Seven new species of Spathidexia Townsend (Diptera: Tachinidae) reared from caterpillars in Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Revision of Belvosia Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera, Tachinidae) and 33 new species from Area de Conservación Guanacaste in northwestern Costa Rica with a key to known North and Mesoamerican species

Background

This revision is part of a continuing series of taxonomic work aimed at the description of new taxa and the redescription of known taxa of the Tachinidae of Area de Conservación Guanacaste in northwestern Costa Rica. Here we describe 33 new species in the genus Belvosia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 (Diptera: Tachinidae). All species described here were reared from this ongoing inventory of wild-caught caterpillars spanning a variety of families (Lepidoptera: Erebidae, Eupterotidae, Noctuidae, Notodontidae, Saturniidae, and Sphingidae). We provide a morphological description of each species with limited information on life history, molecular data, and photographic documentation. In addition to the new species, the authors provide a redescription of the genus Belvosia, as well as provide a key to the identification of the species present in the Meso- and North-American fauna.

New information

The following 33 new species of Belvosia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830, all authored by Fleming & Woodley, are described: Belvosiaadrianguadamuzi Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosiaanacarballoae Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosiaangelhernandezi Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosiabrigittevilchezae Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosiaalixtomoragai Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosiacarolinacanoae Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosiaciriloumanai Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosiadiniamartinezae Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosiaduniagarciae Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosiaduvalierbricenoi Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosiaeldaarayae Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosiaeliethcantillanoae Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosiafreddyquesadai Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosiagloriasihezarae Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosiaguillermopereirai Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosiaharryramirezi Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosiahazelcambroneroae Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosiajorgehernandezi Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosiajosecortezi Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosiajoseperezi Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosiakeinoraragoni Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosialuciariosae Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosiamanuelpereirai Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosiamanuelriosi Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosiaminorcarmonai Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosiaosvaldoespinozai Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosiapabloumanai Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosiapetronariosae Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosiaricardocaleroi Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosiarobertoespinozai Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosiarostermoragai Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosiaruthfrancoae Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosiasergioriosi Fleming & Woodley sp. n.Belvosiacanalis Aldrich, 1928 is reared and recorded from the inventory; new information relative to host is provided and the species is rediscribed.The following are proposed by Fleming & Woodley as new synonyms of Belvosia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830: Brachybelvosia Townsend, 1927 syn. n., Belvosiomimops Townsend, 1935 syn. n.The following three new combinations are proposed as a result of the new synonymies: Belvosiabrasilensis (Townsend, 1927), comb. n.; and Belvosiabarbiellinii (Townsend, 1935), comb. n.The authors also propose the following new synonymies: Belvosiabrasilensis (Townsend, 1927) = Belvosiaaurulenta (Bigot, 1888), syn. n.; Belvosiapollinosa Rowe, 1933 = Belvosiaborealis Aldrich, 1928 syn. n.; Belvosiaweyenberghiana (Wulp, 1883) = Belvosiafuliginosa (Walker, 1853) syn. n.; Belvosiabrasiliensis Townsend, 1927 = Belvosiafuliginosa (Walker, 1853) syn. n.; Belvosialuteola Coquillett, 1900 = Belvosiaochriventris (Wulp, 1890) syn. n.; Belvosiasocia (Walker, 1853) = Belvosiaproxima (Walker, 1853) syn. n.; Belvosiachrysopyga (Bigot, 1887) = Belvosiaunifasciata (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) syn. n.; Belvosiachrysopygata (Bigot, 1888) = Belvosiaunifasciata (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) syn. n.

Revision of Telothyria van der Wulp (Diptera: Tachinidae) and twenty-five new species from Area de Conservación Guanacaste in northwestern Costa Rica with a key to Mesoamerican species

Background

We describe 25 new species in the genus Telothyria van der Wulp, 1890 from Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG) in northwestern Costa Rica. All species herein described were reared from an ongoing inventory of wild-caught caterpillars spanning two families (Lepidoptera: Crambidae, and Tortricidae). Our study provides a concise description of each new species using morphology, life history, molecular data, and photographic documentation; a redescription of the genus, and its type species as well as a revised key to species of Telothyria occurring in the Mesoamerican region. We also suggest seven new synonymies resulting in 11 new combinations.

