Melaloncha hirticauda, BORGMEIER, 1934

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 : 31

MELALONCHA HIRTICAUDA BORGMEIER ( FIGS 77, 82 )

Melaloncha hirticauda Borgmeier, 1934: 185–186 , figs 4, 8, plate 3, fig. 14; 1935: 262 (♂ specimen).

Holotype: ♀, BRAZIL: Santa Catarina: Bom Retiro, Prade [ LACM ENT 002011 ] (examined; MZSP).

Recognition. This species can be recognized by the posteriorly narrowing ovipositor with the large lateral setae extending along most of the ovipositor length ( Figs 77, 82 ). There are four supposed male specimens of this species, one from Bom Retiro and three from Nova Teutônia, Brazil.

Description. Body length 2.6 mm. Frons orange, except ocellar triangle black. Setal base of all setae coloured like rest of frons. Frons 0.29 head width; with fine reticulate sculpturing, slightly shiny, punctate, with small, black setulae. Median furrow present. Frontal setae normal; arrangement of frontal setae unmodified, with ventral interfrontal setae near venter of frons. Dorsal interfrontal setae present (no remaining postocellar setae to compare length), level with ventral ocellus. Palpus unmodified. Ocular and genal setae flattened, yellow. Fore tarsomeres yellowish-brown, relatively narrow. Combined length of fore tarsomeres approximately 0.9 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. Costa 0.49 wing length. 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 and laterally compressed, curved ventrally in apical one-third. In dorsal view, lateral setae of ovipositor large, extending along most of length of ovipositor. Ventrally, ovipositor with short, fine, sparse setae. Surface of ovipositor with faint, irregular, reticulate sculpturing.

Geographical distribution. South-eastern Brazil.

Figures

Figures 76–86. Melaloncha spp., ovipositors. Figs 76–80: dorsal. Figs 81–86: left lateral. Fig. 85 additionally shows details of abdominal segment 6, intersegment 7–8 and stylet.