Eucelatoria aurata
Creators: name: Burington, Zelia L.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Diptera
Tachinidae
Eucelatoria
Eucelatoria aurata

description: Eucelatoria aurata (Townsend, 1927)
(Figs 5, 27, 50, 72, 95, 110, 124, 140, 157, 175)
Heliolydella aurata Townsend, 1927: 314. Syntypes, 4 ♀♀, 1 ♂, Brazil, São Paulo, Itaquaquecetuba (Museu de Zoologica da Universidade de São Paulo; USNM). Other references: Guimarães (1971: 135).
Eucelatoria aurata: Wood (1985: 40).
Type material examined. Syntype ♀, labeled “Itqua 8-II/ On Foliage”, “Type [red label]”, “ Heliolydella / aurata/ DetCHT T.” (USNM).
Other material examined. 47 ♀♀ and 33 ♂♂. Brazil — Santa Catarina: 1 ♀, labeled “ Nova Teutonia / S.C. - BRAZIL / Jan. 1960 / F. Plaumann ”, “ZLB_E.Ferox 00239” (DMW). 1 ♀, as previous except date “ March 1960 ” and specimen ID “00103” (CNC). 1 ♀, as previous except date “ April 1960 ” and specimen ID “00106” (CNC). 1 ♀ and 1 ♂, as previous except date “ Nov. 1960 ” and specimen IDs “00237” [♀] and “00224” [♂] (DMW). 1 ♀ and 1 ♂, as previous except specimen IDs “00094” [♀] and “00097” [♂; genitalia in vial under specimen] (CNC). 1 ♀ and 1 ♂, as previous except date “ Dec. 1960 ”, and specimen IDs “00089” [♀] and “00099” [♂], the first labeled “HOMOTYPE/ Heliolydella / aurata/ Tsnd/ Compared by/ Wood ‘78” (CNC). 3 ♀♀, as previous except date “ Jan. 1961 ”, and specimen IDs “00236”, “00250” (DMW), and “00105” (CNC) [second with genitalia in vial under specimen]. 2 ♂♂ and 3 ♀♀, as previous except date “ Feb. 1961 ”, and specimen IDs “00234” [♀], “00235” [♀] (DMW), “00102” [♂], “00104” [♀], and “00100” [♂; genitalia in vial under specimen] (CNC). 2 ♀♀, as previous except date “ March 1961 ”, and specimen IDs “00249” and “00248” (DMW). 1 ♂, as previous except date “ May 1961 ” and specimen ID “00265” (DMW). 1 ♂, as previous except date “ June 1961 ” and specimen ID “00240”, labeled “note/ apical/ scutellars [handwritten]” (DMW). 1 ♂, as previous except date “ Oct. 1961 ” and specimen ID “00228” (DMW). 2 ♂♂ and 2 ♀♀, as previous except date “ Nov. 1961 ”, and specimen IDs “00247” [♀], “00246” [♀], “00269” [♂] (DMW), and “00088” [♂] (CNC). 2 ♂♂ and 1 ♀, as previous except date “ April 1962 ” and specimen IDs “00098” [♂], “00108” [♂], and “00093” [♀] (CNC). 1 ♂, as previous except date “ Sept. 1962 ” and specimen ID “00226” (DMW). 1 ♂, as previous except date “ Nov. 1962 ”, additional label “note minute setae/ on prosternum” [lacking specimen ID label] (DMW). 1 ♂, as previous except date “ Dec. 1962 ” and specimen ID “00220”, labeled “? aurata Tns ” (DMW). 1 ♂, as previous except date “ Jan. 1963 ” and specimen ID “00092” (CNC). 4 ♂♂ and 2 ♀♀, as previous except date “ Feb. 1963 ” and specimen IDs “00223” [♂] “00231” [♀], “00222” [♂], “00232” [♀], “00229” [♂] (DMW), and “00101” [♂] (CNC). 1 ♀, as previous except date “ March 1963 ” and specimen ID “00238” (DMW). 6 ♂♂, as previous except date “ Nov. 1963 ” and specimen IDs “00225”, “00227” “00226” (DMW), “00095”, “00096”, and “00091” (CNC). 1 ♂ and 2 ♀♀, as previous except date “ April 1964 ” and specimen IDs “00107” [♀] (CNC), “00221” [♂], and “00233” [♀] (DMW). 1 ♂, as previous except date “ May 1964 ” and specimen ID “00230” (DMW). 1 ♂ and 1 ♀, “ Brasilien / Nova Teutonia / 27°11′ B. 52°23′ L/ Fritz Plaumann / 300. 500 m / IV. 1964 ”; the first labeled “ Heliolydella / aurata/ det/ Sabrosky Tns.”, “USNM ENT 00039938”, “ZLB_E.Ferox 00330” [♂]; the second with date “ V.1964 ”, labeled “USNM ENT 00039934”, “ZLB_E.Ferox 00331” [♀] (USNM). 1 ♂, “ Nova Teutonia / 27°11′S, 52°23′W / Brazil, 300–500 m / IX–1964 / Fritz Plaumann”, “ Hemilydella / sp./ Det. D.M. Wood 1968”, “ZLB_E.Ferox 00242” (DMW). 4 ♂♂ and twelve ♀♀, as previous locality except date “ I.1965 ” and specimen IDs “00319” [♂], “00090” [♀], “00320” [♂] (CNC), “000243” [♀] (DMW), “00244” [♀], “00245” [♀], “00253” [♂], “00257” [♀], “00258” [♀], “00260” [♀], “00277” [♂], “00262” [♀], “00263” [♀], “00264” [♀], “00254” [♀; terminalia in vial under specimen], and “00255” [♀; terminalia in vial under specimen] (CNC); the second labeled “HOMOTYPE/ Heliolydella / aurata/ Compared by/ Wood ‘78”; the fourth labeled “ Heliolydella / aurata”; the fifteenth labeled “SLIDE/ ES6807-26A/ No.”; the sixteenth labeled “SLIDE/ ES6807-26B/ No.”. 1 ♀, as previous locality except date “ II.1965 ” and specimen ID “00259” (CNC). 1 ♀, as previous except date “ XII.1965 ” and specimen ID “00256” (CNC). 1 ♀, as previous except date “ I.1966 ” and specimen ID “00261” (CNC). 1 ♀, as previous except date “ II.1966 ” and specimen ID “00241” (CNC). 2 ♀♀, “ BRAZIL: Santa Catarina:/ Nova Teutonia, 27°11′S / 52°23′W, 300–500m,/ Mar. 1966, F. Plaumann ”, “COLLECTION OF/ PAUL H. ARNAUD, JR.”; the first labeled “USNM ENT 00040087”, “ZLB_E.Ferox 00350”; the second “USNMENT/ 00875985” and “ZLB_E.Ferox 00349” (USNM). 1 ♀, as previous locality except date “ Apr. 1966 ” and labeled “USNMENT/ 00875986”, “ZLB_ E.Ferox 00348” (USNM). 1 ♀, “ Nova Teutonia / SC, Brasil / II.1967 / F.Plaumann col.”, “USNM ENT 00039939”, “ZLB_E.Ferox 00332” (USNM). 1 ♀, “ Nova Teutonia / S.C.- BRAZIL / Feb 1970 / F. Plaumann ”, “ZLB_E.Ferox 00252” (CNC). 1 ♀, as previous locality except date “ June 1971 ” and specimen ID “00251” (CNC). São Paulo: 1 ♀, “ Itaquaquecetuba / SaoPauloBrazil”, “CHTTownsend/ coll”, “ Ita 17-V/ On Foliage ”, “USNM ENT 00040021”, “ZLB_E.Ferox 00336” (USNM). 1 ♀, as previous locality except labeled “CHTTow’d/ I-22 coll”, “on foliage”, “USNM ENT 00039936”, “ZLB_E.Ferox 00334” (USNM).
Recognition. This species is closest to E. strigata, sharing narrow abdominal bands, an angled cercus in lateral view, and a short piercer in the female, but is distinguished by the tomentum of the head being entirely gold in color. The male cercus in lateral view is more strongly angled at mid length, with a narrower, hooked apex, and in caudal view is distinctly narrower on the apical two-thirds.
Redescription. [Redescribed from 47 ♀♀ and 32 ♂♂; head measurements from 4 ♀♀ and 3 ♂♂.] Length 5.3–7.7 mm (mean = 6.5 mm).
Head. Parafacial, fronto-orbital plate, vertex, post-ocular plate, gena, and face tomentum all dense yellow, appearing gold. Postgena and occiput tomentum ash-gray. Pale occipital setae yellow to dirty gray. Ocellar setae onehalf to subequal to length of posterior reclinate orbital seta, always thinner and weaker in males. Gena with 4 setae, subvibrissal ridge with 1 seta, usually one or two more smaller setae close to vibrissa. Facial ridge with setulae on less than lower third. Postocellar setae one-third length of ocellar setae. Paravertical seta subequal in length to postocellar setae. Outer vertical seta indistinguishable from post-ocular row in both males and females. Reclinate orbital setae 2, occasionally with one more small anterior or posterior seta. Frontal setae 5–6 in females, 7–8 in males; last frontal seta ranging from even with level of pedicel apex to base of arista. Eye apparently bare. Eye height to head height ratio 0.78–0.89 (mean = 0.84). Postpedicel length 0.40–0.61 (mean = 0.46) height of head. Facial ridge length 0.51–0.56 (mean = 0.54) height of head. Parafacial width 0.09–0.12 (mean = 0.09) lateral length of head. Pedicel 0.28–0.38 (mean = 0.33) length of postpedicel. Postpedicel 2.0–3.0 (mean = 2.4) width of parafacial in lateral view. Vertex 0.22–0.28 (mean = 0.25) width of head in dorsal view. Palpus subcylindrical, tan-brown to black-brown; with dense short black setulae on dorsum and several longer pale mediolateral setulae.
