Melaloncha hamata, 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 : 19

MELALONCHA HAMATA SP. NOV. ( FIG. 47 )

Recognition. This species differs from the similar M. mexicana by the abruptly ventrally curved dorsal apex of the ovipositor, and by the ventral setae of the ovipositor, which are grouped tightly together ( Fig. 47 ).

Description. Body length 3.0 mm. Frons orange, except ocellar triangle black. Setal base of all setae coloured like rest of frons. Frons 0.31 head width; with fine reticulate sculpturing, slightly shiny, slightly punctate (punctures shallow, nearly invisible), with small dark setulae. Median furrow present. Frontal setae normal; arrangement of frontal setae unmodified, with ventral interfrontal setae near venter of frons. Dorsal interfrontal setae present, 0.7 length of postocellar setae, approximately one-half distance between level of ventral ocellus and dorsal frontoorbital setae. Palpus with two apical, medium-sized black setae in addition to usual short yellow setae. 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 expanded. Pulvilli of fore leg large. Tarsal claws of all legs enlarged, deeply bifurcate. Mid and hind leg yellowish-brown. Costa 0.59 wing length. Wing vein R 2+3 present. Tergite 6 of similar colour to other tergites. Tergites 2–6 lateroventrally black, with silver pollinosity. Venter of abdomen grey. Ovipositor slightly dorsoventrally flattened; consisting of lightly sclerotized, longer dorsal lobe that curves ventrally at apex and ventral pair of heavily sclerotized, ventrally curved hooks, slightly deflected ventrally at apex. In dorsal view, lateral setae of ovipositor long, thin, sparse. Ventrally, ovipositor with group of three large setae near mid length on each side. Surface of ovipositor with faint, irregular, reticulate sculpturing (hooks glabrous). Intersegment 7–8 similar to that of M. simillima ( Fig. 10 ).

Geographical distribution. Costa Rica.

Etymology. Latin adjective for ‘with hooks’, referring to the apex of the ovipositor.

Holotype. ♀, COSTA RICA: Guanacaste: Estación Cacao , ix.1989, R. Blanco, C. Chaves, 1000–1400 m [INBIOCRI000027229] ( INBC).

Figures

Figures 44–47. M. mexicana-subgroup, ovipositors. Fig. 44, dorsal. Figs 45–47, left lateral. 47, right inset, details of ovipositor apex.

Figures 8–14. Melaloncha species. Figs 8 & 9: Melaloncha (M.) sp. 22. 8. Posterior segments of ovipositor, dorsal. 9. Same, left lateral. Figs 10–12: Intersegment 7–8, dorsal. 10. M. simillima Borgmeier. 11. M. deinocerca Borgmeier. 12. M. trua sp. nov. Figs 13 & 14: Stylet, M. trua sp. nov. 13, ventral. 14, left lateral.