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

description: Key to the species of the Eucelatoria ferox group
1. Inner and outer thoracic vittae partially or fully fused, such that there are only one or two postsutural thoracic vittae (e.g., Figs 1A–E) ............................................................................................. 2
- Inner and outer thoracic vittae partially or fully separate, such that there are four postsutural thoracic vittae visible adjacent to suture, or thoracic vittae indistinct (e.g., Figs 1F–I)..................................... (E. gladiatrix subgroup) 11
2. Postsutural thoracic vittae continued from presutural vittae, such that thoracic notum bears two thick parallel longitudinal vittae, with at most only a thin line of tomentum partially separating inner and outer vittae (Figs 1D–E). T1+2 ventrally covered with dense tomentum (Figs 47–49)....................................................... (E. ferox subgroup) 3
- Postsutural thoracic vittae merged into a single large vitta covering most of postsutural area (Figs 1A–C). T1+2 ventral area usually lacking tomentum (Figs 66–71, 86–91)..................................... (E. kopis sp. nov. subgroup) 5
3. Inner and outer vittae partially separated along mid length by thin line of tomentum along dorsocentral row of setae (Fig. 1D, 3) (Mexico)..................................................................... E. huitepecensis sp. nov.
- Inner and outer vittae fused along entire length, without thin intermediate line of tomentum (Figs 2, 4)................. 4
4. Ocellar setae strong, at least three fourths length of posterior reclinate orbital seta. Occipital tomentum usually at least partially gray. Calypteres cream or tan colored (Fig. 47) (Ecuador, Bolivia).............................. E. ferox (Townsend)
- Ocellar setae minute or apparently absent, indistinguishable from surrounding setulae. Head tomentum, including occiput tomentum, entirely yellow. Calypters orange tinted (Fig. 49) (Ecuador).............................. E. inclani sp. nov.
5. Palpi yellow to tan. Presutural thoracic vittae usually four (Fig. 1A, 21, 41), rarely two. Ocellar setae absent (Costa Rica)............................................................................... E. gustavogutierrezi sp. nov.
- Palpi dark brown to black. Presutural thoracic vittae always two, with at most a small triangle of tomentum partially separating inner and outer vittae near notopleural suture (Figs 1B–C, 22–26, 42–46). Ocellar setae present....................... 6
6. Scutellum entirely devoid of tomentum. Abdominal bands usually covering less than one-fourth length of T3–5 (Figs 26, 46) (Brazil)........................................................................... E. tenebrionis sp. nov.
- Scutellum with at the least a patch of tomentum between subapical scutellar setae. Abdominal dorsal bands covering more than one-fourth length of T3–5 (Figs 22–25, 42–45)............................................................. 7
7. Scutellum with at most a patch of gray tomentum between subapical scutellar setae (Figs 24, 42, 45).................. 8
- Scutellum with tomentum covering apical one-third or more of dorsal area (Figs 22–23, 25, 43–44)................... 9
8. Male cercus in lateral view subparallel at apex (Fig. 137); in caudal view with basal lobes narrowly divergent (Fig. 153). Surstylus with long apical setae (Fig. 137). Abdominal bands in male one-half to one-third length of T3–5 (Fig. 42) (Bolivia)........................................................................................ E. hafelei sp. nov.
- Male cercus margins in lateral view dilated at apex (Fig. 138); in caudal view with basal lobes broadly divergent (Fig. 154). Surstylus without long apical setae (Fig. 138). Abdominal bands one-fourth to one-third length of T3–5 (Figs 24, 45) (Costa Rica, Brazil, Ecuador).............................................................. E. ritavargasae sp. nov.
9. Parafacial tomentum gray (Figs 68, 89) (Peru, Brazil)....................................... E. makhaira sp. nov.
- Parafacial tomentum yellow (Figs 67, 70, 88)............................................................. 10
10. Piercer extending to base of T3 or beyond, slightly bent anterad near base. Aculeate lobe length greater than 2.5 times height of segment 7 base (Fig. 107). Palpus only slightly dilated and flattened at apex in female (Costa Rica to Bolivia, Brazil)............................................................................................ E. kopis sp. nov.
- Piercer usually extending to base of T4, sharply bent anterad near base. Aculeate lobe length less than 2.0 times height of segment 7 base (Fig. 108). Palpus strongly dilated and flattened at apex in female (Ecuador)................ E. sica sp. nov.
11. S1, T1+2, and usually T3 ventrally with thin, pale setae; male usually with tan cuticle spots laterally on T1+2–4 (Figs 53–54, 56, 75–76, 79)...................................................................................... 12
- Abdominal setae and cuticle entirely black................................................................ 13
12. Parafacial tomentum entirely yellow (Figs 53–54, 75–76). Dorsal thoracic tomentum usually dense yellow, appearing gold (Fig. 8–9, 30–31). Upper lobe of cercus subtriangular in caudal view, the inner margin linear (Fig. 143) (Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Mexico to Bolivia).............................................................. E. charapensis (Townsend)
- Parafacial tomentum pale gray, only merging to yellow on upper one-fourth (Figs 56, 79). Dorsal thoracic tomentum pale yellow to gray (Figs 11, 34). Upper lobe of cercus subquadrate in caudal view, the inner margin rounded (Fig. 145) (Brazil)...................................................................................... E. fordlandia sp. nov.
