Melaloncha sinistra Borgmeier, 1971b , p. 134
Borgmeier & Prado, 1975 , p. 54
Revision of the untreated taxa of Melaloncha s. s. bee-killing flies (Diptera: Phoridae)
Brown, Brian V.
Zootaxa
2006
2006-08-03
1280
1
1
68
3Z4D8
Borgmeier
Borgmeier
1971
[264,646,283,310]
Insecta
Phoridae
Melaloncha
Animalia
Diptera
34
35
Arthropoda
species
sinistra
Fig. 20
Melaloncha sinistra Borgmeier, 1971b, p. 134( ♂, ♀; Ribeirão Preto, Sao Paulo).— Borgmeier & Prado, 1975, p. 54(full description).— Simôes et al., 1980(natural history).
Holotype. ♀, BRAZIL: São Paulo: Ribeirão Preto, 21.19°S, 47.78°W, vi–vii.1971, R. Zucchi, nest entrance Scaptotrigona postica[ LACM ENT 122343] (examined; MZSP). Notethat the type series was unlabeled in the Borgmeiercollection, other than the “type” and “cotype” labels. I put proper labels on all the specimens. Recognition.Among M. sinistragroup taxa, females of this species are distinctive for the elongate, straight ovipositor with a dorsally curved apex and the short ovipositor setae. Males key to M. costaricanaBorgmeierin the latest key ( Borgmeier 1971b), but that species has the entire thorax dark brown in color.
Description.Female. Body length 1.9–2.2 mm. Frons orangeyellow, punctate; ocellar triangle black. Mean frontal width 0.37 head width, range 0.35–0.39. Ocular and genal setae black. Flagellomere 1 basally white, mostly yellow; aristomeres 1–2 light brown, 3 black. Palpus white; palpal setae black. Scutum dark brown, except anterolateral corners light brown. Scutellum dark brown. Pleuron mixture of light and dark brown color. Legs yellowishbrown, except apex of hind femur with large darkcolored spot. Forefemur in ventral view with broad, even expansion along apical onehalf. Combined length of foretarsomeres approximately 0.5 length of foretibia. Foretarsal claws recurved, with large basal lobe. Mean costal length 0.47 wing length, range 0.46–0.49. Halter yellow. Abdominal tergites black, with silver pollinosity anteriorly. Venter of abdomen dark gray. Ovipositor dark brown to black; elongate, slightly dorsally and laterally flattened, curved dorsally at apex; with short erect setae dorsally and longer, posterior setae ventroapically (these setae are apparently broken off at the apex in the holotype all other specimens have them more fully developed). Male. Similar in color to female. Basal onethird of cercus brown, apical twothirds yellow. Surstylus broadly rounded, with sparse setae.
Host. Simôes et al. (1980)described the natural history of this species in great detail. Flies attack the host bees, Scaptotrigona postica(L.) at the nest entrance, and can parasitize up to onethird of the colony’s workers. Geographical distribution.Southeastern Brazil. Other material examined. BRAZIL: São Paulo: Ribeirão Preto, 21.19°S, 47.78°W, 4♂, 4♀, ix.1971, R. Zucchi, nest entrance Scaptotrigona postica(LACM, MZSP).
1971-06
1971-07-31
1971-06
LACM, MZSP
R. Zucchi & Note & Borgmeier
Brazil
-21.19
Ribeirao Preto
758
-47.78
34
35
ENT 122343
1
1
Sao Paulo
holotype
1971-09
R. Zucchi
Brazil
-21.19
Ribeirao Preto
758
-47.78
34
35
8
4
4
Sao Paulo