Abstract
We describe seven new species of Spathidexia (Diptera: Tachinidae) reared 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. By coupling morphology, photographic documentation, life history and molecular data, we provide a clear and concise description of each species. All are known to be previously undescribed as a result of a comprehensive study of the genus by DMW. Spathidexia atripalpus sp. n., Spathidexia juanvialesi sp. n., Spathidexia marioburgosi sp. n., Spathidexia luisrobertogallegosi sp. n., Spathidexia luteola sp. n., Spathidexia hernanrodriguezi sp. n. and Spathidexia aurantiaca sp. n. are all authored and described by Fleming and Wood. Minthodexiopsis Townsend is proposed by Wood as a new synonym of Spathidexia. A new combination proposed by Wood as a result of the new synonymy is S. flavicornis (Brauer & Bergenstamm) comb. n.
Highlights
The tachinid genus Spathidexia Townsend 1912 is a small New World genus in the tribe Thelairini of the Dexiinae (Diptera, Tachinidae) (O’Hara and Wood 2004)
We describe seven new species of Spathidexia (Diptera: Tachinidae) reared 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
Summary
The tachinid genus Spathidexia Townsend 1912 is a small New World genus in the tribe Thelairini of the Dexiinae (Diptera, Tachinidae) (O’Hara and Wood 2004). This work aims to build on the existing knowledge and describes seven new species of Spathidexia, all reared from caterpillars collected in ACG. All species of Spathidexia reared in ACG have been found to be undescribed species These species are recognized based on differences in external morphology, and COI (coxI or cytochrome oxidase I) gene sequences By coupling COI data with morphological descriptions we are able to show that abdominal markings are different between males and females but are consistent within a species. As such, they are ideal tools for visual species differentiation. To date in ACG are parasitoids of monocot-eating caterpillars in the Nymphalidae (Satyrinae) or Hesperiidae (Hesperiinae)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
