Melanagromyza albisquama (Malloch)

Sasakawa, Mitsuhiro, 2013, Thailand Agromyzidae (Diptera) — 2, Zootaxa 3746 (4), pp. 501-528 : 506

Melanagromyza albisquama (Malloch)

Agromyza (Melanagromyza) albisquama Malloch, 1927: 425 . Melanagromyza leguminum Bezzi, 1928: 166 .

Melanagromyza minora Spencer, 1959: 279 .

Melanagromyza desmodii Spencer, 1960: 23 .

Melanagromyza compositarum Spencer, 1961a: 70 .

Material examined. 2♂ 2♀, Loei, Phu Ruea National Park, 17˚30.740´N, 101˚20.650´E, 1353 m a.s.l., 26 ix–2 x 2006, Malaise trap, Nukoonchai Jaroenchai; 2♂ 3♀, Phetchabun, Khao Kho National Park, 16˚32.539´N, 102˚02.483´E, 242 m, 26 xi–2 xii 2006, Malaise trap, Somchai Chachumnan & Saink Singtong.

Remarks. This is a common, widespread species throughout the Old World tropics from Polynesia to Africa. This black fly has a shining coppery-greenish mesoscutum and abdomen, the short wing (1.6–2.0 mm in male), a whitish fringe on the calypter, a row of 12 spines on the dorsal part of the surstylus (Sasakawa 1963c), and a chitinized short process near dorsal base of the distiphallus (Spencer 1977b, figs 3, 4). Larva is a seed-feeder in the pods of Desmodium spp. (Leguminosae).

Distribution. Indonesia (Irian Jaya, Sumbawa), Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka; Australia, Papua New Guinea, Bismark Arch., New Britain, Palau, Solomon Is., Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Loyalty Is., Belau, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa; S. Africa, Mauritius.