Melaloncha colossia (Enderlein, 1912)

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 : 16

M. COLOSSIA -SERIES

Diagnosis. Ovipositor laterally compressed near apex. Dorsal apex of ovipositor with rounded, lobe-like projection ( Fig. 43 ).

Included species. This group includes M. colossia (Enderlein) , M. rhampha sp. nov., M. rostrata sp. nov. and M. valeria sp. nov.. Both M. colossia and M. rhampha have longitudinal striations on the ovipositor, and might be considered close relatives, but such striations are also found in M. trua .

The structure of intersegment 7–8 of two species, M. colossia and M. rostrata were examined, and both were found to be deflected ventrally at the apex. More specimens of M. rhampha and M. valeria is needed to determine if this is a character of all species in the M. colossia -series.

Figures

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