Melaloncha spatula, Brown, 2004

Brown, Brian V., 2004, Revision of the subgenus Udamochiras of Melaloncha beekilling flies (Diptera: Phoridae: Metopininae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 140 (1), pp. 1-42 : 21

MELALONCHA SPATULA SP. NOV. ( FIGS 49, 54 )

Recognition. In dorsal view, the ovipositor of this species is broader at midlength than that of the similar M. vargasi , which is more parallel-sided.

Description. Body length 2–2.3 mm. Frons orange, except ocellar triangle black. Setal base of all setae either orange or black. Mean frontal width 0.32 head width; range 0.31–0.35. Frons with fine reticulate sculpturing, slightly shiny, punctate, with small, pale setulae. Median furrow faint, but present. Frontal setae normal; arrangement of frontal setae unmodified, with ventral interfrontal setae near venter of frons. Dorsal interfrontal setae present, 0.7 length of postocellar setae, approximately 0.4 distance from ventral ocellus to dorsal fronto-orbital setae. Palpus unmodified. Ocular and genal setae flattened, yellow. Fore tarsomeres yellowish-brown, except tarsomeres 4 and 5 dark brown, tarsomeres relatively narrow. Combined length of fore tarsomeres approximately 0.8 tibial length. Fore tarsomere 1 approximately twice as long as tarsomere 2. Fore tarsomere 5 relatively narrow. Pulvilli of fore leg large. Tarsal claws of all legs enlarged, deeply bifurcate. Mid and hind leg yellowish-brown, with tarsomeres 4–5 and apex of tarsomere 3 of mid leg dark brown dorsally. Mean costal length 0.52 wing length; range 0.51–0.54. Tergite 6 of similar colour to other tergites. Tergites 2–6 lateroventrally black, with silver pollinosity. Venter of abdomen grey. Ovipositor relatively tubular in shape, broader on apical one-half, strongly dorsoventrally flattened at apex, slightly deflected ventrally at apex. In dorsal view, lateral setae of ovipositor thin, short, relatively numerous. Ventrally, ovipositor with short, fine, sparse setae. Surface of ovipositor with faint, somewhat longitudinally directed sculpturing.

Variation. Setal bases on various specimens are either all black or all orange.

Host. The holotype was collected at an aggregation of bees, dominated by the most likely host Partamona cf. cupeira Smith (sensu Roubik, 1992). Also present were much smaller Plebia spp. and Apis mellifera .

Geographical distribution. Mexico to Panama.

Etymology. Latin noun for small spatula, referring to the shape of the apex of the ovipositor.

Holotype. ♀, COSTA RICA: Puntarenas: 5.5 km SW Rincon , TYC, 8.70∞N, 83.51∞W, 10.viii.2001, B. Brown, V. Berezovskiy, E. Zumbado, honey-sprayed leaves [ LACM ENT 105068 ]( INBC).

Paratypes. COSTA RICA: Alajuela: 20 km S Upala, Bijagua , 1♀, 23.x.1990, 1♀, 8.xi.1990, 1♀, 11– 20.iv.1991, F. D. Parker, Malaise trap ( EMUS, LACM) . MEXICO: Chiapas: 10.ix.1974, G. Bohart, W. Hanson, Malaise trap ( LACM) . PANAMA: Panama: Cerro Campana , 8.i.1981, C. D. Michener, on white Eupatorium (KSEM) .

Figures

Figures 48–55. Melaloncha spp., ovipositors. Figs 48–50: dorsal. Figs 51–55: left lateral.