New information

The following 25 new species of Telothyria are described: T.aidanisp. n., T.alexanderisp. n., T.auranticrussp. n., T.auriolussp. n., T.bicuspidatasp. n., T.carolinacanoaesp. n., T.clavatasp. n., T.cristatasp. n., T.diniamartinezaesp. n., T.duniagarciaesp. n., T.duvalierbricenoisp. n., T.eldaarayaesp. n., T.erythropygasp. n., T.fimbriatasp. n., T.fulgidasp. n., T.gloriashihezaraesp. n., T.griseasp. n., T.harryramirezisp. n., T.incisasp. n., T.manuelpereiraisp. n., T.obscurasp. n., T.omissasp. n., T.osvaldoespinozaisp. n., T.peltatasp. n., and T.ricardocaleroisp. n.

The following are proposed by Fleming & Wood as new generic synonyms of Telothyria: Comatacta Coquillett Syn. n., Floradalia Thompson Syn. n., Ptilomyia Curran Syn. n., Ptilomyiopsis Townsend Syn. n., Ptilomyoides Curran Syn. n., EuptilomyiaSyn. n., Eutelothyria Townsend Syn. n.

The following new combinations are proposed as a result of the new synonymies: Telothyriabequaerti (Curran, 1925) Comb. n., Telothyriacruenta (Giglio-Tos, 1893) Comb. n., Telothyriafrontalis (Townsend, 1939) Comb. n., Telothyriainsularis (Curran, 1927) Comb. n., Telothyriaitaquaquecetubae (Townsend, 1931) Comb. n., Telothyriamajor (Thompson, 1963) Comb. n., Telothyriamicropalpus (Curran, 1925) Comb. n., Telothyriaminor (Thompson, 1963) Comb. n., Telothyrianautlana (Townsend, 1908) Comb. n., Telothyriaplumata (Curran, 1925) Comb. n., Telothyriatrinitatis (Thompson, 1963) Comb. n., Telothyriavariegata (Fabricius, 1805) Comb. n.Muscatricincta Fabricius is synonymized under Telothyriavariegata Fabricius, Syn. n.

Telothyriaschineri Fleming & Wood nom. n. is proposed as a replacement name for Miltogrammabrevipennis Schiner.

Additionally we provide redescriptions of two previously named species: the type species Telothyriacupreiventris (van der Wulp) due to its being the type species, and Telothyriarelicta (van der Wulp) due to its having been reared as an outcome of the inventory.

Twenty-two new species in the genus Hyphantrophaga Townsend (Diptera: Tachinidae) from Area de Conservación Guanacaste, with a key to the species of Mesoamerica

Background

We describe 22 new species in the genus Hyphantrophaga Townsend, 1892 (Diptera: Tachinidae) from Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG) in north-western Costa Rica. All species were reared from an ongoing inventory of wild-caught caterpillars spanning a variety of families (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae, Crambidae, Depressariidae, Doidae, Erebidae, Euteliidae, Gelechiidae, Geometridae, Hedylidae, Hesperiidae, Immidae, Lasiocampidae, Limacodidae, Megalopygidae, Mimaloniidae, Noctuidae, Nolidae, Notodontidae, Nymphalidae, Papilionidae, Pieridae, Phiditiidae, Pterophoridae, Pyralidae, Riodinidae, Saturniidae, Sphingidae, Thyrididae, Tortricidae and Zygaenidae). We provide a morphological description of each species together with information on life history, molecular data and photographic documentation. In addition to the new species, we provide a redescription of the genus, as well as the redescription of three previously described species, which were also collected within ACG during this study: Hyphantrophaga angustata (van der Wulp), Hyphantrophaga myersi (Aldrich) and Hyphantrophaga virilis (Aldrich & Webber).

