Area De Conservacion Guanacaste Research Articles

Revison of Metaplagia Coquillett (Diptera: Tachinidae) with description of five new species from Area de Conservación Guanacaste in northwestern Costa Rica.

BackgroundWe revise the genus Metaplagia Coquillett, 1895 and describe five new species from Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG) in northwestern Costa Rica. All new species were reared from an ongoing inventory of wild-caught caterpillars spanning a variety of species within the family Sphingidae (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae). 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 re-description of the genus and a revised key to the species of Metaplagia.New informationThe following five new species of Metaplagia are described: Metaplagia leahdennisae Fleming & Wood sp. n., Metaplagia lindarobinsonae Fleming & Wood sp. n., Metaplagia paulinesaribasae Fleming & Wood sp. n., Metaplagia robinsherwoodae Fleming & Wood sp. n. and Metaplagia svetlanakozikae Fleming & Wood sp. n.The following is proposed by Fleming & Wood as new combination of Plagiomima Brauer & Bergenstamm, 1891: Plagiomima latifrons (Reinhard, 1956) comb. n.

Singing in a fragmented landscape: wrens in a tropical dry forest show sex differences in the effects of neighbours, time of day, and time of year

Songbird vocalizations serve diverse functions including territory defence against neighbouring conspecific animals. In tropical and south-temperate regions, it is commonplace for both female and male songbirds to sing solo songs and coordinated vocal duets to defend their territories. The Area de Conservacion Guanacaste in Costa Rica is the site of an ambitious conservation effort to protect and regrow tropical dry forests; it consists of a mosaic of regenerating and mature forest patches, presenting a special opportunity to study the effect of different numbers of neighbours on male and female wrens living in these fragmented forests. We analyzed recordings of Rufous-and-white Wrens (Thryophilus rufalbus) over a 17-year period, focusing on vocal behaviour and variation in the number of territorial neighbours within the fragmented landscape in the conservation area, and on diel and seasonal variation in female and male song. We hypothesized that the number of conspecific neighbours would influence vocal behaviours, including female and male solo song rate, duet responsiveness rate, repertoire use, and song-switching rate. For females, we found that wrens change song-types more often in areas with more neighbours, whereas the other aspects of female vocal behaviour did not vary with the number of neighbours. For males, we found no aspect of vocal behaviour that varied with the number of neighbours. For both sexes, we found variation in vocal behaviours with time of day and time of year, in keeping with previous research. Our results underscore the idea that we must explore female and male birds independently, because the sexes may respond differently to external factors. We did not find strong links between wren vocal behaviour and variation in the number of neighbours, yet we encourage further behavioural studies on vocal behaviour of birds with varying numbers of neighbours in fragmented landscapes.

A new genus and new species in the tribe Uramyini (Diptera: Tachinidae) from Area de Conservación Guanacaste in northwestern Costa Rica.

BackgroundWe describe one new genus and its one new species from Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG) in northwestern Costa Rica. Our study provides a concise description of this new species using morphology, life history, molecular data and photographic documentation.New informationChorotegamyia gen. n. is described, along with its type species, Chorotegamyia aureofacies sp. n. A modified key to the Uramyini is given to further elucidate the tribe.

Asturodes Amsel (Lepidoptera: Crambidae: Spilomelinae): Three New Species from the Western Hemisphere and Food Plant Records from Area de ConservaciÓn Guanacaste, Costa Rica

AsturodesAmsel, 1956, a Neotropical genus of distinctive pyraloid moths (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) with dark brown lines and silver scales on a yellow ground color on the wings and abdomen, is revised. As defined herein, the genus includes four species: A. fimbriauralis Guenee, the type species, A. bioalfae Solis, new species, A. encisoensis Solis, new species, and A. junkoshimurae Solis, new species. During this study, a petaloid scale formed by a group of coalesced setae in the abdominal androconial organs of the male genitalia was discovered and illustrated for the first time. Androconial organs in the Pyraloidea are briefly discussed. The type species and two new species, A. junkoshimurae, new species and A. bioalfae, new species, were reared from larvae feeding on the leaves of Rhamnaceae in the Area de Conservacion Guanacaste (ACG) in northwestern Costa Rica representing 913 rearing events. This contribution is part of a long-term inventory of ACG caterpillars, their food plants, and their parasitoids, that includes COI DNA barcoding of specimens for discovery and identification.

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

BackgroundThe New World genus Trismegistomya Reinhard, 1967b (Diptera: Tachinidae) previously included only the type species Trismegistomya pumilis (Reinhard, 1967a) from Arizona, U.S.A.New informationWe describe a new species of Trismegistomya, Trismegistomya jimoharai Fleming & Wood sp. n., from Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG) in northwestern Costa Rica, reared from wild-caught caterpillars of Melipotis januaris (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 Trismegistomya pumilis.

