Melaloncha Brues

Brown, Brian V., 2006, Revision of the untreated taxa of Melaloncha s. s. bee-killing flies (Diptera: Phoridae), Zootaxa 1280 (1), pp. 1-68 : 7

Melaloncha Brues

Melaloncha Brues, 1904: 374 . Type species Melaloncha pulchella Brues , by subsequent designation ( Brues 1906). Syntypes (one male, one female) of M. pulchella lost in Hungarian Revolt. For further literature see Brown (2004a).

Melanoloncha Becker et al., 1907: 176 (unjustified emendation).

Udamochiras Enderlein, 1912: 42 . Type species U. colossia Enderlein , by original designation. Synonymized by Brues (1912).

Diagnosis. Frons narrow. Supra­antennal setae absent. Forefemur with posterodorsal seta near apex. Apical tarsomere of foreleg lacking claws in male. Hind femur with erect dorsal setae. Mid­ and hind tibia with sinuous rows of enlarged setulae anterodorsally. Tergites and often pleuron with silver pollinosity. Female abdominal segment 7 completely sclerotized, forming parasitic ovipositor. Intersegment 7–8 modified, with sclerotization of various forms. Posterior segments (9–10) of female abdomen forming sharp, pointed, piercing stylet. Male with subepandrial plate with long, posterolateral lobes; aedeagus extremely elongate.

Most species also have a pair of large, round maculae comprising most of the anterior one­half of the scutellum. They are differentiated from the surrounding surfaces not only by color, but by being slightly raised, and can thus be seen even in species with a completely black scutellum. These maculae are absent from Melittophora salti Brues , most Phalacrotophora Brues species (considered to be close relatives of Melaloncha by Brown 2004a), and many other phorid genera examined, but are also present in a few Neotropical Phalacrotophora (although less distinctly), and in the phylogenetically unrelated genera Chaetocnemistoptera Borgmeier and yellow species of Neopleurophora Brown (which are regarded as segregates of Chaetopleurophora Schmitz by some authors).