New information

The following 22 new species of Hyphantrophaga are described: Hyphantrophaga adrianguadamuzi Fleming & Wood sp. n., Hyphantrophaga albopilosa Fleming & Wood sp. n., Hyphantrophaga anacordobae Fleming & Wood sp. n., Hyphantrophaga calixtomoragai Fleming & Wood sp. n., Hyphantrophaga calva Fleming & Wood sp. n.., Hyphantrophaga ciriloumanai Fleming & Wood sp. n., Hyphantrophaga danausophaga Fleming & Wood sp. n., Hyphantrophaga diniamartinezae Fleming & Wood sp. n., Hyphantrophaga duniagarciae Fleming & Wood sp. n., Hyphantrophaga edwinapui Fleming & Wood sp. n., Hyphantrophaga eldaarayae Fleming & Wood sp. n., Hyphantrophaga eliethcantillanoe Fleming & Wood sp. n., Hyphantrophaga gilberthampiei Fleming & Wood sp. n., Hyphantrophaga guillermopereirai Fleming & Wood sp. n., Hyphantrophaga hazelcambroneroae Fleming & Wood sp. n., Hyphantrophaga luciariosae Fleming & Wood sp. n., Hyphantrophaga manuelriosi Fleming & Wood sp. n., Hyphantrophaga morphophaga Fleming & Wood sp. n., Hyphantrophaga nigricauda Fleming & Wood sp. n., Hyphantrophaga osvaldoespinozai Fleming & Wood sp. n., Hyphantrophaga pabloumanai Fleming & Wood sp. n. and Hyphantrophaga similis Fleming & Wood sp. n.The following are proposed by Wood as new synonyms of Hyphantrophaga Townsend, 1892: Brachymasicera Townsend, 1911 syn. n., Ommasicera Townsend, 1911 syn. n., Ophirosturmia Townsend, 1911 syn. n., Patillalia Curran, 1934 syn. n. and Ypophaemyiops Townsend, 1935 syn. n.The following nine new combinations are proposed as a result of the new synonymies: Hyphantrophaga adamsoni (Thompson, 1963), comb. n., Hyphantrophaga fasciata (Curran, 1934), comb. n., Hyphantrophaga glauca (Giglio-Tos, 1893), comb. n., Hyphantrophaga gowdeyi (Curran, 1926), comb. n., Hyphantrophaga myersi (Aldrich, 1933), comb. n., Hyphantrophaga nigripes (Townsend, 1928), comb. n., Hyphantrophaga optica (Schiner, 1868), comb. n., Hyphantrophaga polita (Townsend, 1911), comb. n., Hyphantrophaga subpolita (Townsend, 1912), comb. n.

A new species of Trismegistomya Reinhard (Diptera: Tachinidae) from Area de Conservación Guanacaste in northwestern Costa Rica

Background

The New World genus Trismegistomya Reinhard, 1967b (Diptera: Tachinidae) previously included only the type species Trismegistomyapumilis (Reinhard, 1967a) from Arizona, U.S.A.

New information

We describe a new species of Trismegistomya, Trismegistomyajimoharai Fleming & Wood sp. n., from Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG) in northwestern Costa Rica, reared from wild-caught caterpillars of Melipotisjanuaris (Guenée, 1852) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae). Our study provides a concise description of the new species using morphology, life history, molecular data and photographic documentation. In addition to the new species description, we provide a redescription of the genus, as well as of its type species Trismegistomyapumilis.

Revision of the Mesoamerican species of Calolydella Townsend (Diptera: Tachinidae) and description of twenty-three new species reared from caterpillars in Area de Conservación Guanacaste, northwestern Costa Rica

Background

Twenty-three new species of the genus Calolydella Townsend, 1927 (Diptera: Tachinidae) are described, all reared from multiple species of wild-caught caterpillars across a wide variety of families (Lepidoptera: Crambidae; Erebidae; Geometridae; Hesperiidae; Lycaenidae; Nymphalidae; Pieridae; Riodinidae; and Sphingidae). All caterpillars were collected within Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG), in northwestern Costa Rica. This study provides a concise description of each new species using morphology, life history, molecular data, and photographic documentation. In addition to the new species, we also provide a generic redescription and revised key to species of the genus Calolydella from Central and South America.

New information

The following 23 new species of Calolydella are described by Fleming and Wood: C.adelinamoralesaesp. n., C.alexanderjamesisp. n., C.argenteasp. n., C.aureofaciessp. n., C.bicolorsp. n., C.bifissussp. n., C.crocatasp. n., C.destitutasp. n., C.discalissp. n., C.erasmocoronadoisp. n., C.felipechavarriaisp. n., C.fredriksjobergisp. n., C.inflatipalpissp. n., C.interruptasp. n., C.nigripalpissp. n., C.omissasp. n., C.ordinalissp. n., C.renemalaiseisp. n., C.susanaroibasaesp. n., C.tanyadapkeyaesp. n., C.tenebrosasp. n., C.timjamesisp. n., C.virginiajamesaesp. n.Lydellafrugale Curran, 1934 is proposed as a new synonym of Pygophoriniaperuviana Townsend, 1927, syn. n., under the combination Calolydellafrugale (Curran, 1934), comb. n.

A new species of Voria Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Tachinidae) from Area de Conservación Guanacaste in northwestern Costa Rica

Background

We describe a new species in the genus Voria Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 (Diptera: Tachinidae: Voriini) from Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG) in northwestern Costa Rica. It was reared as part of an ongoing inventory of wild-caught caterpillars spanning a variety of moth and butterfly families (Lepidoptera). Our study provides a concise description of the new species using morphology, life history, molecular data, and photographic documentation. In addition to the new species, we provide a diagnosis of the genus as well as new data relating to host use.

