examined. ♂, ( USNM): BV. 15.VII // Type // Carceliocephala / crypta TT/ ♂ /DetCHTT// Type / Ht ♂ [examined by DMW].

Other Material Examined. 7 ♂, 7 ♀ ( CNC) Costa Rica, Prov. Alajuela and Guanacaste, ACG database codes: DHJPAR0016659, DHJPAR0008781, DHJPAR0016709, DHJPAR0046649, DHJPAR0016658, DHJPAR0016716, DHJPAR0008789, DHJPAR0046630, DHJPAR0016717, DHJPAR0042606, DHJPAR0016657, DHJPAR0016708, DHJPAR0046643, DHJPAR0046647, 1 ♀ Costa Rica, H[acien]da Chilamate Selva Verde lodge, [Sarapiqui, Prov. Heredia] 21-22.IX. 89 M. Polak.

Distribution. Costa Rica, ACG, Prov. Alajuela & Guanacaste, rain forest and dry forest, 95–580 m elevation.

Figures

FIGURE 19. General morphology of Houghia crypta 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.