Melaloncha valeria, 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 : 17-18

MELALONCHA VALERIA SP. NOV. ( FIGS 37, 43 )

Recognition. This species is distinctive for its ovipositor that is deep throughout its length and noticeably thick at the base ( Fig. 43 ).

Description. Body length 3.1–3.6 mm. Frons orange, except ocellar triangle black. Setal base of all setae coloured like rest of frons. Mean frontal width 0.26 head width; range 0.24–0.26. Frons with fine reticulate sculpturing, slightly shiny, punctate, with small, black 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 0.7 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 0.6 wing length; range 0.57–0.61. Tergite 6 of similar colour to other tergites. Tergites 2–6 lateroventrally black, with silver pollinosity. Venter of abdomen grey. Ovipositor relatively short and deep, laterally compressed in apical one-half, apically pointed, slightly curved ventrally. In dorsal view, lateral setae of ovipositor thin, short. Ventrally, ovipositor with short, fine, sparse setae. Surface of ovipositor with faint, irregular, reticulate sculpturing.

Geographical distribution. Costa Rica. Etymology. Latin noun for a type of eagle ( Brown, 1956), referring to the shape of the ovipositor in lateral view, which resembles the beak of a powerful bird of prey .

Holotype. ♀, COSTA RICA: Puntarenas: 3 km SW Rincon , 8.68∞N, 83.48∞W, xi.1991, P. Hanson, Malaise trap, 10 m [ LACM ENT 101528 ]( LACM).

Paratypes. COSTA RICA: Alajuela: 20 km S Upala , 1♀, 8–10.v.1990, 1♀, 1.viii.1990, 3♀, 28–30.viii.1990, 1♀, 10.i.1991, F. D. Parker, [Malaise trap] ( EMUS, INBC, LACM) .

Figures

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