New information

The following new species of Voria is described: Voriaerasmocoronadoi Fleming & Wood sp. n.

The following are proposed by Fleming & Wood as new synonyms of Voria: Xenoplagia Townsend, 1914 syn. n., Hystricovoria Townsend, 1928 syn. n., Afrovoria Curran, 1938 syn. n., and Anavoria Mesnil, 1953 syn. n., and Itavoria Townsend, 1931 syn. n.

The following new combinations are proposed as a result of the new synonymies: Voriabakeri (Townsend, 1928), comb. n. and Voriasetosa (Townsend, 1914), comb. n.The authors also propose Voriapollyclari (Rocha-e-Silva, Lopes & Della Lucia, 1999), comb. n. based on the morphology of the holotype.

Five new species of Vibrissina Rondani (Diptera: Tachinidae) from Area de Conservación Guanacaste in Northwestern Costa Rica

Background

We describe five new species in the genus Vibrissina Rondani from Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG). All species were reared from wild-caught sawfly larvae (Hymenoptera: Symphyta: Argidae and Tenthredinidae). We provide a morphological description of each species together with information on life history, molecular data, and photographic documentation.

New information

Five new species of Vibrissina Rondani: Vibrissinarandycurtisisp. n., V.randyjonesisp. n., V.robertwellsisp. n., V.danmartinisp. n., V.hallwachsorumsp. n.

Nine new species of Uramya Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Tachinidae) from Area de Conservación Guanacaste in northwestern Costa Rica, with a key to their identification

Background

We describe nine new species in the genus Uramya Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 from Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG) in northwestern Costa Rica. All species were reared from an ongoing inventory of wild-caught caterpillars spanning a variety of families (Lepidoptera: Erebidae; Limacodidae; Megalopygidae; Lasiocampidae and Dalceridae). Our study provides a concise description of each new species using morphology, life history, molecular data, and photographic documentation. In addition to the new species the authors provide a redescription the previously described Uramyasibinivora Guimarães, which was also collected within ACG during this study. We also provide a redescription of the genus, and a revised key to species of Uramya occurring in Central and South America.

New information

The following nine new species of Uramya, all authored by Fleming & Wood, are described: Uramyaalbosetulosa Fleming & Wood sp. nov., Uramyaconstricta Fleming & Wood sp. nov., Uramyacontraria Fleming & Wood sp. nov., Uramyainfracta Fleming & Wood sp. nov., Uramyalativittata Fleming & Wood sp. nov., Uramyalunula Fleming & Wood sp. nov., Uramyanitida Fleming & Wood sp. nov., Uramyapannosa Fleming & Wood sp. nov., and Uramyapenicillata Fleming & Wood sp. nov.

The following are proposed by Wood as new synonyms of Uramya: Olinda Townsend, syn. nov. and Procleonice Townsend, syn. nov. The following new combination is proposed as a result of the new synonymies: Uramyabrasiliensis Macquart, comb. nov.Procleoniceprolixa Townsend is synonymized under Uramyabrevicauda Curran, syn. nov.

DNA barcoding the Lepidoptera inventory of a large complex tropical conserved wildland, Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, northwestern Costa Rica

The 37-year ongoing inventory of the estimated 15 000 species of Lepidoptera living in the 125 000 terrestrial hectares of Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, northwestern Costa Rica, has DNA barcode documented 11 000+ species, and the simultaneous inventory of at least 6000+ species of wild-caught caterpillars, plus 2700+ species of parasitoids. The inventory began with Victorian methodologies and species-level perceptions, but it was transformed in 2004 by the full application of DNA barcoding for specimen identification and species discovery. This tropical inventory of an extraordinarily species-rich and complex multidimensional trophic web has relied upon the sequencing services provided by the Canadian Centre for DNA Barcoding, and the informatics support from BOLD, the Barcode of Life Data Systems, major tools developed by the Centre for Biodiversity Genomics at the Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, and available to all through couriers and the internet. As biodiversity information flows from these many thousands of undescribed and often look-alike species through their transformations to usable product, we see that DNA barcoding, firmly married to our centuries-old morphology-, ecology-, microgeography-, and behavior-based ways of taxonomizing the wild world, has made possible what was impossible before 2004. We can now work with all the species that we find, as recognizable species-level units of biology. In this essay, we touch on some of the details of the mechanics of actually using DNA barcoding in an inventory.