13. Ocellar setae minute, indistinct, or absent, usually indistinguishable from adjacent setulae of ocellar triangle (Figs 57, 65, 80, 85)............................................................................................... 14
- Ocellar setae distinct, usually more than one-third length of posterior reclinate orbital seta (e.g., Figs 51, 55)........... 15
14. Abdominal bands continuous, even, dense. Postsutural inner and outer vittae distinct from each other, at most with area of more diffuse tomentum between them (Figs 12, 35) (Mexico to Peru)............................ E. gladiatrix (Townsend)
- Abdominal bands diffuse, with distinct median vitta. Inner and outer vittae merged on postsutural area (Figs 20, 40) (Ecuador, Bolivia)........................................................................... E. yanayacu sp. nov.
15. North American..................................................................................... 16
- Central or South American............................................................................ 19
16. Thoracic vittae indistinct amid thin, diffuse gray tomentum on mesonotum (Figs 1H, 7, 29). Ocellar setae weak, usually less than one-half length of posterior reclinate orbital seta (Figs 52, 74) (Northeastern U.S. and Southern Canada)................................................................................................. E. borealis sp. nov.
- Thoracic vittae distinct, dorsal thoracic tomentum usually dense (e.g., Figs 1G–I, 6, 16, 18). Ocellar setae strong, usually more than one-half length of posterior reclinate orbital seta (e.g., Figs 51, 61, 63)...................................... 17
17. Parafacial tomentum entirely yellow (Figs 51, 73) (Eastern U.S.).............................. E. auriceps (Aldrich)
- Parafacial tomentum entirely gray (Figs 61, 63, 81, 83)...................................................... 18
18. Yellow tomentum on head usually confined to adjacent frontal vitta (Figs 63, 83). Male cercus with margins of apex subparallel in lateral view. Basal lobe of surstylus without marginal notch in lateral view (Fig. 133). Piercer with aculeate lobe length 2.00–2.25 times height of segment 7 base (Fig. 104) (Southern U.S.)........................... E. texana (Reinhard)
- Yellow tomentum on head usually extending over most of fronto-orbital plate (Figs 61, 81). Male cercus with apex dilated in lateral view. Basal lobe of surstylus with marginal notch in lateral view (Fig. 147. Piercer with aculeate lobe length 2.10–3.50 times height of segment 7 base (Fig. 102) (Arizona, New Mexico).............................. E. sabroskyi sp. nov.
19. Thoracic vittae thick, inner and outer vittae fused on posterior half of postsutural area (Figs 10, 33). Male cerci with apical cleft broadly rounded in caudal view, the apices inclinate (Fig. 144). Female end tergite fused at base and forked apically (Fig. 114) (Brazil)............................................................................... E. falcata sp. nov.
- Thoracic vittae thin, inner and outer vittae separate on postsutural area (e.g., Figs 5, 14). Male cerci with apical cleft not broadly rounded in caudal view (e.g., Figs 140, 150). Female end tergite plates separate (Figs 110, 118)...................... 20
20. Piercer long, the aculeate lobe length at least three times height of segment 7 base (Figs 59–60). [Male unknown.]....... 21
- Piercer short, usually not extending past apex of T4, the length of the aculeate lobe subequal to height of segment 7 base (e.g., Figs 95, 103). Male cercus, if known, with distinct medial bend in lateral view (Figs 124, 132, 134).................. 22
21. Abdominal bands continuous, without median vitta (Fig. 14). Parafacial tomentum entirely yellow (Fig. 59) (Mexico).......................................................................................... E. luctuosa (Wulp)
- Abdomen with distinct median vitta (Fig. 15). Parafacial tomentum gray on lower half (Fig. 60) (Mexico, Costa Rica)........................................................................................ E. rivalis (Reinhard)
22. Abdominal bands usually covering less than one-half length of T3–5 (Figs 5, 17, 27, 37)........................... 23
- Abdominal bands covering more than one-half length of T3–5 (e.g., Figs 13, 19, 32).............................. 24
23. Parafacial tomentum yellow (Figs 50, 72). Palpus yellow to yellow-tan. Male cercus with distinct apical hook in lateral view (Fig. 124) (Brazil).................................................................. E. aurata (Townsend)
- Parafacial tomentum gray (Figs 62, 82). Palpus brown to black. Male cercus without distinct apical hook in lateral view (Fig. 132) (Mexico to Argentina).............................................................. E. strigata (Wulp)
24. Parafacial tomentum gray (Fig. 77) (Costa Rica).......................................... E. crambivora sp. nov.
- Parafacial tomentum yellow (Figs 58, 64, 84)............................................................. 25
25. Piercer in caudal view broad, triangular, the margins narrowed to apex (Mexico).................. E. woodorum sp. nov.
- Piercer in caudal view narrow, linear, the margins subparallel to apex (Costa Rica)............... E. jorgecortesi sp. nov.
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 15-16, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5143.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/6601404