Melaloncha piliapex, BORGMEIER, 1938

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 : 33

MELALONCHA PILIAPEX BORGMEIER ( FIGS 80 , 92 )

Melaloncha piliapex Borgmeier, 1938: 50–52 , figs 10, 11.

Lectotype. Because of past confusion of M. simillima with this species, I here designate a lectotype from the type series to fix the concept of M. piliapex : ♀, BRAZIL: Santa Catarina: Nova Teutônia, 27.18∞S, 52.38∞W, vii.1937, F. Plaumann [LACM ENT 122508] (MZSP).

Recognition. This species can be recognized by the long, distinctively curved, apical setae of the ovipositor ( Fig. 80 ). These setae are absent in M. simillima , a species that Borgmeier formerly included in M. piliapex .

Description. Body length 2.2–2.8 mm. Frons orange, except ocellar triangle black. Setal base of all setae coloured like rest of frons. Mean frontal width 0.29 head width; range 0.26–0.33. Frons with fine reticulate sculpturing, slightly shiny, punctate, with small, black setulae. Median furrow present (faint in some specimens). Frontal setae normal; arrangement of frontal setae unmodified, with ventral interfrontal setae near venter of frons. Dorsal interfrontal setae present, 0.6 length of postocellar setae, slightly ventral to level of ventral ocellus. Palpus unmodified. Ocular and genal setae flattened, yellow. Fore tarsomeres yellowishbrown, relatively narrow. Combined length of fore tarsomeres approximately 0.8 tibial length. Fore tarsomere 1 approximately twice as long as tarsomere 2. Fore tarsomere 5 slightly expanded. Pulvilli of fore leg large. Tarsal claws of all legs small, finely bifurcate at apex. Mid and hind leg yellowish-brown. Mean costal length 0.53 wing length; range 0.5–0.56. Tergite 6 of similar colour to other tergites. Tergites 2–6 lateroventrally black, with silver pollinosity. Venter of abdomen grey. Ovipositor relatively tubular, relatively straight. In dorsal view, lateral setae of ovipositor thin, short, relatively numerous, apically with two pairs of long, curved setae. Ventrally, ovipositor with long, thin, sparse setae. Surface of ovipositor with faint, somewhat longitudinally directed sculpturing.

Geographical distribution. Costa Rica and Brazil.

Other material examined. BRAZIL: Santa Catarina: Nova Teutônia , 27.18∞S, 52.38∞W, 1 paralectotype ♀ , vi.1937, 3 paralectotype ♀, vii.1937, 1♀, v.1972, 4♀, no date, F. Plaumann ( LACM, MCZC, MZSP, USNM) . COSTA RICA: San José: Zurquí de Moravia , 10.05∞N, 84.02∞W, 1♀, iii- iv.1993, P. Hanson, Malaise trap, 1600 m ( LACM) .

Figures

Figures 76–86. Melaloncha spp., ovipositors. Figs 76–80: dorsal. Figs 81–86: left lateral. Fig. 85 additionally shows details of abdominal segment 6, intersegment 7–8 and stylet.

Figures 87–97. Melaloncha spp., ovipositors. Fig. 87, dorsal and left lateral. Figs 88–91, dorsal. Figs 92–97, left lateral.