Melittophora salti, BRUES

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 : 3

MELITTOPHORA SALTI BRUES

Unfortunately, the available material of Melittophora salti is extremely limited and fragile. I dissected one female specimen and was able to make out the following details. There is a distinct, broad triangular tergite 7 and smaller, narrower, triangular sternite 7. The membrane surrounding the sclerites is extremely heavily longitudinally striate.

A section of the abdomen, apparently corresponding to intersegment 7–8 in most other phorids, is modified in M. salti (and Melaloncha species , see below). This section bears a long, dorsal sclerite in M. salti .

The apical section of the abdomen is extremely small, forming a stylet as in Melaloncha (below), but I could not observe details of the structure without further, potentially damaging, dissection. New material of this species is needed.