Melaloncha sinistra, Borgmeier, 1971

Brown, Brian V., 2006, Revision of the untreated taxa of Melaloncha s. s. bee-killing flies (Diptera: Phoridae), Zootaxa 1280 (1), pp. 1-68 : 26-27

Melaloncha sinistra group

Diagnosis. Frons punctate, with short setulae. Forefemur greatly dilated apically in most species. Foretarsomeres shortened. Ovipositor deeply cleft, with thin dorsal lobe and deeper ventral lobe; dorsally flattened. Often apex of ovipositor ventrally with small to large tuft of long setae.

Remarks. The males of M. lacerna , M. laselvae , and M. zurquiensis key to the described species M. costaricana Borgmeier , one of Borgmeier’s male­only species. They differ, however, in having longer surstylar setae than M. costaricana , which probably should be classified in the M. cingulata group.

Included species. M. calathea , M. cordyla , M. lacerna , M. laselvae , M. oligoseta , M. rodeoensis , M. ruinensis , M. sinistra , M. umbra and M. zurquiensis .