A revision of Dolichogenidea (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) with the second mediotergite broadly rectangular from Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

The first species of Dolichogenidea (Hymenoptera: Braconidae, Microgastrinae) with the second mediotergite broadly quadrate to rectangular are revised, and eight new species from Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG), Costa Rica are described, all authored by Fernandez-Triana & Boudreault: alejandromasisi, angelagonzalezae, carlosmanuelrodriguezi, genuarnunezi, josealfredohernandezi, melaniamunozae, rogerblancoi, and yeimycedenoae. A new species group (carlosmanuelrodriguezi) within the genus is proposed to accommodate those species, as well as additional undescribed species from the Neotropical region found in collections. All new species are found in rainforests (120–900 m) and all are parasitoids of Depressariidae (except for one species parasitizing Choreutidae). The unique shape of the second mediotergite and long ovipositor are features shared with the alejandromorai species group in the genus Apanteles, an example of convergent evolution; both wasp groups also parasitize similar hosts in ACG.

Nematode Parasites of Rodents (Sigmodontinae) and Update of Those Recorded in Other Wild Mammals from Costa Rica

Between June 1998 and July 1999, 3 Alfaro's rice rats (Handleyomys alfaroi) and 3 Bolivar rice rats (Transandinomys bolivaris) from the Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, Costa Rica, were examined for parasites. Adult nematodes representing 4 taxa were collected: Physaloptera calnuensis, Stilestrongylus hidalguensis, and Syphacia sp. (from H. alfaroi) and in T. bolivaris. This report represents the first record for P. calnuensis and S. hidalguensis in Costa Rica; furthermore, this is the first time these helminths have been documented infecting H. alfaroi and T. bolivaris. Based on this study and in the compilation of information related to the nematodes described in wild Costa Rican mammals, we determined that 68 helminth taxa have been registered so far (35 named species and 33 taxa) parasitizing 29 species of mammals.

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

BackgroundWe 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 informationThe following new species of Voria is described: Voria erasmocoronadoi 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: Voria bakeri (Townsend, 1928), comb. n. and Voria setosa (Townsend, 1914), comb. n.The authors also propose Voria pollyclari (Rocha-e-Silva, Lopes & Della Lucia, 1999), comb. n. based on the morphology of the holotype.

Profile of Daniel H. Janzen

When Daniel Janzen gave his acceptance speech for the 1997 Kyoto Prize, he disappointed many people who had come to hear a preeminent biologist discuss iconic studies, from ant–acacia mutualism to seed predation (1, 2). “They expected a talk about science, but I’d switched to conservation,” explains Janzen, DiMaura Professor of Conservation Biology at the University of Pennsylvania. Janzen, who was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1992, and his wife, tropical ecologist Winnie Hallwachs, have spent 35 years reframing the idea of national parks into that of collaboration between forests and societies. “The biology is easy, but we have to study society,” explains Janzen. “For me, it’s all human ecology.” Together with thousands of partners, they have developed and expanded Area de Conservacion Guanacaste (ACG) in Costa Rica into 168,000 ha of land and sea that, Janzen notes, protect 2.6% of the world’s biodiversity, and are now using DNA barcoding technology to create a library of species (3). Daniel Janzen and Winnie Hallwachs. Image courtesy of Maureen A. Donnelly (Florida International University, Miami, FL). Growing up in Minnesota in the 1940s, Janzen quickly became comfortable in nature. “I shot my first pheasant off the back steps, but I could get the bus off the front steps to the Minneapolis public library,” he recalls. “I had the best of both worlds.” The son of a wildlife management administrator, Janzen’s fascination with the tropics began at the age of 14 on a butterfly-collecting trip to Mexico. In 1962, with a BS degree from the University of Minnesota and having entered the entomology PhD program at the University of California, Berkeley, Janzen returned to Mexico, looking for a thesis project. “In those days, rule number one for ecology graduate students was that you did all your own research,” …

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

BackgroundWe 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 Uramya sibinivora 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 informationThe following nine new species of Uramya, all authored by Fleming & Wood, are described: Uramya albosetulosa Fleming & Wood sp. nov., Uramya constricta Fleming & Wood sp. nov., Uramya contraria Fleming & Wood sp. nov., Uramya infracta Fleming & Wood sp. nov., Uramya lativittata Fleming & Wood sp. nov., Uramya lunula Fleming & Wood sp. nov., Uramya nitida Fleming & Wood sp. nov., Uramya pannosa Fleming & Wood sp. nov., and Uramya penicillata 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: Uramya brasiliensis Macquart, comb. nov. Procleonice prolixa Townsend is synonymized under Uramya brevicauda Curran, syn. nov.

