Melaloncha rasmusseni, Brown, 2006

Brown, Brian V., 2006, Revision of the untreated taxa of Melaloncha s. s. bee-killing flies (Diptera: Phoridae), Zootaxa 1280 (1), pp. 1-68 : 41

Melaloncha rasmusseni new species

Fig. 28

Recognition. This species is distinguished by the long, curved, broad dorsal lobe and short, truncate ventral lobe of the ovipositor.

Description. Female (male unknown). Body length 2.25 mm. Frons yellow, bare of setulae except few along eye margin; ocellar triangle with lines of dark color between ocelli. Frons 0.45 head width. Medial furrow absent. Ocular setae brown dorsally, yellow laterally and ventrally; genal setae yellow. Flagellomere 1 basally white, apically yellow; aristomeres 1–2 yellow, 3 dark. Palpus whitish­yellow; palpal setulae yellow, sparse, fine. Scutum yellowish brown, with extremely small dark brown posterolateral spot. Scutellum yellow, with anterolateral dark round spot. Pleuron yellow, except basalare black. Legs yellowish­brown. Combined length of foretarsomeres 0.83 length of foretibia. Foretarsal claws recurved, with large basal lobe. Costa 0.50 wing length. Halter yellow. Abdominal tergites yellow anteriorly, black posteriorly. Venter of abdomen yellow. Ovipositor basally yellow, mostly black; laterally flattened; dorsal lobe elongate, curve, extremely broad in dorsal view, with long setae; ventral lobe short, truncate, with long setae posteroventrally; rest of ovipositor with only short, scattered setae, mostly dorsally.

Host. Unknown. The single specimen was attracted to a mixed aggregation of bees on honey­sprayed undergrowth.

Geographical distribution. Peru.

Derivation of specific epithet. Named for my friend and colleague Claus Rasmussen, in thanks for his help in Peru and for his assistance with bee identification.

Holotype. ♀, PERU: San Martin: Estación “Biodiversidad”, 19 km NE Tarapoto, 6.46°S, 76.29°W, 7.vii.2004, B. Brown, E. Corona, honey spray [ LACM ENT 206726 ] ( MUSM).

Figures

FIGURES 25–31. Melaloncha spp., female, ovipositor. Figs. 25–29. Left lateral. Figs. 30–31. Dorsal.