Melanagromyza falciformis Braun & Prado

Braun, Marina Reiter, Prado, Angelo Pires Do & Lewinsohn, Thomas Michael, 2009, New species of Neotropical Melanagromyza Hendel (Diptera: Agromyzidae) from Asteraceae flower heads, Zootaxa 2279, pp. 51-59 : 55

Melanagromyza falciformis Braun & Prado , sp. nov.

( Figures 1 A, 1B, 2, 3)

Specimens examined: Holotype: ɗ (G, P0409), BRAZIL: SÃO PAULO: Mogi Guaçu, 26.iv.2001 (various collectors), ex Baccharis dracunculifolia (MZUSP). Paratype: 1 ɗ, São Carlos, 22º02’08”S 47º52’54”W, 18.iv.2004 (various collectors), ex Baccharis dracunculifolia (ZUEC/ UNICAMP).

Diagnosis: Small greenish black species, wing length in male 1.14 to 1.28 mm, side wings of distiphallus as an oval-shaped protuberance ( Fig. 2).

Description: Male adult: Wing length 1.14 to 1.28 mm (n= 3, mean= 1.23 mm, sd= 0,081). Squamae gray, margin gray and fringe blackish brown.

Head: Head black. Eye width 0.32 to 0.34 mm (n= 4, mean= 0.33 mm, sd= 0.01) and frons width 0.19 to 0.21 mm (n=4, mean= 0.20 mm, sd= 0.01) not projecting above eye in profile; four orbital bristles, usually equal, orbital setulae reclinate; ocellar triangle large, moderately shining, apex extending slightly beyond level of lower orbital bristle; gena one-sixth vertical height of eye; eyes bare in both sexes; arista only minutely pubescent.

Thorax and abdomen: Mesonotum greenish black, slightly shining particularly when viewed from rear, with two pairs of dorsocentral bristles; abdomen more brilliantly golden. Thorax length 0.69 to 0.73 mm (n=4, mean= 0.72 mm, sd= 0.02). Pleuron bristles: three on notopleuron, two on anepisternum and two on katepisternum. Only one bristle on postpronotum.

Male genitalia: Epandrium gap is hook-shaped ( Fig. 3). Aedeagus as in Fig. 1 A, 1B and Fig. 2.

Host plant/Biology: Baccharis dracunculifolia (Astereae) , larva feeding and pupating in seed head.

Etymology: The specific epithet is derived from the form of the epandrium gap.

Distribution: Mogi Guaçu (São Paulo) - Brazil.

Comments: This species is not distinguishable on external characters from M. falciformis . Distinguishable only by the shape of the epandrium gap ( Fig. 3) and the distiphallus ( Figs. 1 A, 1B, 2).