Hyphantrophaga
Townsend, 1892
Species Guides
1Hyphantrophaga is a of tachinid flies in the tribe Goniini, Exoristinae, containing 46 valid . The genus is notable for a major taxonomic revision in 2019 that described 22 new species from Rica and synonymized five previously recognized genera. Species in this genus are of caterpillars across a broad range of lepidopteran .
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Hyphantrophaga: /hɪˌfæntroʊˈfeɪɡə/
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Identification
distinguished by external , particularly features of the male terminalia, and by CO1 gene sequences. The 2019 revision provides a key to species of Mesoamerica. Synonymized Brachymasicera, Ommasicera, Ophirosturmia, Patillalia, and Ypophaemyiops are now included in Hyphantrophaga.
Habitat
Rain forest, dry forest, and cloud forest in tropical regions. The 22 new were reared from caterpillars collected in Area de Conservación Guanacaste, northwestern Rica, indicating association with diverse forest types within this conservation area.
Distribution
Mesoamerica, from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Mexico to the Darién gap in Panama. Records include Rica (22 new from Area de Conservación Guanacaste), and species with broader distributions such as H. virilis recorded from California.
Host Associations
- Lepidoptera - Broad range spanning 29 based on ACG inventory
- Lepidoptera: Bombycidae -
- Lepidoptera: Crambidae -
- Lepidoptera: Depressariidae -
- Lepidoptera: Doidae -
- Lepidoptera: Erebidae - Includes type reared from Hyphantria cunea
- Lepidoptera: Euteliidae -
- Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae -
- Lepidoptera: Geometridae -
- Lepidoptera: Hedylidae -
- Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae -
- Lepidoptera: Immidae -
- Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae -
- Lepidoptera: Limacodidae -
- Lepidoptera: Megalopygidae -
- Lepidoptera: Mimaloniidae -
- Lepidoptera: Noctuidae -
- Lepidoptera: Nolidae -
- Lepidoptera: Notodontidae - Includes Phryganidia californica as for H. virilis
- Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae -
- Lepidoptera: Papilionidae -
- Lepidoptera: Pieridae -
- Lepidoptera: Phiditiidae -
- Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae -
- Lepidoptera: Pyralidae -
- Lepidoptera: Riodinidae -
- Lepidoptera: Saturniidae -
- Lepidoptera: Sphingidae -
- Lepidoptera: Thyrididae -
- Lepidoptera: Tortricidae -
- Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae -
Life Cycle
Females deposit microtype on foliage, often near caterpillars. First instar larvae hatch after eggs are consumed by feeding caterpillars, traverse the gut wall to establish within the host body, and remain until killing the host. Larvae then feed on the host carcass before .
Behavior
Larvae almost invariably kill their caterpillars. One exceptional case has been recorded where an emerged from a caterpillar that had already produced viable tachinid larvae.
Ecological Role
of caterpillars contributing to tri-trophic interactions involving parasitoids, , and host plants. The broad host range across 29 lepidopteran suggests significant influence on caterpillar in tropical forests.
Human Relevance
Potential agent given broad range and lifestyle. H. virilis recorded as parasitoid of California Oak Moth (Phryganidia californica), a that periodically defoliates oak trees along the California coast.