A new species of Phosocephala Townsend, 1908 (Diptera: Tachinidae) from Area de Conservación Guanacaste in northwestern Costa Rica

Background

We describe a new species of Phosocephala Townsend, and provide a new collection record, and description of the previously unknown male, of Phosocephalametallica Townsend, from Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG), northwestern Costa Rica. All ACG specimens were reared from wild-caught Lepidoptera larvae (Lepidoptera: Erebidae, Nolidae). We provide a concise description of both species using morphology, life history, molecular data, and photographic documentation. The new species is authored and described by Fleming and Wood.

New information

Phosocephalaalexanderisp. n.

Two new species of Erythromelana Townsend, 1919 (Diptera: Tachinidae) from Area de Conservación Guanacaste in northwestern Costa Rica

Background

We describe two new species in the genus Erythromelana Townsend, 1919 from Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG) in northwestern Costa Rica. Both species were reared from wild-caughtcaterpillars of Eois spp. (Lepidoptera: Geometridae). We provide a concise description of each species using morphology, life history, molecular data, and photographic documentation.

New information

Erythromelanajimmychevezi Fleming & Wood sp. nov.

Erythromelanaglenriverai Fleming & Wood sp. nov.

Nine new species of Itaplectops (Diptera: Tachinidae) reared from caterpillars in Area de Conservación Guanacaste, northwestern Costa Rica, with a key to Itaplectops species

Nine new species of Itaplectops Townsend (Diptera: Tachinidae) are described from Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG), northwestern Costa Rica. All specimens have been reared from ­various species of ACG caterpillars in the families Limacodidae and Dalceridae. By combining morphological, photographic, and genetic barcode data we provide clear yet concise descriptions. The following nine new species are described in the genus Itaplectops: Itaplectopsakselpalolai, Itaplectopsanikenpalolae, Itaplectopsargentifrons, Itaplectopsaurifrons, Itaplectopsericpalolai, Itaplectopsgriseobasis, Itaplectopsomissus, Itaplectopsshellymcsweeneyae, Itaplectopstristanpalolai. We move Itaplectops to the tribe Uramyini from its original placement within the Blondeliini, and we discuss its systematic placement. We also provide a key differentiating the, genera of the tribe Uramyini as well as the known species of Itaplectops.

Three new species of Trigonospila Pokorny (Diptera: Tachinidae), from Area de Conservación Guanacaste, northwestern Costa Rica, with a key for their identification

We describe three new species of Trigonospila Pokorny (Tachinidae: Blondeliini) from Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG), northwestern Costa Rica. All were reared from ­various species of ACG caterpillars during an ongoing inventory of caterpillars, their food plants and their parasitoids in dry forest, rain forest and cloud forest. By coupling morphology, photographic documentation, life history and molecular data, we provide a clear and concise description of each species. All species published as new, are known to be previously undescribed as a result of careful study of the genus by DMW. This study builds on the current knowledge of the genus by adding three new species to the current 7 described in the New World. Trigonospilaedwinbermudezisp. n., Trigonospilauniformissp. n., and Trigonospilajosemariamoragaisp. n. are all authored and described as new by Fleming and Wood, with a key to their identification. The authors also offer a new record and description of the previously unknown male of Trigonospilapanamensis (Townsend), reared from ACG caterpillars.

Three new species of Ametadoria Townsend (Diptera: Tachinidae) from Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica

We describe three new species in the genus Ametadoria Townsend from Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG), Costa Rica. All three were reared from wild-caught Zygaenidae and Lacturidae caterpillars. We provide a concise description of each species using morphology, life history and molecular data, with photographic documentation. The new species are authored and described by Fleming and Wood: Ametadoriakarolramosaesp. nov., Ametadorialeticiamartinezaesp. nov., and Ametadoriamauriciogurdianisp. nov. The following are proposed by Wood as new synonyms of Ametadoria Townsend: Adidyma Townsend syn. nov., and Abolodoria Townsend syn. nov. The following new combinations occur as a result of these new synonymies: Ametadoriaabdominalis (Townsend) comb. nov., Ametadoriaaustrina (Coquillett) comb. nov., Ametadoriahumilis (Wulp) comb. nov., Ametadoriamisella (Wulp) comb. nov.Ametadoriaadversa (Townsend) is proposed as a junior synonym of ​Ametadoriaunispinosa Townsend, syn. nov​.