Melaloncha carinata, 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 : 13

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2004.00086.x
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5491104
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/1C4A482B-3E38-4F08-FF17-3937FABCFA25
treatment provided by	Carolina
scientific name	Melaloncha carinata
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

MELALONCHA CARINATA View in CoL SP. NOV. ( FIGS 24 View Figures 22–27 , 29, 32 View Figures 28–33 )

Recognition. In this yellow species the ovipositor is distinctive, with few setae (thus appearing nearly bare) and with the median carina extending completely around the apex of the ovipositor ( Fig. 32 View Figures 28–33 ).

Description. Body length 2.7 mm. Frons yellow, except ocellar triangle black. Setal base of all setae coloured like rest of frons. Frons 0.38 head width; with fine reticulate sculpturing, slightly shiny, weakly punctate, with small, pale setulae. Median furrow absent. Frontal setae normal; arrangement of frontal setae unmodified, with ventral interfrontal setae near venter of frons. Dorsal interfrontal setae absent. Palpus unmodified. Ocular and genal setae flattened, yellow. Thorax and abdomen almost completely yellow. Fore tarsomeres yellow, relatively narrow. Combined length of fore tarsomeres approximately 1.2 tibial length. Fore tarsomere 1 approximately twice as long as tarsomere 2. Fore tarsomere 5 relatively narrow. Pulvilli of fore leg relatively small. Tarsal claws of all legs small, finely bifurcate at apex. Mid and hind leg yellow, except tarsomeres brown on medial surface. Costa 0.53 wing length. Tergites orange-yellow with thin posterior strip of brown; anterolateral corner of tergites 2 and 6 with silver pollinosity. Tergites 2–6 lateroventrally orange-yellow; with several small and one large seta. Venter of abdomen yellow. Ovipositor relatively tubular, with dorsomedial carina, slightly deflected ventrally at apex, with thin, pointed apex of carina curved ventrally. In dorsal view, lateral setae of ovipositor thin, short. Ventrally, ovipositor with short, fine, sparse setae. Surface of ovipositor with faint, irregular, reticulate sculpturing.

Geographical distribution. Costa Rica.

Etymology. Latin adjective for keeled, referring to the raised median ridge on the ovipositor.

Holotype. ♀, COSTA RICA: Puntarenas: 3 km SW Rincon , 8.68∞N, 83.48∞W, iii.1989, P. Hanson, Malaise trap, 10 m [ LACM ENT 048990 View Materials ] ( LACM).