Houghia nigrofemur 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 : 71-72

Houghia nigrofemur Fleming & Wood , sp. nov.

Fig. 9 b, 35 a–c

Diagnosis. This species is one of four with vein R1 setose along its entire dorsal surface, and that lack sex patches on the ventral side of the abdomen (the other three are Houghia macilenta , H. griseifrons , and H. ochrofemur ). The pedicel, and most of the first flagellomere are orange, and the latter extends well below the lower facial margin; the facial ridge is strontly curved, nearly obliterating the parafacial ventrally, as in H. ochrofemur . However, the legs are entirely black, and the first flagellomere is only slightly curved (n=1) not S-shaped as in H. ochrofemur .

Description. Male. Pedicel and upper portion of first flagellomere pale orange. When viewed in profile, antenna arises distinctly above middle of eye. Length of first flagellomere extending to facial margin. First flagellomere merely slightly bowed anteriorly (only one male available). 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, without 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 frontoorbital plate almost bare. Ocellar triangle, when viewed from above appearing to be sharply pointed anteriorly. Diameter of anterior ocellus equal to, or greater 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 two setae. Vein R1 with a row of small recumbent setae along its entire length. 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 absent.Terminalia for this species were not dissected as it is a readily distinguishable species and there was only one male available, which is the holotype. Dissections will be carried out at a later date when there are more specimens.

Host: Houghia nigrofemur has been reared only 3 times, from Antaeotricha Zeller and Antaeocerconota (Elachistidae) feeding on 2 species of rain forest Inga Miller (Fabaceae) , in a sample of 7800+ caterpillars of these two genera of small moths.

Holotype. ♂, CNC. Type locality: Costa Rica, Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Prov. Guanacaste, Sector Del Oro, Margarita (11.03234°, -85.43954°), 380 m, 12/07/2007, Roster Moraga, DHJPAR0024570.

Paratypes. 2 ♀ ( CNC) Costa Rica, Guanacaste, ACG database codes: DHJPAR0023659, DHJPAR0046702. Etymology. From the Latin adjective “ niger ”, meaning black, and the noun “ femur ”, meaning thigh, thus a noun in apposition.

Distribution. Costa Rica, ACG, Prov. Guanacaste, rain forest, 95–380 m elevation.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Dorsal view of wing, showing haired nature of vein R 1. a. Bare, Houghia bivittata sp. nov., position of vein R 1 shown in red. b. Haired, Houghia nigrofemur sp. nov.