Melaloncha parkeri, Brown, 2004

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 PARKERI SP. NOV. ( FIG. 86 )

Recognition. The ovipositor of this species is distinctive, with its laterally compressed shape and rounded apex ( Fig. 86 ).

Description. Body length 2.7 mm. Frons orange, except vertex and ocellar region, which are black. Setal base of all setae coloured like rest of frons. Frons 0.28 head width; glossy, shiny (but obscured and specimen possibly damaged), slightly punctate (punctures shallow, nearly invisible), with extremely small dark setulae. Median furrow faint, but present. Frontal setae normal; arrangement of frontal setae unmodified, with ventral interfrontal setae near venter of frons. Dorsal interfrontal setae broken (as are postocellar setae), slightly ventral to level of ventral ocellus. Palpus unmodified. Ocular and genal setae flattened, yellow. Fore tarsomeres yellowish-brown, relatively narrow. Combined length of fore tarsomeres approximately 0.9 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 leg yellowishbrown, hind legs broken off in only existing specimen. Costa 0.54 wing length. Tergite 6 of similar colour to other tergites. Tergites 2–6 lateroventrally black, with silver pollinosity. Venter of abdomen grey. Ovipositor relatively tubular in shape, apically narrowed and laterally compressed; in lateral view deepening posteriorly, apically rounded, curved ventrally in apical onethird. In dorsal view, lateral setae of ovipositor thin, short, relatively numerous. Ventrally, ovipositor with short, fine, sparse setae. Surface of ovipositor with faint, somewhat longitudinally directed sculpturing.

Geographical distribution. Costa Rica.

Etymology. Named after Dr Frank D. Parker, who collected many interesting Melaloncha specimens in Costa Rica.

Holotype. ♀, COSTA RICA: Guanacaste: 3 km SE Naranjo , 1–10.xi.1992, F. D. Parker [ LACM ENT 114136 ] ( 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.