Melaloncha apicula, 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 : 25-26

MELALONCHA APICULA SP. NOV. ( FIGS 59, 65 )

Recognition. The ovipositor of this species is distinctive, with short setae and subapical narrowing, followed by a small expansion ( Fig. 59 ).

Description. Body length 2.9–3.1 mm. Frons orange, except vertex and ocellar region, which are black. Setal base of all setae coloured like rest of frons. Mean frontal width 0.31 head width; range 0.3–0.32. Frons with fine reticulate sculpturing, slightly shiny, 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, 0.6 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 0.8 tibial length. Fore tarsomere 1 approximately twice as long as tarsomere 2. Fore tarsomere 5 slightly expanded. Pulvilli of fore leg large. Tarsal claws of all legs enlarged, deeply bifurcate. Mid and hind leg yellowish-brown, with tarsomeres 4–5 and apex of tarsomere 3 of mid leg dark brown dorsally. Mean costal length 0.54 wing length; range 0.52–0.56. Tergite 6 of similar colour to other tergites. Tergites 2– 6 lateroventrally black, with silver pollinosity. Venter of abdomen grey. Ovipositor relatively tubular in shape, apically narrowed, slightly curved ventrally. In dorsal view, lateral setae of ovipositor thin, short. Ventrally, ovipositor with short, fine, sparse setae. Surface of ovipositor with faint, somewhat longitudinally directed sculpturing.

Geographical distribution. Amazonian Brazil.

Etymology. Latin noun for small point, referring to the reduced tip of the ovipositor.

Holotype. ♀, BRAZIL: Amazonas : Manaus, Reserva Ducke, 3.13∞S, 60.02∞W, 6–17.vii.1992, J. Vidal, Arm. Cola 14–20 m [ LACM ENT 031103 ] ( INPA).

Paratypes. BRAZIL: Amazonas : Manaus, Reserva Ducke, 3.13∞S, 60.02∞W, 1♀, same data as holotype

(LACM), 1♀, 6–17.vii.1992, J. Vidal, Arm. Cola 1 A- 10 m ( INPA) .

Figures

Figures 56–66. Melaloncha spp., ovipositors. Figs 56–60: dorsal. Figs 61–66: left lateral.