Melaloncha rostrata, 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 : 17

MELALONCHA ROSTRATA SP. NOV. ( FIG. 42 )

Recognition. This species is similar to M. rhampha , but differs in that the ovipositor does not increase in depth apically and the surface of the ovipositor is not markedly striate ( Fig. 42 ).

Description. Body length 3.1–3.4 mm. Frons orange, except vertex and ocellar region, which are black. Setal base of all setae coloured like rest of frons. Mean frontal width 0.27 head width; range 0.26–0.29. Frons with fine reticulate sculpturing, slightly shiny, slightly punctate (punctures shallow, nearly invisible), with extremely small dark setulae. Median furrow present. Frontal setae normal; arrangement of frontal setae unmodified, with ventral interfrontal setae near venter of frons. Dorsal interfrontal setae absent. Palpus unmodified. Ocular and genal setae flattened, yellow. Fore tarsomeres yellowish-brown, 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 slightly expanded. 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 0.59 wing length; range 0.58–0.61. Tergite 6 of similar colour to other tergites. Tergites 2–6 lateroventrally black, with silver pollinosity. Venter of abdomen grey. Ovipositor relatively tubular, laterally compressed near apex; dorsal apex with small, rounded flap, curved ventrally in apical one-third. 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. Intersegment 7–8 narrow, slightly deflected ventrally at posterior apex.

Geographical distribution. Costa Rica.

Etymology. Latin adjective rostratus for beaked, referring to the shape of the ovipositor.

Holotype. ♀, COSTA RICA: Heredia: La Selva Biological Station , 10.43∞N, 84.02∞W, ix.1992, P. Hanson, Malaise trap [ LACM ENT 093446 ] ( LACM).

Paratypes. COSTA RICA: Alajuela: 20 km S Upala , 1♀, 8–10.v.1990, 1♀, 10.i.1991, 1♀, 22.i.1991, 1♀, 11– 20.iv.1991, 16–17.vi.1991, 1♀, 24.vi-22.vii.1991, 2♀, 22–30.ix.1991, F. D. Parker [Malaise trap] ( EMUS, INBC, LACM) ; Guanacaste: 3 km SE Naranjo , 1♀, 21–31.x.1992, 1♀, 1.ii.1993, F. D. Parker [Malaise trap] ( LACM) .

Figures

Figures 34–43. Melaloncha spp., ovipositors. Figs 34–37: dorsal. Figs 38–43: left lateral.