Thorax. Dorsomedial length 1.3–1.4 times width of thorax. Lateral tomentum ash-gray, sometimes merging to yellow on anepisternum and katepisternum. Dorsal tomentum washed out yellow and yellow-gray, usually most yellow on postpronotum, often fading to gray near mid line and on postsutural area. Presutural outer vitta subtriangular to bar shaped, distinctly connected to anterior margin. Postsutural outer vitta bar to wedge shaped, the anterior apex usually wider than the posterior apex, disconnected from anterior vitta at transverse suture. Inner thoracic vittae bar shaped, as thick as outer vittae, extending to level of second postsutural acrostichal seta. Scutellar dorsal tomentum yellow to gray, generally covering only apical third, sometimes diffuse over rest of area. Postpronotum with 3 setae, rarely (n=5) with 4 setae. Presutural area with 1–2 supra-alar setae, the anterior weak if present. Postsutural area with 3 dorsocentral setae. Fore tibia with 2–3 posterodorsal setae. Scutellum with 1 pair of discal setae. Wing hyaline. Calypters tan to cream colored.
Abdomen. Cuticle and setulae entirely black. Dorsal tomentum bands ash-gray, one-third to one-half length of segments T3–5, usually with distinct median vitta. Ventral tomentum bands same color as above, one-half to twothirds length of T3–5. T4 with 1 pair of median marginal and three pairs of lateral marginal setae, all strong and erect.
Male terminalia (Figs 124, 140, 157). Sternite 5 basal plate with median teeth separated 0.38 width of basal notch; apical lobes subequal to length of basal plate. Postgonite broadly rounded on posterior margin; anterior emargination rounded, depth three-fourths width of postgonite at mid length. Surstylus paddle-shaped, length of apical section 2.5 times width, subequal to length of cercus; posteroapical margin rounded; posterobasal area with distinct, flat emargination; basal lobe margin with slight, straight emargination, otherwise rounded. Cercus in lateral view dilated at base, narrowed sharply to mid length and obtusely angled caudally, gradually tapered to blunt hooked apex; in caudal view not dilated at base, narrowed to median section, and gradually tapered to thin, blunt apex. Upper lobe subquadrate; 0.18 length of cercus. Median section 0.54 length of cercus.Apical cleft narrow, sides subparallel; with strong teeth; 0.26 length of cercus. Syncercus apex width in caudal view 0.31 width of syncercus base.
Female terminalia (Figs 95, 110). Piercer scarcely extending to apex of T4, often hidden by ventral margin of T5; in lateral view gradually curved to apex; in posterior view narrowed to apex. Aculeate lobe length subequal to height of segment seven base. End tergite minute, subquadrate, as long as wide. Cercus with 6 setae; ventral elongation subequal length of cercus. Postgenital plate with 14 setae.
Host(s). Unknown.
Geographic extent and seasonal occurrence. Eucelatoria aurata is known only from southern Brazil, where it has been primarily collected near Seara (formerly Nova Teutonia), Santa Catarina (Fig. 175). The area is a transition between the Auraucaria Moist Forest of the Upper Uruguay headwaters and the Alto Paraná Atlantic Forest ecoregion further downstream. The other locality, Itaquaquecetuba, is located in the Serra do Mar Coastal Forest ecoregion. Both of these localities are subtropical and within the Brazilian highlands. Thus, E. aurata is likely distributed throughout the coastal highlands from northern Rio Grande do Sul to southern Minas Gerais.
Fritz Plaumann collected many specimens of E. aurata (nearly 80 of which are included in this revision) at Seara between 1960 and 1971, which is the best series of any known E. ferox group species at a single locality. The largest number of individuals (1960–1967; n = 76) were collected in January (n = 22), with good numbers in February (n = 14), March (n = 6), and April (n = 9). No individuals were collected during the months of July and August. There is a distinct spike in numbers during the month of November (n = 15), followed by relatively low collecting in December (n = 4).
Discussion. This species, along with E. strigata, has among the shortest piercers of any females in the E. ferox group. The seventh and remaining abdominal segments are of normal structure, simply reduced in length. The male cercus is bent dorsally at mid length in lateral view, just as in E. strigata, but the apex is narrower and distinctly hooked. The cercus is also narrower in dorsal view, with the middle section more than half the length of the cercus. Otherwise, the two species differ little, the primary difference being the color of the parafacial, either entirely yellow in E. aurata or at least partially gray in E. strigata. The species was described from a series of syntypes, which included three females and one male in addition to the one female examined (which is deposited at USNM). All were collected at the same locality and on the same day. Wood (1985: 40) notes that all syntypes are conspecific, though he does not note their depositories. One female syntype was deposited at the Museu de Zoologica da Universidade de São Paulo (Toma & Nihei 2006). The depositories for the male syntype and the two other female syntypes are unknown.
The above stated phenology suggests a bivoltine host or multiple host species with differing phenologies, one series of caterpillars in the spring, and the other in midsummer. This is different from eastern North American species such as E. auriceps and E. borealis, which have been collected only in summer.
description: Published as part of Burington, Zelia L., 2022, A taxonomic revision of the Eucelatoria ferox species group (Diptera: Tachinidae), pp. 1-104 in Zootaxa 5143 (1) on pages 20-23, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5143.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/6601404