Melaloncha falcata, 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 : 29

MELALONCHA FALCATA SP. NOV. ( FIGS 71, 75 )

Recognition. This species is similar to M. exigua sp. nov., but the ovipositor is longer and more narrow at the dorsal apex ( Fig. 71 ).

Description. Body length 2.2–2.6 mm. Frons orange, except vertex and ocellar region, which are black. Setal base of all setae coloured like rest of frons. Mean frontal width 0.28 head width; range 0.26–0.29. Frons with fine reticulate sculpturing, slightly shiny, punctate, with small, black 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 present, 0.6 length of postocellar setae, slightly ventral to level of ventral ocellus. Palpus unmodified. Ocular and genal setae flattened, yellow. Fore tarsomeres yellowish-brown, expanded, short. Combined length of fore tarsomeres approximately 0.7 tibial length. Fore tarsomere 1 approximately twice as long as tarsomere 2. Fore tarsomere 5 slightly expanded. Pulvilli of fore leg relatively small. Tarsal claws of all legs small, finely bifurcate at apex. Mid and hind leg yellowish-brown. Mean costal length 0.54 wing length; range 0.53–0.55. 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, strongly curved ventrally. In dorsal view, lateral setae of ovipositor numerous, thin. Ventrally, ovipositor with long, thin, sparse setae. Surface of ovipositor with faint, irregular, reticulate sculpturing. Intersegment 7–8 elongate, with narrow, pointed process posterodorsally. Stylet extremely long, narrow.

Variation. One specimen from Mexico lacks dorsal interfrontal setae.

Host. The specimens collected at Finca Montezuma in 2002 were attracted to an aggregation of several species of bees, mostly Plebeia spp. , but the most likely host (based on size) was Trigona amalthea silvestriana .

Geographical distribution. Mexico to Brazil.

Etymology. Latin adjective for curved, referring to the shape of the ovipositor in lateral view.

Holotype. ♀, COSTA RICA: Cartago: Turrialba , 9.93∞N, 83.67∞W, 15–19.vii.1965, P. Spangler [ LACM ENT 003991 ] ( USNM).

Paratypes. BRAZIL: Pará: Mun. Benevides , PA- 408 km 06, 1♀, 26.i.1981, T. Pimentel (Museu Paraense Emilo Goeldi, Pará, Brazil) . COSTA RICA: Guanacaste: 3 km SE Rio Naranjo, Finca Montezuma , 10.67∞N, 85.06∞W, 1♀, 1.ii.1993, 1♀, 3–7.ii.1993, 1♀, 19–22.ii.1993, 1♀, 8–12.iii.1993, F. D. Parker ( EMUS, LACM) , 1♀, 22.ii.2002, Brown, Walker, Gonzalez, Zumbado, honey-sprayed undergrowth ( LACM) , 1♀ [abdomen only; rest of body used for molecular analysis], 27.ii.2002, B. Brown, honey-sprayed undergrowth ( LACM) ; San José: Zurquí de Moravia , 10.05∞N, 84.02∞W, iv- v.1993, P. Hanson, Malaise trap, 1600 m ( LACM) . MEXICO: Quintana Roo: Felipe Carrillo Pto. , 19.35∞N, 88.03∞W, 1♀, 10–14.x.1986, P. F. Torchio ( LACM) . PANAMA: Panama: San Carlos , 1♀, 17.ix.1972, F. S. Blanton ( MZSP) .

Figures

Figures 67–75. Melaloncha spp., ovipositors. Figs 67–71: dorsal. Figs 72–75: left lateral.