Melaloncha horologia, 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 : 19-20

MELALONCHA HOROLOGIA SP. NOV. ( FIGS 48, 53 )

Recognition. The ovipositor of this species is similar to that of M. vargasi , but in dorsal view is slightly hourglass-shaped and less parallel-sided in appearance ( Fig. 48 ).

Description. Body length 2.9–3.1 mm. Frons orange, except ocellar triangle black. Setal base of all setae coloured like rest of frons. Mean frontal width 0.32 head width; range 0.31–0.32. Frons with fine reticu-

rhypopoda n. sp. Melaloncha Melaloncha Melaloncha horologia n. sp. spatula n. sp. vargasi n. sp. 48 49 50

53 Melaloncha horologia n. sp.

55 Melaloncha vargasi n. sp. late sculpturing, slightly shiny, weakly 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, 0.8 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, slightly expanded. Pulvilli of fore leg large. Tarsal claws of all legs enlarged, deeply bifurcate. Mid and hind leg yellow, except tarsomeres brown on medial surface. Mean costal length 0.55 wing length; range 0.54–0.55. Tergite 6 of similar colour to other tergites. Tergites 2–6 lateroventrally black, with silver pollinosity. Venter of abdomen grey. Ovipositor elongate, slightly narrowed at mid-length, apically pointed, slightly deflected ventrally at apex. In dorsal view, lateral setae of ovipositor thin, short, relatively numerous. Ventrally, ovipositor with short, fine, sparse setae. Surface of ovipositor with faint, irregular, reticulate sculpturing.

Host. The holotype was collected at an aggregation of several species of stingless bees attracted to sprayed honey on undergrowth. The most likely host species, based on having sufficient size to allow development of this fly, in this aggregation was Trigona amalthea amalthea (Olivier) . The fly was feeding on honey on the undergrowth leaves.

Geographical distribution. Bolivia and Ecuador.

Etymology. Latin noun for hourglass, referring to the shape of the ovipositor in dorsal view.

Holotype. ♀, BOLIVIA: La Paz: San Juanito, near Teoponte , 15.49∞S, 67.80∞W, 8.iv.2001, B. Brown, G. Kung, honey-sprayed leaves [ LACM ENT 128413 ] ( CBFC).

Paratypes. ECUADOR: Napo: Yasuni Research Station , 1♀, 19–30.x.1998, W. J. Hanson, 250 m ( EMUS) .

Figures

Figures 48–55. Melaloncha spp., ovipositors. Figs 48–50: dorsal. Figs 51–55: left lateral.