Melanagromyza wedeliae Spencer

(Figs. 40–42)

Melanagromyza wedeliae Spencer, Spencer & Stegmaier, 1973: 54; Spencer 1984: 8; Martinez & Étienne 2002: 40; Spencer & Steyskal 1986: 31; Spencer 1990: 313; Braun et al. 2008: 98.

Specimens examined. Costa Rica. Prov. San José. Moravia. Zurquí de Moravia, Tower path. 1600m. 26 ABR-3 MAY 2013. Proyecto ZADBI . Malaise trap #1, ZADBI-728. -84:00:57 10:02:58 #106748. INB0004392034 (1 ♂: MNCR) .

Comments. Melanagromyza wedeliae was originally described from southern Florida and later found in Colombia and Brazil. This species is characterized by having a narrow gena, orbital setulae in two rows (inner row proclinate and outer row reclinate), eye pilose in male with a patch of white hairs at level of ors and the abdomen with a metallic green reflection. The specimen from Zurquí agrees with the external characteristic of the species. The genitalia is also characteristic with the distiphallus in the form of a short and broad tubule, slightly upcurved (Fig. 40) and a greatly elongated hypandrial apodeme (Fig. 42), not previously illustrated. The ejaculatory apodeme was not described previously but it has no (or short) stalk and the blade is rounded with irregular margin (Fig. 41)

Host plant. Wedelia paludosa DC, Pseudogynoxys chenopodioides (Kunth) (= Senecio confusus Britten), Bidens pilosa L., Trixis vauthieri de Candolle ( Asteraceae). Larva feeding in flower heads (Braun et al. 2008; Spencer & Stegmaier1973; Spencer 1984; Spencer 1990).

Distribution. USA (Florida), Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica *.