Houghia parmata 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 : 77-78

Houghia parmata Fleming & Wood , sp. nov.

Fig. 39 a–f

Diagnosis. The most distinctive feature of the male of H. parmata is the broad, bright silvery frons ( Fig. 39 b); the frontal vitta is extremely narrow and the lower reclinate orbital setae arise farther back than those of other species, nearer the posterior proclinate fronto-orbital seta, creating a broad silvery frons relatively uninterrupted by setae.

Description. Male. Antenna black. When viewed in profile, antenna arises distinctly above middle of eye. Length of first flagellomere almost extending to facial margin (usually shorter by less than length of 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 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 to be notched anteriorly. Diameter of anterior ocellus less 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 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 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 oblong shaped, posterodorsal half bare, apex bearing many stout apical spines, tip with light inwardly apical curve when viewed dorsally. Cerci rounded, apex with straight tip, ventral surface haired, separation between cerci deep broad 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 parmata has been reared only 6 times, and always from Anomis luridula Guenée (Noctuidae) feeding on Hampea appendiculata Donnel-Smith (Malvaceae) , from a sample of 487 caterpillars.

Holotype. ♂, CNC. Type locality: Costa Rica, Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Prov. Guanacaste, Sector Pitilla, Leonel (10.99637°, -85.40195°), 510 m, 07/04/2008, Mauricio Siezar, DHJPAR0027895.

Paratypes. 2 ♂, 5 ♀ ( CNC) Costa Rica, Prov. Alajuela and Guanacaste, ACG database codes: DHJPAR0008526, DHJPAR0017131, DHJPAR0027872, DHJPAR0008533, DHJPAR0020992, DHJPAR0040667, DHJPAR0011503.

Etymology. From the Latin adjective “ parmata ”, meaning “ armed with the parma ”, a small round shield, referring to the broad shiny silver frons with central area uninterrupted by setae or wide frontal vitta, that suggests a shield carried in front of the head.

Distribution. Costa Rica, ACG, Prov. Alajuela & Guanacaste, rain forest, 410–525 m elevation.

Figures

FIGURE 39. General morphology of Houghia parmata 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.