Melaloncha sarmientoi, Gonzalez, Lisa & Brown, Brian V., 2004

Gonzalez, Lisa & Brown, Brian V., 2004, New species and records of Melaloncha (Udamochiras) bee­killing flies (Diptera: Phoridae), Zootaxa 730, pp. 1-14 : 11

Melaloncha sarmientoi new species

Figs. 7 , 14

Recognition. This species can be recognized by the ovipositor in lateral view, with its strong and even curvature and two thick, long ventral setae near the base. In the key in Brown (2004a), it reaches couplet 37 with M. exigua Brown and M. falcata Brown , which it resembles. Unlike those species, however, M. sarmientoi has an ovipositor that is narrower in lateral view, flatter dorsally, and has long setae only at its ventral base.

Description. Female (male unknown). Body length 2.6 mm. Frontal width 0.32 head width. Frons orange except for black ocellar triangle; with fine reticulate sculpturing with small black setulae; median furrow faint but present. Dorsal interfrontal setae present, located slightly ventral to ventral ocellus. Palpus unmodified. Ocular and genal setae yellow, flattened. Foreleg, including foretarsomeres, uniformly brownish yellow. Combined length of foretarsomeres 0.8 tibial length. Tarsal claws on all legs finely bifurcate. Mid­ and hind leg brownish yellow; hind femur with dark brown macula at apex. Costa 0.52 wing length. Vein R2+3 absent. Abdominal tergites dark brown, with anterior band of silver pollinosity. Venter of abdomen gray; venter of segment 6 with few fine setae. Ovipositor in lateral view tubular with strong and even curvature throughout length, appearing almost bare, although with many short, thin setae. Two conspicuously long, thicker setae present at ventral base of ovipositor. Ovipositor slightly deeper at base and rounded at apex; in dorsal view, parallel­sided with apical narrowing to a rounded point with short, thin lateral setae.

Remarks. The frontal setae of the holotype are aberrant. The dorsal and ventral frontoorbitals are not parallel (right side slightly below left) and left side of frons has one small and one large setae in the usual position of the ventral interfrontal setae.

Host. Flies were attracted to a mixed aggregation of A mellifera , Partamona epiphytophila and Plebeia sp.

Distribution. Bolivia.

Derivation of specific epithet. Named for Dr. Jaime Sarmiento of the Colección Boliviana de Fauna, who assisted us arranging permits for our work.

Holotype. Ψ, BOLIVIA: La Paz: 40 km N Caranavi, Cumbre Alto Beni, 15.83°S, 67.56°W, 13.iv.2003, Brown, Marcotte, Zumbado, honey spray, 1600 m [LACM ENT 181230] (CBFC).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 9. Melaloncha (Udamochiras) spp. Ovipositors, dorsal.

FIGURES 10 – 16. Melaloncha (Udamochiras) spp. Ovipositors, right lateral.