Melaloncha exigua, 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 : 28-29

MELALONCHA EXIGUA SP. NOV. ( FIGS 70, 74 )

Recognition. This species differs from the similar M. falcata by having a shorter ovipositor that is broader at the dorsal apex ( Fig. 70 ).

Description. Body length 1.9–2.2 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 none. Frons with fine reticulate sculpturing, slightly shiny, punctate, with small, black setulae. Median furrow absent. 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, slightly ventral to level of ventral ocellus. Palpus unmodified. Ocular and genal setae flattened, yellow. Fore tarsomeres yellowishbrown, 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 small, finely bifurcate at apex. Mid and hind leg yellowish-brown, with tarsomeres 4–5 and apex of tarsomere 3 of mid leg dark brown dorsally. Mean costal length 0.51 wing length; range 0.5–0.52. Tergite 6 of similar colour to other tergites. Tergites 2–6 lateroventrally black, with silver pollinosity. Venter of abdomen grey. Ovipositor relatively tubular, short, strongly curved ventrally. In dorsal view, lateral setae of ovipositor large, relatively fine, widely spaced. Ventrally, ovipositor with long, thin, sparse setae. Surface of ovipositor with faint, somewhat longitudinally directed sculpturing.

Host. The holotype was collected on the flowers of a Phoenix palm, where numerous Trigona hyalinata amazonensis and A. mellifera were foraging. No oviposition attempts were observed.

Geographical distribution. Bolivia and Brazil.

Etymology. Latin adjective for short, referring to the small ovipositor.

Holotype. ♀, BOLIVIA: La Paz: Coroico, Hotel Don Quixote , 16.19∞S, 67.72∞W, 5.iv.2001, B. Brown, on Phoenix palm flowers, 1750 m [ LACM ENT 128385 ] ( CBFC).

Paratypes. BRAZIL: Santa Catarina: Nova Teutônia , 27.18∞S, 52.38∞W, 1♀, [no date], F. Plaumann ( MZSP). This specimen bears a Borgmeier determination label for M. piliapex .

Figures

Figures 67–75. Melaloncha spp., ovipositors. Figs 67–71: dorsal. Figs 72–75: left lateral.