Melaloncha berezovskiyi, Brown, 2006

Brown, Brian V., 2006, Revision of the untreated taxa of Melaloncha s. s. bee-killing flies (Diptera: Phoridae), Zootaxa 1280 (1), pp. 1-68 : 22-23

Melaloncha berezovskiyi new species

Fig. 9

Recognition. This species is highly distinctive, with its contrasting orange frons and dark body; additionally, the ovipositor has an unique 3­layered process dorsally.

Description. Female (male unknown). Body length 2.5–2.8 mm. Frons orange, bare of setulae except few along eye margin (some of which are relatively large) and scattered few elsewhere on frons; ocellar triangle black. Mean frontal width 0.43, range 0.43–0.44. Medial furrow absent. Ocular and genal setae black. Flagellomere 1 dark brown, except reddish­brown laterally and around apex; aristomeres 1–2 reddish­brown, 3 dark brown. Palpus white; palpal setulae black. Scutum, scutellum and pleuron dark brown. Legs mostly dark brown; foretibia, midtibia and all tarsomeres lighter brown. Combined length of foretarsomeres 0.86 length of foretibia. Foretarsal claws thick, otherwise unmodified, without basal lobe. Mean costal length 0.53 wing length, range 0.52–0.55. Halter yellow. Abdominal tergites dark brown with faint silver pollinosity. Venter of abdomen gray. Ovipositor dark brown at base, apically black; slightly curved dorsally, flat­topped with median keel and 3­layered anterodorsal process; with sparse ventral setae and thicker setae near base and on dorsal lamella of anterior process; flattened dorsal area of ovipositor bare; sclerite of intersegment 7–8 forms large, dorsally projecting process.

Host. Females pursued workers of Trigona corvina (Cockerell) on Syagrus coronata palm flowers.

Geographical distribution. Costa Rica

Derivation of specific epithet. Named for my good friend Vladimir Berezovskiy, who has helped me for many years with my phorid studies.

Holotype. ♀, COSTA RICA: Puntarenas: Wilson Botanical Garden, Las Cruces , 8.79°N, 82.95°W, 13.vi.1998, B. Brown, V. Berezovskiy, flowers of Syagrus coronata (palm) [ LACM ENT 116589 ] ( LACM).

Paratypes. COSTA RICA: same data as holotype except 2♀, 12.vi.1998 , 1♀, 14.vi.1998 ( LACM) .

Figures

FIGURES 9–12. Melaloncha spp., female, ovipositor, left lateral.