Three New Species of Rectiostoma Becker, 1982 (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Depressariidae) from Area De Conservación Guanacaste, Northwestern Costa Rica

Abstract. We describe three new species of Rectiostoma Becker, 1982 from northwestern Costa Rica: R. annemayae Heikkila and Metz, n. sp., R. eowilsoni Heikkila and Metz, n. sp., and R. philipmayi Heikkila and Metz, n. sp. We used a data set of DNA barcodes (cytochrome oxidase I) accumulated for Lepidoptera collected at Area de Conservacion Guanacaste (ACG) to initially delimit the species, then we confirmed identities with morphology of the male and female genitalia. We provide a neighbor-joining tree with supporting statistics, illustrations of adult specimens and their genitalia, and the first host plant records for Neotropical Rectiostoma species. We also include photographs of the larvae of R. annemayae and R. eowilsoni.

Fleas, Lice, and Epifaunistic Pseudoscorpions of Some Native Mammals in Northwestern Costa Rica

ABSTRACT: Two species of chewing lice (Eutrichophilus mexicanus and Neotrichodectes mephiditis), 4 species of sucking lice (Fahrenholzia fairchildi, Fahrenholzia ferrisi, Fahrenholzia n. sp., and Hoplopleura mendezi), 4 species of fleas (Kohlsia traubi, Polygenis roberti beebei, Rhopalopsyllus australis australis, and Rhopalopsyllus lugubris), and 1 species of epifaunistic pseudoscorpion (Epichernes guanacastensis) were recorded from native mammals in the Area de Conservacion Guanacaste in northwestern Costa Rica during a parasite All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory from 1996 to 2004. All 6 species of lice were host specific. Fleas were less host specific and included a record of a rodent flea (R. a. australis) from a jaguar, Panthera onca. Epifaunistic pseudoscorpions were recorded only from Salvin’s spiny pocket mouse, Liomys salvini, on which they appear to be mutualistic with the host by preying on ectoparasites in the host pelage. Eutrichophilus mexicanis, N. mephiditis, F. ferrisi, H. mendezi, K. traub...

Revision of the genus Promicrogaster (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) from Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica, with a key to all species previously described from Mesoamerica

The genus Promicrogaster (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) from Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG), Costa Rica, is revised. A key is provided to all new species as well as those previously described from Mesoamerica. A total of 21 species, all authored by Fernandez-Triana & Boudreault, are described as species nova: alexmartinezi, andreyvallejosi, brandondinartei, daniellopezi, daretrizoi, eddycastroi, eimyobandoae, fabiancastroi, fabriciocambroneroi, hillaryvillafuerteae, kevinmartinezi, kiralycastilloae, leilycastilloae, liagrantae, luismendezi, monteverdensis, naomiduarteae, pablouzagai, ronycastilloi, sebastiancambroneroi, tracyvindasae. A species previously described from India is considered as incertae sedis. Promicrogaster is considered to be restricted to the New World, with the vast majority of the species found in the Neotropics and a few extending north to the Nearctic. Almost 60% of the known species in ACG are found in cloud forests at over 1,000 m altitude. All of the verified and authenticated host records for Promicrogaster are from caterpillars living more deeply inside plant tissue than simply in rolled leaf structures – although no host data from ACG is available.

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.

BackgroundWe describe a new species of Phosocephala Townsend, and provide a new collection record, and description of the previously unknown male, of Phosocephala metallica 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 informationPhosocephala alexanderi sp. n.

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

BackgroundWe 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 informationErythromelana jimmychevezi Fleming & Wood sp. nov.Erythromelana glenriverai 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: Itaplectops akselpalolai, Itaplectops anikenpalolae, Itaplectops argentifrons, Itaplectops aurifrons, Itaplectops ericpalolai, Itaplectops griseobasis, Itaplectops omissus, Itaplectops shellymcsweeneyae, Itaplectops tristanpalolai. 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. Trigonospila edwinbermudezi sp. n., Trigonospila uniformis sp. n., and Trigonospila josemariamoragai sp. 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 Trigonospila panamensis (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: Ametadoria karolramosae sp. nov., Ametadoria leticiamartinezae sp. nov., and Ametadoria mauriciogurdiani sp. 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: Ametadoria abdominalis (Townsend) comb. nov., Ametadoria austrina (Coquillett) comb. nov., Ametadoria humilis (Wulp) comb. nov., Ametadoria misella (Wulp) comb. nov. Ametadoria adversa (Townsend) is proposed as a junior synonym of ​Ametadoria unispinosa Townsend, syn. nov​.

Revision of the genera Microplitis and Snellenius (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) from Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, Costa Rica, with a key to all species previously described from Mesoamerica

Revision of the genera Microplitis and Snellenius (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) from Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, Costa Rica, with a key to all species previously described from Mesoamerica